Which models of Mac will I need?

Had you considered a desktop computer, such as a Mac Mini, or a Mac Pro?

Several build versions of the Mini ship with a variety of selectable options

that can be available in the online Apple Store; of them some in retail store.

The Mini specs should be looked into from the online Store to see what kind

of options and CTO builds there are. Since the RAM is not user upgradable

that is an item to consider prior to purchase since the demands of applications

& future system upgrade, may be greater than a base-level model as-shipped.

On the other side of desktop, is the Mac Pro build series. The new model

appears to look like a cylindrical cooling tower from some sci-fi epic. The

older model was more like the earlier Aluminum PowerMac, but has Intel

based architecture and not the PowerPC G5. Where available, they are a

good durable alternative if you seek a solid upgradeable workstation. With

a choice of displays, a desktop computer allows you variety there, too.

For portable MacBook models, the MB/Pro is likely to have the better higher

spec, faster circuitry, most memory and storage options, and is not user

upgradable in memory (RAM) so one should choose ahead of demands

that you may put to it, and be sure to order a CTO from Apple or buy one

from an Apple Store or Specialist that can handle future expectations.

The specifications should be viewed in the Apple Store online for current

models, if you are in the US; for other regions, their inventory may vary.
Also, in authorized Apple sales and service independent retail shops, the

inventory there may vary too; some locations are slower to get latest gear.

Since you posted in a now-extinct MacBook ASC discussion (2006 to 2010

build era) there still are good MacBook models out there in the second hand

or used market, some may actually repaired or claim restored status. These

are generally be not found in online Apple Store's Refurbished section. The

MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, are available to compare builds online or

in reseller and retail Apple Stores. The only currently available portable Apple

computer with user-upgradable RAM (and HDD) is the MacBook Pro 13-inch

non-Retina model that has an optical drive; known as a Late 2012 model...

These are still being built new, and this model is an option.

So there are some choices and some research would be recommended prior

to a final decision on which model to consider; and what size SSD or other

hard drive specs to include in the prospect. A fast spin-rate HDD or a large

capacity SSD can be helpful to assist the computer work faster. This kind of

upgrade usually would need to be ordered initially on purchase, or have an

authorized Apple sales/service agent upgrade the storage drive so as to not

void any warranty. Seriously consider AppleCare extended optional coverage.

Can't say as this helps all that much...

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

Appears the site Hosts have moved your thread into the iMac (Intel) discussions area

so as to keep it in-line with a more recent hardware and software technology. Another

option, sort of hinted at by where this discussion is now located, is the iMac series...

All of these (as new recent models) will run the most current OS X system, 10.10.

If you were interested in one kind of model build version over another, then there

are a few other choices. Some like the portability of the MacBook Pro or Air models.

Others may like the idea you could use most displays, keyboard & mouse, etc when

considering the Mac Mini, as it ships with none. An iMac ships with the built-in display,

a keyboard, and mouse. When ordering online from the Apple Store, you could choose

to also include a different mouse model, keyboard version, or touchpad; in addition to

the choice of processor and other factors, across two iMac 21.5 + 27-inch models...

(Then, there's the top-end model that would certainly not be within my budget: iMac 5K.)

There occasionally are recent models that are slightly discounted, fully guaranteed as

new, and qualify for the optional AppleCare extended plan, in Apple's refurbished site.

You have no options in the build, each one that may be listed is just that. Some have

more or less RAM, a variety of other specification, and may or may not ship with the

same software of the specific build-run they had when each was available in retail...

•Apple Store (US) online refurbished & clearance site:

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals

So it may be possible to get a last-years model that could have Mavericks 10.9 in it.

That model would be able to get Yosemite from the Mac App Store online, an upgrade.

It is possible to have an older system (in a partition or external separate drive) and a

newer one, and run the computer alternately from one or the other. Or revert to older.

A fair plan would be to budget for an externally enclosed hard disk drive with faster

7200-RPM drive inside, and USB3.0 porting; this could be used to backup and also

be able to support a bootable copy or clone of your system. This would be in addition

to an external drive or device that would be used with Time Machine for backups...

These should be self-powered so they do not rely on the computer port for power,

and be of suitable size capacity for some serious storage; or be good for partitions

so more than one duty can be served by the device. A 2 or 3 TB may be OK.

The site macsales.com (aka: OWC) has some good examples of this kind of gear.

For wireless and wired backups one could opt for an Apple Time Capsule, that is an

AirPort Extreme base station with internal storage; this works well for Time Machine.

The other backup drive device is an externally enclosed hard disk drive with fast HDD.

