Which Mac Should I Buy? Advice From A Computer Repair Expert

When it comes to Apple computers there is a wide choice of products that suit every budget and application. I will break this down to laptops (MacBook’s), iMacs (All-In-ones) and Mac Mini (computer only). This article does not do a deep dive, it’s more of a general guide to what is available in October 2022.

Laptops or MacBooks

MacBook Air

Apple laptops aka MacBooks come in various configurations but one of the lightest and most popular is the MacBook Air which is a budget-conscious choice for many. It is very light at around 1.29kg and has a sleek aluminium case. Apple currently offers this in a 13 inch screen and with either the slightly older M1 chip or the very recently announced (July 2022) M2 chip. Both are very power efficient and quick with multiple cores assisting in any processing required. MacBook Airs come in several different configurations with chips (as above), different RAM amounts and different SSD storage sizes. The prices vary depending on the configuration required.

They also have the usual two USB ports for connectivity and more components can be added by purchasing an adapter or USB hub, which Apple sells or you can purchase a third-party item. Wi-Fi is standard as well as Bluetooth for any wireless connections required, pretty much essential these days so a Bluetooth mouse, keyboard or speakers do not require a USB connection.

Apples M1 chips are up to around 20% faster than the old Intel CPUs so wait time is reduced. These are excellent laptops but be warned they cannot be upgraded so think carefully when choosing one of the different models offered.

MacBook Pro

Apple also sell the MacBook Pro again in different configurations and screen sizes 13, 14 and 16 inch. The Apple MacBook Pro is their “top of the line” laptop and is generally larger and heavier than the Air. These computers are designed for the more demanding user and they cost and perform better than the MacBook Air. Again, choose carefully as they cannot be upgraded, what you buy is what you will have.

All the MacBooks have excellent screen brightness and clarity with high screen resolutions but the more expensive ones with Liquid Retina XDR would be the best.

Mac Mini

Mac Mini is Apple’s smallest desktop Mac and is a good combination of price, speed, performance and small form factor. Again as above there are various options with M1 chips and SSD sizes and a M2 version will no doubt be available soon. Connectivity is good with USB ports, HDMI port, headphone jack and a Gigabit Ethernet port.

The Mac Mini does require you to provide your own monitor, keyboard and mouse so take that into account when deciding which Apple product is right for you. The Mini does have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built into it as with the laptops for connecting peripheries. An excellent little computer and it was the first to receive the new M1 chip in November 2020. The price is also very attractive to many.

Apple iMac

Apple iMac comes in two different screen sizes – 24 inch and 27 inch. Again as per above there are many different M1 and M2 chips available as well as different SSD sizes and RAM specifications and body colours, again choose the one you want as they are not upgradable. The 4.5K Retina screen is excellent with support for a wide colour range and brightness. An anti-reflective coating on the screen assists with readability and light reflection. Again the prices reflect the different options and hence care should be taken to purchase the one that suits your needs.

Connectivity is again good and very similar to above. One thing to note for some people is that the new iMac does not come with an SD card slot so if that is what you require then an external unit will need to be purchased. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are built in with the Ethernet port on the power adapter. Please note that on the lowest priced iMac the power adapter does not have this Ethernet port. One other thing to note is the lowest priced iMac has one fan whereas the more expensive ones have two. Now, this may not be an issue for many users it is something to bear in mind in hot Australian summers.

Mac Studio

There are two other Apple offerings which are the Mac Studio and the Studio Max both with M1 and soon M2 chips. These are designed for the person who wants a Mac Mini sized unit but with more power. Again prices vary depending on configurations and requirements. For someone wanting a built in SD Card slot then these units may be for you. They are designed for a heavier workload than a Mac Mini which is for the more professional video editing, graphics design or media production task. As with the Mac Mini you are required to provide any ancillary devices.

Mac Pro

This computer is for serious server type applications or real heavy duty video/file editing and still uses the Intel Xeon processors. Anyone interested in this computer will not likely be reading this article as they would know all about it anyway as it was released in 2019.

Any Apple computer is an investment in leading edge technology and there is one to suit just about everyone, it’s just a case of choosing what you require and then choosing the hardware that suits your needs.

If you need assistance, then please do not hesitate to contact us here at Affordable Computer Repairs and Service 3397 1215. or 0409 974 707

Hugely happy with the service and attention provided to me over a broken laptop issue I had. Kept me up-to-date and was knowledgeable about the possible problems and fixes. Would recommend to anyone in the area or from further afield.

Bryn Jenkins

16/04/2024

Could not recommend any higher! Were more than happy to take time and talk out the issue with me at length, as well as being super affordable. I'd give more stars if i could! Thanks Mark!

Bryce Aird

20/01/2024

Fast, friendly and informative. Fixed a very tricky hard drive issue for me that saved me hours of time. Kept me informed of progress the whole time. Highly recommend Mark's services

Anthony Williams

24/11/2023

Great service and follow up support. Definitely recommend this business

Matt Cobby

07/09/2023

David was very helpful in getting my 2x printers working. I'll definitely ask for David's services in the future. Thanks David!

cleo moloney

27/06/2023

Thank you Mark for your honest appraisal and the time you took to advise me - much appreciated

Sonia “SDESIGN”

10/05/2023

My mother's computer froze & she could not use it at all. A possible virus? After a few potentially exorbitant "quotes" from nerdy geeky guys, I called Mark at Affordable Computer Repairs. He explained the possible problem and sent David out that afternoon. 1hr later my mothers computer was up and running again. Wow, that's service. I later received a follow up call from Mark explaining what David had done & reassuring us that her computer was free from virus & how to stop them in the future. Again fantastic service. Thanks to Mark & David, will definitely recommend your service to others.

Chicken Dave

18/02/2023

I have an old (2008) Acer with Vista that I never had any problems with till it recently suddenly shut down, & on reboot I couldn’t get back into Windows. Nor could I get past a black screen with an installation disk. I had a couple of reasons I was using it, one being to run a you beaut printer (that craps all over the new ones) that won’t run on Win 10, but I did expect I’d have to bite the bullet & ditch both. I had already copied everything I wanted off the laptop but had some new current files from an attached microscope I’d not yet copied over. I spoke with a couple of places that said bring it in & I’ll take a look for $110 per hour but after reading the reviews for Affordable Computer Repairs I thought I’d ring them for advice. Having had considerable experience with computers in my time I had a pretty good idea of what was what. Yep, both laptop & printer are candidates for the bin (⚰️RIP my old faithfuls ????) but Mark gave me options to possibly access the laptop through an external monitor or copy the files I want off the hard drive. It was really nice to get the kind of ‘altruistic’ service of days gone by rather than the ‘bring it in & spend money’ mentality of today. Thanks, Mark. If I have any problems with my current devices I know who I’ll call. ????

Sae Wott

10/02/2023

Mark is totally reliable and upfront. He was quick to respond and answer all my questions. He was very clear and honest about my computer. He was so reasonable in dealing with me and my dud of a computer. I highly recommend him.

Colleen Light

11/11/2022

Affordable Computer Repairs and Service Brisbane

Which Mac Should I Buy?