Reasons to Buy a Mac Computer

Apple MacBook MC207LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)

Amazon Price: $598.92 (as of 02/16/2012)

Although the initial cost for a Mac may seem higher than that for a PC, in the long run, you'll save money with a Mac. Mac computers are extremely durable and they can last for many years. Because they are so well-made, Mac computers rarely need repairs, so you save money on excellent quality hardware. In addition, Mac computers come with the operating system preinstalled and on installation disks, so you never have to invest money in purchasing essential software. Almost everything you'll need for your Mac is included with your computer purchase.

Mac OS X version 10.6.3 Snow Leopard

Amazon Price: $39.99 (as of 02/16/2012)

The Mac operating system, Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard), is a stable, powerful operating system. The system almost never crashes - it will only crash if you really "mess it up" by doing things you shouldn't do to any system. The system is frequently updated to include bug fixes and to add even more wonderful features to it. It's the easiest system to use - even a small child can learn to use a Mac with OS X. The system comes with great software and a secure firewall so you don't need to purchase extra Internet or firewall software. And, as everyone knows, to date, the Mac operating system has been immune to viruses.

Samsung External Slim DVD-W USB Compatible with Mac and PC SE-S084C/RSRN (Red)

Disk burning is also easy with Mac OS X. Insert a disk into your optical drive, throw files on it and click a Burn button and Mac OS X seamlessly burns the disk for you. It even knows what speed to use for your burner. This easy-to-use burn technology also exists in Mac software, such as iTunes and iPhoto.

iLife '09 [OLD VERSION]

Amazon Price: $28.88 (as of 02/16/2012)

All new Mac computers come bundled with a fantastic software package called "iLife." iPhoto is the excellent photo editing and photo management software included in the iLife package. Connect your digital camera to your new Mac and iPhoto instantly imports and categorizes your photos for you. Naturally, you can create your own organization using regular or Smart albums for all of your digital photos and movies. You can even do some decent editing of your photos using iPhoto. And once your photos look perfect, you can create beautiful personalized calendars or books with them.



iMovie lets you create quick and easy movies. If you have a digital movie camera, iMovie can create a movie for you. Just plug in your camera and in minutes you'll have your first movie, ready for distribution. You can also create movies from still photos or video files that you import into iMovie. iMovie can be great for the video-creation challenged person, but if you have video-creation talent, you can use the more advanced features of the program to create your own masterpieces.



Perhaps your talent is in music rather than video. You're in luck if you bought a Mac computer because iLife comes with its own music-creation software called GarageBand. With GarageBand you can create anything from a simple piano tune to a fully-orchestrated piece. GarageBand is so sophisticated an application that professional musicians use it, yet even a total novice can have fun creating their own music.



Once you've created a video masterpiece with iPhoto and iMovie and you've added a super soundtrack with GarageBand, iLife has one final application that lets you complete your project. With iDVD, you can create a DVD with menus and introductory music and then burn the entire video to a DVD so that it can be played on any DVD player. Like all of the iLife applications, iDVD can be used to create quick and easy home DVDs or your project can be tweaked to produce a professional-looking DVD.

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate

Amazon Price: $248.99 (as of 02/16/2012)

Although Mac OS X 10.6 is a terrific operating system, there might, unfortunately, be times when you need to use Windows. This is no problem for a new Intel Mac - Apple even provides you with Bootcamp, software that lets you run Windows on a Mac. With Bootcamp, Mac OS X and Windows run separately, but at least three third-party companies have low-cost software that lets you run Mac OS X and Windows side-by-side. So, "I need to run Windows" is no longer an excuse for not owning a Mac computer.

Apple Remote - Remote control - infrared

Amazon Price: $6.46 (as of 02/16/2012)

Mac OS X comes with two applications for viewing videos and DVDs. You can use the standalone DVD Player for DVDs or you can use Front Row with the included remote control to create a movie theater experience. With Front Row and your remote control, you can sit back on your couch and watch and control DVDs or videos or listen to your music as you relax after a long day at the office.

Mac OS X version 10.6.3 Snow Leopard

Amazon Price: $39.99 (as of 02/16/2012)

New versions of Mac OS X usually come out every two years, but Apple continues to support the previous version with security updates, and sometimes bug fixes, long after the release of the new version. Also, Apple frequently updates its system software without extra charge to Mac users. For example, Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) went through 11 revisions before Apple closed the book on updating it (but security updates are still released). Many times the updates are more like upgrades because Apple often adds new or improved features to the update, with some updates having over 100 improvements.

MobileMe Individual [OLD VERSION]

Amazon Price: (as of 02/16/2012)

In addition to frequent updates to software, Apple provides other forms of support to users. They have a "Feedback" form users can send to Apple developers and, yes, these comments are read and Apple is responsive to users' suggestions. For example, prior to releasing MobileMe, Apple notified users that it was discontinuing its Homepage application. Users complained and the application was not removed for users who had been using it under the older .Mac service. Apple stores also provide extensive service to customers, including providing in-store classes and a "Genius" bar where customers can get help with using their Mac computers. For people who don't have access to an Apple store, Apple has extensive online support, including video tutorials and excellent, extensive and very active forums that cover all aspects of Mac computers and software.

Automator for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard: Visual QuickStart Guide

by: Ben Waldie

Amazon Price: $18.04 (as of 02/16/2012)

Automator is a Mac OS X application that lets non-programmers quickly and easily develop programs to control aspects of the operating system or Apple applications. For example, I took about a minute to develop a little program that launches my four favorite Internet applications with just the press of a mouse button. To help beginners get started with Automator, Apple has included a "Starting Points" pane that opens when Automator is launched. Programming is no longer reserved for "geeks."

AppleScript: The Definitive Guide, 2nd Edition

by: Matt Neuburg

Amazon Price: $19.55 (as of 02/16/2012)

For those who like to delve into programming, Apple has provided AppleScript, Dashcode and a more advanced developer's package, all for free. Anyone can join Apple's Developer program and gain access to the free xcode package of advanced programming tools and free tutorials, manuals and discussion groups. Once you've graduated from Automator, it's easy to enter the world of "geek" programming with Mac OS X.

Apple MacBook Air MC234LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (OLD VERSION)

Amazon Price: $899.99 (as of 02/16/2012)

Some people buy Mac computers just because they are so beautifully designed. I own a Mac Mini and whenever someone visits and asks to see my computer, they ooh and ahh over the size and beauty of it. And the Mini is nothing compared to the magnificent beauty of an iMac or MacBook Air. The Mac operating system, like a Mac computer, is a work of art, with its three-dimensional, glistening Dock, colorful coverflow Finder view and futuristic Time Machine environment.

Apple iMac MC413LL/A 21.5-Inch Desktop (OLD VERSION)

Amazon Price: $869.99 (as of 02/16/2012)

If you're not sure which Mac computer is right for you, read my article, How to Buy a Mac Computer, for guidelines for selecting the perfect Mac.