To Apple or not

[Sub-lime]

Hello Carbo's

In a mind pickle and need some advice.

I'm going into a new job (international company so work from my home office) and they're all using Apple machines.
I've never owned one nor intended on getting one purely based on the price but i have no rational issues otherwise.

* I already have a good Ryzen machine (R5 2600, B450 G+, 16Gb 3kmhz, ssd's and Rx580 8gb OC TOP) and a I7 Dell 17" Laptop.

1. Should i get an Apple product or go the hackintosh route (assistance will be needed). - Reliability is key
2. What sort of specs would be needed for development and running graphic software - On my PC i usually run an IDE, Multiple browsers, Xampp, 1 or 2 graphic programs (Affinity desktop and photo) & some tunes.
3. Bang for buck, i have seen the new prices and no i cannot justify it even if i can afford it. Will a non-pro suffice for the above.
4. Edumacate me please, is Apple OS that efficient that a low spec apple can perform well under load. Older gen I5 with 4/8Gb ddr3 and fusion drives (Ah it's next to the flux capacitor)?

I've seen a couple of ads selling Imac's and Mac mini's and Macbooks but without knowing what specs i need its useless for me to make a decision.

TIA

 

[punisherer]

I can't speak much for graphics software but for development macs are far superior to Windows (coming from a developer using windows for 12ish years). You won't regret getting one.

 

[Sub-lime]

I can't speak much for graphics software but for development macs are far superior to Windows (coming from a developer using windows for 12ish years). You won't regret getting one.

Ive heard so, especially on frameworks like Laravel, what a nightmare setting this up on PC, or im doing it wrong and in that case..teach me already haha

 

[DannyBoyOPC]

I’m no developer, but I don’t regret moving over to Mac at all.

At my previous company I was given a Dell and after 2 years into its 3 year warranty, the only part on it that hadn’t been changed was the casing.

After that I moved over to Mac and haven’t looked back.
Started with a MD101 which can accept ram upgrades as well as SSD drive.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ian_stagib]

If they're all using apple machines and you want stability then your decision is made up already. Price wise they compare very well to similar specced laptops, but those are obviously the more premium laptops. Hackintosh is not what you're wanting if stability is key. Find a second hand one on the forum or check with the carb resellers. You can always dual boot windows if you need to.

 

[PandaAttack1]

By the sounds of it you are into a bit of development? Buy a mac and never look back dude.

Cost is a non issue. Similarly specced laptops/pc's come down to roughly the same cost. A top spec Dell XPS 15/Lenovo P50 cost around the same price as a macbook pro 15". Mac gets a lot of shit because they have no entry level options.

For development, everything just works on a Mac... I have been developing on a mac for the past 8 years, and I cannot imagine having to do my daily work on my windows PC. That said, I think I might've been equally happy with any unix based machine, but I am blessed to be able to afford and use a mac daily.

 

[vanryder]

From my experience, don't waste your time on a Hackintosh. I've been there, the configuration is time consuming and you wont get that "golden build". Imo, stuff just works better on macOs.

 

[ChazySA]

Macbook for development is perfection. However, just make sure you have 16gb Ram and at least 4 cores. IntelliJ will thank you later

 

[Giovanni]

Used to be using my MacBook and Windows PC only when I really needed to get stuff done. A few months back I bought an RX580 for the PC (native macOS support) and went the hackintosh route. No issues till date, rarely use my MacBook now.

macOS for development is amazing. I do mostly frontend, PHP, NodeJS & Android everything is seamless.

 

[SauRoN]

If the company is all Apple then best to stick with that and the real deal, not some Hacintosh kak especially since you don't know anything about it.

Much like I suffer Windows because the whole company runs on it now.

1. Should i get an Apple product or go the hackintosh route (assistance will be needed). - Reliability is key

Get the real Apple, you cannot beat it for reliability.

3. Bang for buck, i have seen the new prices and no i cannot justify it even if i can afford it. Will a non-pro suffice for the above.

You haven't stated desktop or laptop? There are a few non-Pro iMac options out there that aren't too outrageous. While they seem expensive up front they do stand the test of time better than conventional PC's and therefore cost less annually over time.

4. Edumacate me please, is Apple OS that efficient that a low spec apple can perform well under load. Older gen I5 with 4/8Gb ddr3 and fusion drives (Ah it's next to the flux capacitor)?

It generally does do much much better at lower specs than the alternative Windows machines.

SSD is key however and I would compromise on everything else to have that.

 

[Sub-lime]

Thanks for all the feedback and I think I already knew the answer but needed the confirmation.

@PandaAttack1 I'm a full time full stack developer. For 15 years, it's my daily.

Are MacMini's worth it? Since I have multiple good monitors already I don't want to fork out for IMac. MacBook Air would be an option too.

