[CityCM]

I've currently got a high spec PC - Core i5 2500K 3.33GHz Quad Core, 16GB Ram, 80GB Intel X-25M G2 SSD, 1TB Samsung F3 Drive, GTX460 Graphics - hardware custom picked to be hackintosh compatible and currently runs Lion perfectly at home.

However, we're moving to a new office on 1st October and I'm wondering whether to take this PC with me or buy a 2.3GHz Mac Mini and stick an SSD in and upgrade the ram.

What do you guys think?

[Renaissance-Design]

Far more power and flexibility with your current rig. Is your new office particularly small?

[CityCM]

Renaissance-Design, on 23 September 2011 - 08:36 PM, said:

Far more power and flexibility with your current rig. Is your new office particularly small?

New office is quite spacious really. I'm just thinking about the legality/morality of using a hackintosh in business.

We have 2 hackintoshes at the moment. One is a dual core i5 660 3.3GHz which has a few issues with booting OSX so may replace that one first (if any).

This post has been edited by CityCM: 23 September 2011 - 09:08 PM

[pandadoodle]

Only thing I use my mac mini for is a home media server with plesx on it. If your moving I think you should get an imac even if you can't go brand new for the same price as a new mac mini you can pick up last years imac on ebay for the same price!

I bought a G5 on ebay few months ago a late 2005 maxed the ram to 16GB put a SSD in there and its almost as good as my newer powermac! Another option for you there

This post has been edited by pandadoodle: 24 September 2011 - 05:51 AM

[TylerCollins]

As long as the operating system is legal, then why would there be a problem?

[Renaissance-Design]

TylerCollins, on 24 September 2011 - 10:27 AM, said:

As long as the operating system is legal, then why would there be a problem?

Because Apple's TOS forbid running it on non-Apple hardware.

[zed]

where's the EU when you need them?

[CityCM]

pandadoodle, on 24 September 2011 - 05:49 AM, said:

Only thing I use my mac mini for is a home media server with plesx on it. If your moving I think you should get an imac even if you can't go brand new for the same price as a new mac mini you can pick up last years imac on ebay for the same price!

I bought a G5 on ebay few months ago a late 2005 maxed the ram to 16GB put a SSD in there and its almost as good as my newer powermac! Another option for you there

Thanks Pandadoodle. My issue with the iMacs is that a 21.5" is too small so would need to run a 2nd display as well (which although not out of the question, wouldn't be my preferred choice because I like 'matched' dual display setups), 27" iMacs are too big and 24" iMacs are too old (still on Core 2 Duo hardware).

Also, as I have CS5, it will need to be an Intel Mac I believe.

This post has been edited by CityCM: 24 September 2011 - 05:33 PM

[pandadoodle]

Yeah you wount get CS5 to run on a G5. I still find the core 2 runs well enough mind you, you thought about getting a powerbook then hooking up a cinema screen to it? (or thunderbolt if you want brand new) Although you need the extra keyboard and mouse at least you can take the machine away with you, to clients, work on the road etc but that comes with an extra grand on the price tag...

Of course for the spec machine your currently running would you not consider getting a power mac from the get go? Apple have 0% APR on hardware at the moment if you wanted to lease!

[CityCM]

Yeah, I think, if I could get an iMac with a decent size SSD in it, a Core 2 iMac or i3 iMac probably wouldn't be too bad an idea but I wouldn't be comfortable taking the screen off to change the hard drive myself because if the screen got the tiniest spec behind the glass it'd bug me forever.

I already actually have a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo MBP (15") but still need to source systems for the rest of the guys working in the office.

We looked last night at leasing options from hardsoft.co.uk but it's not much cheaper per month over 3 years than buying new from Apple and paying over 2 years.

Edit: I assume you mean a Mac Pro when you say Power mac? Powermac's only go upto G5's.

This post has been edited by CityCM: 24 September 2011 - 06:19 PM

[pandadoodle]

CityCM, on 24 September 2011 - 06:18 PM, said:

Yeah, I think, if I could get an iMac with a decent size SSD in it, a Core 2 iMac or i3 iMac probably wouldn't be too bad an idea but I wouldn't be comfortable taking the screen off to change the hard drive myself because if the screen got the tiniest spec behind the glass it'd bug me forever.

I already actually have a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo MBP (15") but still need to source systems for the rest of the guys working in the office.

We looked last night at leasing options from hardsoft.co.uk but it's not much cheaper per month over 3 years than buying new from Apple and paying over 2 years.

Edit: I assume you mean a Mac Pro when you say Power mac? Powermac's only go upto G5's.

Yeah Mac Pro sorry been using for so long I keep forgetting to switch up the new terms Apple if you been going for a 3+ years sole trader or are ltd they offer 12 month and 36 months APR free fiance I got a new imac and ipad off them over 12 months.

I know what you mean about the screen took one off had problems with it after, and cleaning it never really got it clean inside would always be some hidden mark you would spot when the light hit it just right!

[CityCM]

pandadoodle, on 24 September 2011 - 07:01 PM, said:

Yeah Mac Pro sorry been using for so long I keep forgetting to switch up the new terms Apple if you been going for a 3+ years sole trader or are ltd they offer 12 month and 36 months APR free fiance I got a new imac and ipad off them over 12 months.