This is what can be used if set up, to truly have a copy of your computer via clone or

bootable clone. It could run the computer should the main internal drive fail, too.

Since OS X likes plenty of resources made available for its use, to make an affordable

investment in the device at a level you can justify and plan on using for a few years, is

about the best one can do. A top-end machine, not within most student budgets, is a

nice idea but not necessarily the affordable device to begin with. However to a good

extent, to get a reasonably good configuration of fast hard drive (spin rate, if not SSD)

and memory RAM, and processor with good spec graphics, can look more costly than

a generic PC that was not designed for use with OS X.

http://store.apple.com/us/buy-mac/mac-mini?product=MGEN2LL/A&step=config

The mid-level Mini has a few options. More RAM is only available as CTO or custom

order, or may be found in a retail Apple Store if they chose to stock them. 16GB is

quite a bit. An option for a 7200-RPM HDD is not listed in the online config page in

the Store, but that would be a fair one. The Fusion drive is some kind of hybrid that

would be fairly quick, though it uses a partial SSD and HDD together. A 1-TB hybrid

may be more like a 750GB HDD with a 250GB SSD working together, and seen in

the system as one unit. Some user errors or processes in utility can change this so

these Fusion units may appear broken or as two parts. It is one unit. Some of these

Mini models could use more than one HDD or one SSD and one HDD.

They had a server model which shipped with two 1-TB HDD (5400-RPM) and initially

only 4GB RAM, user upgradable to 16GB. Some users found these were slower than

expected and the Late 2012 Mini quad-core server cost nearly $1,000. Upgrades to

such a unit (no longer sold regularly at Apple) invite the faster spin rate HDDs, and

the RAM upgrade. A company in NY by name of B&H photovideo shows one of these

in their computer sales page, for about $849. and the inventory is new, not refurb.

However the graphics shares standard system RAM, and is slower than IRIS graphics

(which also appears to share standard system RAM with graphics.)

I have not looked closely at the newest Mini in the $699 price-point, but the Iris Graphics

may be a good move, if the computer also has at least 8GB RAM, and a 7200-RPM HDD.

OR an SSD. The solid-state product is rather costly, & third-party versions are not going

to be covered by the AppleCare and unless an Apple authorized service provider does an

upgrade and does not void the warranty, that is a loss of value to upgrade that way. You

could pay plenty extra for a small capacity SSD, to get some speed, but they fill quickly.

An external that could run at 7200-RPM via USB3.0 or Thunderbolt, could support an OS X

system running from that external location. That is an option, so the original HDD need not

be replaced straight-away. The stock 500GB HDD is usually a 5400-RPM model and that

would be the bottleneck or choke-point of the hardware. Even with a fair amount of RAM.

So the specifications on these have to be seriously considered and more information obtained.

Another source of comparison specifications, is a download database from http://mactracker.ca

in addition to the extensive site from http://everymac.com. If you were to consider older hardware

to have a lower cost option, the only advantage would be the cost and loss factor. Not as much

out there, and less loss if it turned up missing or damaged by accident. Oh if you have renter

or household insurance, see about accidental and water damage insurance as part of general

policy. This in addition to theft and personal articles coverage, that includes theft. These items

are not part of the AppleCare extended protection. All the numbers & specs change when one

considers a comparison between a portable and a desktop computer.

Sorry for all this writing, I had a few other web pages open and did some reading, but did not

see as that helps; you'd have to be looking ahead and hope for the best. Also plan otherwise.

To have a good backup method and a a duplicate method, so your works-in-progress aren't

lost if or when something should happen, is worth the cost for reputable quality & fair price.

Hopefully someone can give you better advice in the questions concerning configuration of product

and the kinds of options you may need to plan for at some point. If I were going to return to school

and wanted to keep a low budget while still using a Mac, I'd consider some pre-owned models at

low enough price (with viable known-good source) for something I could replace the HDD or add

RAM, and know it is essentially a disposable item. If you are taking science, math or design courses

the kind of computer would vary. Same thing if you were to expect image or video graphic editing &

building layers of changes that eat up resources. And I'd want to have a spare computer. If portable

I'd try & take the ugly used one out and let it be seen while any nice costly one would be in hiding.

Hopefully you can check into the options, and not just with a retail Apple Store. If available, ask

some of the same questions and compare answers from independent authorized Apple retail

shops whose business is also repair & service. Some of the older personnel have experience of

a level not found in the regular Apple Store, if they are real Apple Specialists.

Sorry for the long post, and I can't say this answers all that much! 😝