tovie

A good source of Mac equipment, new and refurb'd is Small Dog Electronics at https://shop.smalldog.com.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

Haha...I'm on my Mac laptop (the last of the Intels and loaded) right now (BTW, hate the keyboard), I use it for email, travel, and reading my morning "paper." The rest of the time I'm on my one of my three PCs that also inhabit the room (one of them is my primary photo machine and is loaded). I've survived the earlier PC shortcomings and love what I have. <shrug>

johnec Loc: Lancaster county, PA

Apple gives a veteran’s discount? This is the first I’ve heard of it. How do you apply for it?

Machinedoc Loc: Yorktown Heights, NY

It's been available for a while; just not publicized - https://www.apple.com/shop/browse/home/veterans_military

ialvarez50

Since 1992 I have been building computers, I just finishe my last computer and it is faster and better that any apple computer. The important thing is to buy very good or great components. If you are interested, or your friend, let me know and I can show you through zoom how to do it.

OldCADuser Loc: Irvine, CA

I watch the 'Woot' site everyday and they run at least two or three deals per month on refurbished Mac's (and other brands). Over the years, I've purchased a lot of stuff from this site and have never been disappointed. And if you're an Amazon Prime member, you get free shipping:

https://www.woot.com/

johnec Loc: Lancaster county, PA

Is this supported by verifiable documentation or opinion? 😂

jims203 Loc: Connecticut

Owc other world computing

jims203 Loc: Connecticut

RickL Loc: Vail, Az

We used pc’s in our office and home and had nothing but trouble. We then moved everything over to Apple, phones, iPads and Macs and have never had another virus or problem. We do all of our photography on large screen Macs

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I am happy for you. Each of us has choices in life. I have used PCs and like the Mac better. I have no problem with others making a different choice.

Dennis

BAchme Loc: Middle Tennessee

Not that I know of, but the website is FaithTech.com. I don't see anything in CT, but they are starting communities all over, and I can put you in touch with someone you could talk to about it. Our group is still young, but although I am not a computer person, the group is very diverse, as technology stretches across many spectrums. It's just a good place to network, as each of us has our own strengths.

Thanks for your good advice. Having the right tools sometimes is half the battle.

Dean37 Loc: Fresno, CA

Can't help much with MACs. I started out with the Apple meetings when Steve Wozniack was developing the original Apple 1. He is a genuine genius, but his logic was not consistent to me. I dropped out and went back to mainframe UNIX which is far superior to anything that Apple has come up with. And even Apple has joined the LINUX (UNIX) crowd, as they along with Microsoft have now based their software on Linux (which is command for command UNIX). The front ends are from Microsoft and Apple, but the innards are Linux). Ubuntu Linux is the best Operating System for MAC's and PC's . Best of all LINUX is FREE, as is most of the software built for it.

If the MAC works for you, GOOD, not for everyone. Same for Windows if it works for you, GOOD.

Not too long ago, I was in an Apple store, my wife wanted to update her iPhone, and the lady (they refer to themselves as "Genius's"), made a comment about something, my wife didn't understand and asked me what the "Genius" said, I commented that Apple personnel regard themselves as "Special". The "Genius "" flagged the City Police Officer on guard, to kick me out of the store. I just walked out and my wife asked what happened. I said you just witnessed Apple's self aggrandizement for yourself, that is part of why I have no use for Apple and it's products.

The Lisa, which Steve Jobs stole from Xerox's PARC Labs is still one of the best computers, slow, but it works with the UNIX Operating System.

OldCADuser Loc: Irvine, CA

I made my first sales call at Apple when the Apple II was their mainline product and they were still in a group of spec buildings and you could find employees with double-digit badge numbers. We eventually sold them the CAD system that they still use today to design both products and the tooling to manufacture them. They loaned our Santa Clara office a Lisa and we all had a chance to play with it.

In 1985 we bought our first home computer, a so-called 'Fat Mac', 512K of memory as opposed to the original Mac's 128K. And we've been an Apple household ever since. I'm currently running a MacBook M1 Pro while my wife has a MacBook Air. My iPhone is an 11 Pro, while my wife has a 13 Pro Max. I've also got an iPad Mini, two Apple TV's and connected to my car's media center, an old 4th generation iPod Touch, that's been going strong for over 12-years.

Yes, you could say that we've been satisfied with our Apple gear...

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Sounds like your group is interested in the cutting edge of technology. If that is the case, I would recommend Apple silicon, i.e. the most recent models (younger than about 2 years old). They get expensive when you start loading them up with memory and storage, something you have to do up front because you can’t upgrade them.

I used Windows for about 30 years and recently switched to Mac with an m1 chip.

Switching operating systems comes with a learning curve, partly based on muscle memory. E.g. window controls (maximize, minimize, close) are on the upper right for Windows and upper left for Mac. It still trips me up after 3 years using both systems. There are other differences that can be frustrating.

I find advantages and disadvantages in both systems. Better is dependent on what you are used to.

As far as low price goes, I think Costco sells a MacBook Air pretty cheap but it has minimal memory and storage and it’s an m1 chip (the m3 is out or close to out now). Probably not cutting edge. My wife was thinking about one for her mother to replace a 12 year old machine. Cutting edge not needed since her mother is 92.

PS: I have LR/PS on my Mac and Win10 machines but I prefer the Mac for photo work. Internet work is pretty much the same on both platforms.