I know what you mean about the screen took one off had problems with it after, and cleaning it never really got it clean inside would always be some hidden mark you would spot when the light hit it just right!

Definately something worth considering. Unfortunately, we don't have 3+ years worth of accounts to provide to Apple though because we were using a personal bank account to start with and things got very confusing. I think I might pop to PC World tomorrow to take a look at the iMacs and Mac Mini's.

If we chose to go with iMacs, would we be better off leasing from somewhere like hardsoft.co.uk or buying on Finance from the Apple store?

[pandadoodle]

I think hardsoft and pc world will take you on if you been going for under 3 years and will allow business fiance pending a credit check etc. Apple you would have to go through a personal lease with them, but you would have to check and find out. May have changed but I had to wait a while before I could lease so went to PC World many moons ago.

The only thing I would say is that I personally think that although the end value (over the lease) will say your imac or mac mini is less than £100.. you should easily be able to get 2-450 back on an imac on ebay compared to your mac mini thats why I've never really bothered much with the mini. I have one at home as my media player and then we used to have on in the meeting room in work but was never used as a development machine.

[CityCM]

pandadoodle, on 24 September 2011 - 07:57 PM, said:

I think hardsoft and pc world will take you on if you been going for under 3 years and will allow business fiance pending a credit check etc. Apple you would have to go through a personal lease with them, but you would have to check and find out. May have changed but I had to wait a while before I could lease so went to PC World many moons ago.

The only thing I would say is that I personally think that although the end value (over the lease) will say your imac or mac mini is less than £100.. you should easily be able to get 2-450 back on an imac on ebay compared to your mac mini thats why I've never really bothered much with the mini. I have one at home as my media player and then we used to have on in the meeting room in work but was never used as a development machine.

As you said, Hardsoft do go by credit checks. Will only be going to PCW to have a nose - I'd never buy from them lol. Out of interest, what info did you have to provide to Apple for business finance?

If I went with getting it directly from Apple, I would probably purchase it through finance instead of leasing as buying it would cost about £67 a month for a 27" iMac but my worry is still the issue about sticking an SSD in there hence the Mini.

Really don't know what to do for the best

[pandadoodle]

Yeah the SSD does make a huge difference!!!

I was lucky that I could provide details form my accountant anyway, but you need to provide bank statements, letter from bank same kind of info most places ask for. If your limited then they simply search the company see if returns have been filed or not and if not may request to do a search on the directors or provide some kind of guarantee.

No matter what situation I've been in I've leased either personally and then loan the equipment to the business and claim that back tax wise or lease directly through the company as its one more thing to make a little dent in my end of year.

1TB + 256MB SSD is £480 extra according to apple

This post has been edited by pandadoodle: 24 September 2011 - 08:40 PM

[CityCM]

pandadoodle, on 24 September 2011 - 08:39 PM, said:

Yeah the SSD does make a huge difference!!!

I was lucky that I could provide details form my accountant anyway, but you need to provide bank statements, letter from bank same kind of info most places ask for. If your limited then they simply search the company see if returns have been filed or not and if not may request to do a search on the directors or provide some kind of guarantee.

No matter what situation I've been in I've leased either personally and then loan the equipment to the business and claim that back tax wise or lease directly through the company as its one more thing to make a little dent in my end of year.

1TB + 256MB SSD is £480 extra according to apple

Yeah their prices for upgrades are shocking.

Out of interest, why do you lease instead of buying?

Left you some +1's for being so helpful

This post has been edited by CityCM: 24 September 2011 - 08:50 PM

[pandadoodle]

CityCM, on 24 September 2011 - 08:47 PM, said:

Yeah their prices for upgrades are shocking.

Out of interest, why do you lease instead of buying?

Claim the payment back off tax rather than depreciation value. Easier on the cash flow, goes back to when I first had an agency really buying office stuff and then the hardware was always 'hard' on the pocket lol.

Then this time around it was a case of buying the garden office outright or the extra mac I didn't really need (but don't tell the wife that) I have bought some things outright but I always get buys remorse after dropping a few grand, it never seems to hurt as much after.

Yeah Apple are funny with prices I remember buying a miniDVI to DVI and that cost me something stupid like 14-24 quid...

If you got an iphone and you do get a macmini download and install rowmote for both, you can control every aspect of your mac mini from it even has mouse and keyboard functions built in great for slow fridays

This post has been edited by pandadoodle: 24 September 2011 - 08:57 PM

[CityCM]

Went to the Currys/PC World store today and had a look at the Macs. The 21.5" iMac actually wasn't that bad. I did feel the 27" was far too big though to be honest. The 21.5" would be ok with an additional 23" screen or something.

So now, with a Hackintosh out of the window, I just need to decide between a 2.5GHz i5 Mini that I can upgrade to an SSD or a 2.5GHz Quad Core iMac that I can't.

[pandadoodle]

Quad iMac over the mini regardless of the SSD simply because 2-3 years when you come to upgrade (maybe) you can get a large % of your money back on the iMac.

What ram you putting in both?