 

[vanryder]

@Mathewjk

 

[Sub-lime]

Bumping this as i have more questions than answers.

I have done some more research, even visited the Apple store and their Apple geniuses (let's say it was an experience..).

Regarding development (Laravel, craft, Js, react, vue, Sql stuff and some design software if required) what specs should i be looking for, is Retina needed, do i need a Pro or is an Air good enough...
So realistically a budget of 15K would be an acceptable amount (I will not go higher).

FYI for the designers out there tired of paying Adobe prices please have a look at Affinity, i have replaced Photoshop, Indesign and Illustrator with their 3 products (R2100 for all 3 products for life). Fully compatible with Adobe files and honestly their new Studio Link is really a game changer in workflow and UX. Affinity - Professional creative software

Watch the video on Studio link - worth it! Focus on StudioLink - Affinity Spotlight

 

[AfricanTech]

From my experience, don't waste your time on a Hackintosh. I've been there, the configuration is time consuming and you wont get that "golden build". Imo, stuff just works better on macOs.

This x 100 (looks at scars from trying to go that route)

@OP, you won't look back - I only have a PC for gaming purposes now.

It's worth paying for a MacbookPro - recommend the 13" with an external Monitor - you'll want a dual screen setup for productivity purposes anyway.

 

[Sub-lime]

This x 100 (looks at scars from trying to go that route)

@OP, you won't look back - I only have a PC for gaming purposes now.

It's worth paying for a MacbookPro - recommend the 13" with an external Monitor - you'll want a dual screen setup for productivity purposes anyway.

Thanks, I have dual monitors already setup on my other workstation.

Bottom of the range Pro acceptable?

 

[PJtheKILL3R]

For development I have a relatively straight forward requirement list:

Quad core CPU (Dual core with HT might be fine for some things)
16GB Ram

So regardless if you buy a air or Macbook Pro, if the model you are buying meets that criteria you are golden.
Doing compiles on a Macbook Air with a dual core CPU and only 8GB of ram is totally do-able, just not very snappy.

My Mac mini at the office is a 2014 model with a dual core i5 and it is WAY slower than my Mac VM on my windows PC where I have a 4700K

The 2018/2019 MacBook Pro 13" models have quad core i5's and 8GB which I think should be fine for 95% of devs.
But looking at a older perhaps 2016/2017 15" model will give you that 16GB ram figure and of course a i7

 

[AfricanTech]

Bumping this as i have more questions than answers.

I have done some more research, even visited the Apple store and their Apple geniuses (let's say it was an experience..).

Regarding development (Laravel, craft, Js, react, vue, Sql stuff and some design software if required) what specs should i be looking for, is Retina needed, do i need a Pro or is an Air good enough...
So realistically a budget of 15K would be an acceptable amount (I will not go higher).

FYI for the designers out there tired of paying Adobe prices please have a look at Affinity, i have replaced Photoshop, Indesign and Illustrator with their 3 products (R2100 for all 3 products for life). Fully compatible with Adobe files and honestly their new Studio Link is really a game changer in workflow and UX. Affinity - Professional creative software

Watch the video on Studio link - worth it! Focus on StudioLink - Affinity Spotlight

ah ha ha - the Apple 'Geniuses' at the Core Stores? Most of them are certified morons

Retina isn't absolutely required but when you push to the higher resolutions it really does look fantastic

The Air should be ok (just slower than the Pro) but 16GB RAM is a must.

Oh yes, don't bother with any model that has the 'touchbar' - it's not worth the extra money.

 

[Sub-lime]

Thanks for the answers guys, this is what i needed. Now i need to say bye to some money, what an awful feeling.

 

[AfricanTech]

Thanks, I have dual monitors already setup on my other workstation.

Bottom of the range Pro acceptable?

Absolutely but 16GB RAM is essential otherwise you're going to cry (as I said in the other post, you could probably get away with an Air but it will definitely be slower than the Pro for dev work - for normal usage (email, browsing, youtube, netflix, etc) you won't regret the Air)*

Remember to factor in the cost of two USB-C adapters to run the two screens

* My daughter uses an Air for Uni and it just runs and runs; I have a Pro and

 

[SauRoN]

I have done some more research, even visited the Apple store and their Apple geniuses (let's say it was an experience..).

Can't comment on the rest, but just want to point out we don't have either of those assuming you are in SA.[/QUOTE]

 

[Sub-lime]

Can't comment on the rest, but just want to point out we don't have either of those assuming you are in SA.

[/QUOTE]

Yes im in SA, and even if we did we don't.

 

[SauRoN]

Yes im in SA, and even if we did we don't.

Yeah the Genuises overseas are actually legitimately good and worth chatting to.

Down here Digicape isn't too bad if you hit the right person, but iStore is generally atrocious.

Very very few Apple people who really know their stuff and generally not in the retail space.