Hardware Advice

Matt · 7 Nov 2008 at 18:23

I am a web developer working for a largish sized digital agency and am looking to start doing a lot more research type work at home.

I currently have an original base level MacBook (upgraded to 2gb ram and 250gb hdd). Obviously as a developer the 13inch screen is a bit of an issue, as is the fact that i am a .NET dev and it's not really fast enough to run Parallels.

What i am really after is a setup that will allow me to do the following:
- ASP.NET development
- Flash development
- Photo editing

I do have a PC but it's a media PC and so sits under the TV, but i could run Visual Studio on that and remote desktop to it from the Mac? I haven't tried that though so it might be just as slow as Parallels!

I do NOT have a lot of money for this, and currently i am just researching options. But what would you recommend as a viable setup, that isn't stupidly expensive, and is capable of these basic tasks?

I was just thinking of getting a 24inch screen, but i see the new Apple LED one is only for the new MacBooks?

Any advice would be appreciated as i really know nothing about hardware anymore!

AdWright · 7 Nov 2008 at 18:36

Matt said:
I do NOT have a lot of money for this, and currently i am just researching options. But what would you recommend as a viable setup, that isn't stupidly expensive, and is capable of these basic tasks?

I was just thinking of getting a 24inch screen, but i see the new Apple LED one is only for the new MacBooks?

Can't really comment on the hardware required to run your software, but if money is tight, look elsewhere for your monitor needs! Eg, Dell 24 inch monitors come in at £250-£400, rather than £650 for the new Apple 24". Okay, it has LED backlight, good looks, speakers, iSight and a charger for the new laptops, but it's a large extra outlay

Matt · 7 Nov 2008 at 18:41

Oh and i forgot to mention, i have issues with ugly hardware

Which is always a good position to take when you have a limited budget

iraiguana · 7 Nov 2008 at 18:52

Have you looked at just getting boot camp installed as it will run much faster than parallels?

Otherwise imac/mac mini + screen would seem to be the options.

lloydsj · 7 Nov 2008 at 20:13

External monitor and bootcamp is what you want to be doing. You hardware is fine, unless your after a quad-core desktop. I'd stick with what you've got and just get a monitor. That will be the cheapest option too.

Visual studio is a memory hog so you could always up your mem to 4GB for 40 odd quid if you wanted to.

Matt · 7 Nov 2008 at 20:23

lloydsj said:
Visual studio is a memory hog so you could always up your mem to 4GB for 40 odd quid if you wanted to.

I have an original MacBook and they only take 2gb max

Yeah it is looking like an external screen is the best bet for now. Does anyone have any recommendations of good quality screens that are well designed? alternatively, will the Apple LED one work on an old MacBook? from reading their site i am not sure it will!

lloydsj · 7 Nov 2008 at 20:59

I'd just check reviews of monitors for your budget. Have a look in the monitor forum on here.

What i would say tho, is i'd get as high a res as you can. 1920 x 1080 if possible to make it worth while plugging your laptop into it, rather than just using the macbooks own screen at 1280 x 800.

Before you go spending the money on a monitor tho, make sure you're happy with running visual studio in bootcamp otherwise you'll be back to square 1 (but with an empty wallet and a nice monitor :-)

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