A new iMac for under $500?

[neb1211]

Two Mac-focused sites--Think Secret and Apple Insider--reported on the possible release of a low-end Apple PC this week, citing unnamed sources. The rumored $499 Mac will have no monitor, 256MB of RAM, a 1.25GHz PowerPC G4 processor and a hard drive with storage capacity between 40GB and 80GB, according to the reports.

http://news.com.com/A+new+iMac+for+under+5..._3-5508745.html

It would be nice if this is true.  I would love to own a mac but it was never worth it to spend more than a thousand dollars on a computer that wasn't even a laptop, considiering that I could build a fairly nice PC for around $500 - $700

[pvr02]

I might get one as well.  At work we have some MACs (G5's) and whenever we have to do something on them we have to hire someone to come in because no one in our department knows much about em.

[mipadi]

I might get one as well.  At work we have some MACs (G5's) and whenever we have to do something on them we have to hire someone to come in because no one in our department knows much about em.

I love that Macs are so alien to people. Means job security for guys like me.    

[neb1211]

Well the rumors were true.



http://www.apple.com/macmini/

Now perhaps I will finally get a mac...

[Picchioni]

You still want my G3 my parents are considering getting a couple mini's and dumping the G3.

Although maybe ill throw linux on it and turn it into an FTP

[mipadi]

You know, you can keep OS X on it and use it to serve FTP files. It's simpler and less hassle.

[acemaverick1381]

Are you talking about installing Linux on a Mac is a hassle, or using Linux as a FTP server is a hassle? (I'm guessing you are meaning the first one. I've tried to install Linux on a Mac...defiantely not something I want to try again)

[mipadi]

Primarily installing Linux on a Mac is a hassle, but I'd be willing to bet that administrating an FTP server under OS X is probably less hassle than on Linux, too, although I'll undoubtedly go down in flames for a comment like that...

[acemaverick1381]

I've never ran a server off a Mac, so I can't really comment. I have run an FTP server of a Linux box though. If you are going to use Apache it makes it even easier. Also, if you are using Apache on a Mac it would just be as easy if you are using a bash shell.

login as root
apachectl start

Whamo, Apache is up and running. Administrating isn't that hard either. Open up the httpd.conf file and edit what you need to. And, just like on any computer make sure you have as little many ports open as you can manage to keep it secure.

If you are planning on using something other than Apache, then I can't really say. Whenever I've had to setup a server, Apache has always been what I have chosen.

[neb1211]

You can use apache to host an FTP server?  I didn't know that.  I thought it was only an http server.

[acemaverick1381]

Well, why couldn't you use it as an FTP server?

[neb1211]

because it is an HTTP server.  Even if you set it up to where you have to log in and what not it still isn't an ftp server.  It is just an HTTP server that you need to log into...

But I did do a quick google search and found http://incubator.apache.org/projects/ftpserver/

 

[acemaverick1381]

When I get home from school, I'll really take a look at Incubator and see how it functions. If its anything like the Apache HTTP server, then it should be very secure and of course multiplatform.

[pcgeek]

same with me, i have always wanted a mac but they were to damn expensive so im almost definate i will get this one.

[neb1211]

I could afford one before but I could never justify spending a lot of money on a computer that didn't have the program support that I needed.  The main reason that I would like a mac is so I can muck around on it and get to know the mac os a little better.  That way I would be able to help the people that come to the store and need help with their macs...

[Picchioni]

My G3 is to slow to run X it's running 9.2 right now

[Picchioni]

I could afford one before but I could never justify spending a lot of money on a computer that didn't have the program support that I needed.  The main reason that I would like a mac is so I can muck around on it and get to know the mac os a little better.  That way I would be able to help the people that come to the store and need help with their macs...

buy one and write it off as a business expense

[pcgeek]

i heard they totally suck, like they only have a 4200 rpm hdfd, but there was a trick or sumtin on tss to put a faster one in. but the specs arnt that good at all, ill just save my money and get a good one.

[acemaverick1381]

I hate to think I am supporting Macs with this post, but oh well. When you see 3.4ghz on a PC, you think hmm, thats fast. There is no doubt that when people see a lower number on a Mac like 1ghz they don't think its as fast.

However, that 1ghz is more like 2.0ghz if you were to compare it to a P4. Mac's are built quite well, and thats how they are able to run as fast as they do. (You could also argue that Mac OS has something to do with that, and you could make a pretty good case of it)

To be honest, I don't mind Mac hardware, its the OS that I can't stand. Either way, I would never buy one, but I thought I would try to clarify up some what seem to be issues.

If you want my opinion, I would too get a PC, but for $500, that is defiantely a tempting price.

[mipadi]

To be honest, I don't mind Mac hardware, its the OS that I can't stand.

Probably because you're not used to not having to recompile your whole kernel and your programs when an update comes out.  

[acemaverick1381]

Hey, lets also rememeber what other OS doesn't have to recompile its own kernel when a new update comes out. In fact, this OS doesn't even ship with any software tools that you would use to recompile it.  

[mipadi]

You mean Windows? Well, yes, that's true.

[acemaverick1381]

Yes, I'm talking about Windows. I believe OS/2 also didn't have to recompile the kernel..Every once and awhile I love to use OS/2 just for fun.

[aliencam]

lol osX is close enough to unix to be useable, but installing yellow dog linux is always an easy step to take to get away form OS...  i might buy one just so i can learn how to use a mac... lol of course i still have my OS/7 Power PC worst thing i've ever used lol.  

[neb1211]

Yeah I can imagine.  I never liked OS7 a whole lot either...