Dream Weaver

I need to buy myself a cheap Mac/iMac but not really sure what to look for.

It will be used solely for testing out websites, and specifically for testing ASP and DB driven sites for compatability for both layout and functionaility.

Any Mac users out there that can advise? Seen a couple of iMacs on Ebay for £150 or there abouts - would that do for what I need it for?

Edit: The cheaper the better as well

Mike P

Hi mate

So long as the machine is up to running OS X (tip: plenty of RAM is a Good Thing) then that should be fine. The min specs for OS X are available from the apple site.

Configure it for dual boot (Can't remember if you need to put two partitions on the disk, one for OS 9.x and one for OS X), possibly not as the two OS can sit side-by-side.

Browser-wise, install IE, Safari and Mozilla. Mozilla seems to be the best of the bunch.

Mike

angrynorth

Probablybest off finding a dual boot machine if its just for testing. This way you can boot in the old OS9 environment and the lovely new OSX environment too. It may cost a little more, but from a test environment its well worth it. Any G4 should be able to do this for you.

Regarding the OS though, its worth ensuring you have the latest version (Panther) as you will then be able to test in the latest versions of Safari too.

Some I have seen on eBay that would suit are here:

Decent machine
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...sPageName=WDVW

Not bad, will be little slow though
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...sPageName=WDVW

Good machine
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...103014747&rd=1

Good too...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...103071082&rd=1


Cheap and quick-ish
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...102672136&rd=1

BIt of a monster but will come in handy when you decide you like it so much you use it full time
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...102684758&rd=1

angrynorth

Also Apple's refurb store is open all week this week (rare occurrence, usually open from 10am - 4pm Wednesdays) if you want something with a warranty.

Cheap iPods on there too.

Scooby Dooby Blue

Is this any use:

http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthrea...06#post3452606

AllanB

I'll check as we may have some surplus imacs as we've upgraded to emacs at MacWarehouse. Don't forget that a brand new emac is available pretty cheap these days.


AllanB

PS I've got a PowerMac G3 that was going to be my scanning machine but I may be changing my plans.

lightning101

Think you will find Millets have the cheapest macs.

Dream Weaver

Only if you'll accept about £150

Allan - if you have any machines going spare let me know

Lightning - cheers

Scooby Dooby Blue

....and McDonalds do the biggest ones!

bigman

If you are buying an imac, make sure it is one of the later models as they take standard PC133 or PC100 memory upgrades.

The older models will only take laptop style sdram which is a pain as not only is it expensive but you also need to remove the processor board to install it.

Also to answer the earlier question regarding dual boot. If you install os9 first and then upgrade to OS-X, you can then share both operating systems on a single partition and flick between them on reboot.