[CityCM]

Depends, I would probably max out the ram purely because we'll be running Windows 7 in Parallels so would be good to have enough ram to run both happily.

Just wondering whether Apple would install a third party SSD for a cost.

This post has been edited by CityCM: 25 September 2011 - 02:07 PM

[pandadoodle]

IF you take it to an apple shop they will HOWEVER they would want to up sell you their own SSD rather than the one you provide even if they take it... might be worth calling them on monday (your local store that is)

Why dont you keep your hacktintosh and run windows on that? What do you need anyway you can network between them really easy anyway

Id go down the imac route if your maxing ram out even with our without the SSD it would make a better machine IMO

[CityCM]

Yeah, I will give them a call on Monday. The two hackintosh systems we have at present are fairly new (the one in my OP being brand new) and we could probably claw back nearly enough for the two to buy a 21.5" iMac outright so couldn't justify keeping them as well as the iMacs.

We only need Windows for testing/book keeping software as we've not yet found anything we like on the mac for book keeping. Our current live chat software is also Windows based but we're moving that over to a web based system this week.

[pandadoodle]

Daft question but when you say book keeping what are you running software wise? Is it just for keeping track of money in out / clients and invoices etc?

[CityCM]

We were using Microsoft Money but got disc got damaged so at the moment we're using VT Cashbook. For invoicing, etc, we use WHMCS which is web based so it's literally just keeping track of money in/money out with a nicely presented report at the end of year.

This post has been edited by CityCM: 25 September 2011 - 05:27 PM

[pandadoodle]

Take a look at file maker, its what I use. Had the database created to track money in and out etc, got it on the iphone so i can add receipts on the road and updates once i dock or within reach of my server.

[Fredrik Robert]

I have learned about the hackintosh but i have no idea how to install it. I want to know that what is the minimum hardware requirement for the Hackintosh ? I don't have high spec but i want install it on my computer, I have an old Pentium 4 3Ghz , 1GB, 160Gb hdd +DVD . Can i install it on my computer ?

[CityCM]

Fredrik Robert, on 28 September 2011 - 04:42 PM, said:

I have learned about the hackintosh but i have no idea how to install it. I want to know that what is the minimum hardware requirement for the Hackintosh ? I don't have high spec but i want install it on my computer, I have an old Pentium 4 3Ghz , 1GB, 160Gb hdd +DVD . Can i install it on my computer ?

I doubt it very much. Your best bet would be to look on insanelymac.com

[bocaj]

Fredrik Robert, on 28 September 2011 - 04:42 PM, said:

I have learned about the hackintosh but i have no idea how to install it. I want to know that what is the minimum hardware requirement for the Hackintosh ? I don't have high spec but i want install it on my computer, I have an old Pentium 4 3Ghz , 1GB, 160Gb hdd +DVD . Can i install it on my computer ?

It's mostly about motherboard, graphics, sound and networking compatability.

HDD, and DVD's use pretty generic drivers, so wouldn't be an issue.

Check the compatibility list http://wiki.osx86pro...x.php/Main_Page

This post has been edited by bocaj: 03 October 2011 - 06:29 AM

[Angelo]

Definitely Mac Mini - to avoid any problems that can ruin your mac os x experience.

[Georgew]

Angelo, on 26 October 2011 - 08:44 PM, said:

Definitely Mac Mini - to avoid any problems that can ruin your mac os x experience.

Like?

[4hbrainboy]

Hackintosh Defiantly - I have had a hackintosh a few months ago. The best part of it was that you could add as much memory, hard drive space, a nice CPU and graphics card. The best part of it was that it was about 10 times cheaper than real iMac. The only problem I had with mine was that I installed a couple of the wrong drives and it corrupt the whole system and It doesn't work now! So if you decide to build one research the drivers and double check. I used an easy Hackintosh installer called iBoot and MultiBeast from Here. Good Luck and Have FUN!!!!

[RobbieD90]

4hbrainboy, on 02 December 2011 - 01:35 AM, said:

Hackintosh Defiantly - I have had a hackintosh a few months ago. The best part of it was that you could add as much memory, hard drive space, a nice CPU and graphics card. The best part of it was that it was about 10 times cheaper than real iMac. The only problem I had with mine was that I installed a couple of the wrong drives and it corrupt the whole system and It doesn't work now! So if you decide to build one research the drivers and double check. I used an easy Hackintosh installer called iBoot and MultiBeast from Here. Good Luck and Have FUN!!!!

He probably shouldn't because it's illegal. If your in business you shouldn't be taking part in illegal practices.

[Glowbridge]

It's a grey area at best.

If you download a pre-modded OSX torrent. Easy, illegal, it is piracy.
I installed my Hackintosh using a legitimate OSX Snow Leopard disc I own, using BIOS mods. (The iBoot and Multibeast method posted above) I don't think that is illegal.

Either way is against Apple EULA but EULA isn't law. You void warranty and forfeit your right to support by installing on non-Apple hardware but they can't stop you from doing what you want with things you purchased. They tried that with the Jailbreaking crowd and lost.

This post has been edited by Glowbridge: 02 December 2011 - 12:51 PM