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Macbook vs. Mac Mini
Dec. 15th, 2008 10:44 amI really want to do some iPhone development at some point in the near future, so it is becoming imperative to get myself a Mac-based computer. Since I've rediscovered my personal motivation and drive to work, I believe that I'm in a good position right now to encourage this and get moving on doing something there.
I'm trying to decide between getting a Mac Mini or a Macbook. Both are sufficient for my needs in terms of development work. The difference between them is really just cost and mobility. The Mac Mini costs about $600, but is not mobile. The Macbook is mobile, but costs $1300. There is an issue of power, but the Mac Mini is really not that much less powerful than the Macbook, relative to my needs.
So what does this mean?
Well... Cost is an issue because of a number of reasons. As usual, I am supposed to be focusing my money on getting my debt paid off, but also as usual, I'm failing to do so. There are just too many important things to spend my money on, all of which have frankly been absolutely worth it. But... the Mac mini is better on my budget than the Macbook. I also have a friend that may be interested in selling me his Mac Mini for even cheaper. Because of saving up and stuff, I probably won't be able to buy the Macbook until late January or early February, unless I want to use the power of credit debt... but we've already seen how bad of an idea that can be.
Mobility is a different issue. My objective is to begin doing the "Thursday night coding" thing. That was actually working really well when![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
andrea_lambda and I were doing it on Wednesdays. So I would love to restart it. However, I am currently tied to working on my coding projects in my bedroom on my desktop computer. If I were to have a Mac Mini, I'd continue to be tethered to that desk.
That's not to say there's anything WRONG with being tethered there. It works out quite well, really. But it limits me in terms of human interaction. See, I find that I work better when I have human companionship. Someone to touch or talk to every now and then. It's odd. It's like I really thrive in "t-alone" time, meaning being together with someone, but also focusing on my own things "alone." Without mobility, anyone I want to do this with has to cram into my bedroom. With mobility, I can sit with people in the living room, go to coffee shops, and do "project nights" over at the homes of other people. It's an extraordinarily valuable thing to have, and will probably help keep me maintain my self-motivation.
Of course, I do already have a work laptop, but then I would have to do all of my iPhone work on my desktop with the Mac Mini. Plus, I really don't like the idea of putting too much in the way of personal stuff on my work laptop. That's for work, not for personal stuff.
I'm strongly leaning towards the Macbook, but I may buy a Mac Mini as a stop gap if my friend has a pretty low price on selling me his.
I'm trying to decide between getting a Mac Mini or a Macbook. Both are sufficient for my needs in terms of development work. The difference between them is really just cost and mobility. The Mac Mini costs about $600, but is not mobile. The Macbook is mobile, but costs $1300. There is an issue of power, but the Mac Mini is really not that much less powerful than the Macbook, relative to my needs.
So what does this mean?
Well... Cost is an issue because of a number of reasons. As usual, I am supposed to be focusing my money on getting my debt paid off, but also as usual, I'm failing to do so. There are just too many important things to spend my money on, all of which have frankly been absolutely worth it. But... the Mac mini is better on my budget than the Macbook. I also have a friend that may be interested in selling me his Mac Mini for even cheaper. Because of saving up and stuff, I probably won't be able to buy the Macbook until late January or early February, unless I want to use the power of credit debt... but we've already seen how bad of an idea that can be.
Mobility is a different issue. My objective is to begin doing the "Thursday night coding" thing. That was actually working really well when
andrea_lambda and I were doing it on Wednesdays. So I would love to restart it. However, I am currently tied to working on my coding projects in my bedroom on my desktop computer. If I were to have a Mac Mini, I'd continue to be tethered to that desk.That's not to say there's anything WRONG with being tethered there. It works out quite well, really. But it limits me in terms of human interaction. See, I find that I work better when I have human companionship. Someone to touch or talk to every now and then. It's odd. It's like I really thrive in "t-alone" time, meaning being together with someone, but also focusing on my own things "alone." Without mobility, anyone I want to do this with has to cram into my bedroom. With mobility, I can sit with people in the living room, go to coffee shops, and do "project nights" over at the homes of other people. It's an extraordinarily valuable thing to have, and will probably help keep me maintain my self-motivation.
Of course, I do already have a work laptop, but then I would have to do all of my iPhone work on my desktop with the Mac Mini. Plus, I really don't like the idea of putting too much in the way of personal stuff on my work laptop. That's for work, not for personal stuff.
I'm strongly leaning towards the Macbook, but I may buy a Mac Mini as a stop gap if my friend has a pretty low price on selling me his.
