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Note: Amazon offers new & used products from many dealers. New products ordered directly from Amazon typically include free Super Saver shipping. If an Amazon page shows another dealer, click the "used & new" link to find an Amazon-direct page. Mac mini lowest-priced MacintoshIf you already have a monitor, a Mac-compatible USB keyboard, and a USB mouse, the Mac mini is your most affordable path to a modern G4 Macintosh.
Mac accessories
iMac affordable all-in-one MacintoshThe latest iMac has an LCD monitor, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, a 250320 GB hard drive, a SuperDrive (read/write CDs & DVDs), and an iSight camera in one tidy package, plus a keyboard, mouse and FrontRow remote. Software includes Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) and iLife '08.
MacBook Mac laptopsApple's MacBook laptops are the basic MacBook, the super-thin MacBook Air, and the powerful MacBook Pro.
External Hard Drives (for Leopard's Time Machine)Automatic backup by Time Machine is a key new feature in Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5). Simply connect an external hard drive to your Leopard-ized Mac, and Time Machine starts hourly backup of your entire internal hard drive. USB 2.0, FireWire 400 or FireWire 800?An external hard drive (HD) can connect to your Mac via USB 2.0 (faster than older USB 1.1), FireWire 400 or FireWire 800. Modern Macs typically support all three connect techniques; older Macs are limited to FireWire 400. USB 2.0 and FireWire 400 are, in theory, roughly the same speed. In practice, FileWire 400 is considerably faster on Macs. FireWire 800 is twice as fast ... and more expensive. This extra speed is important for some applications like video editing. Since Time Machine's backup happens in the background, the additional speed is not important. Pre-configured External HDOther World Computing offers external hard drives that are ready-to-go right out of the box:
Assemble Your Own External HDAssembling an external drive (i.e., installing a raw drive in an enclosure), has several advantages:
IDE Enclosures & Hard Drives:
SATA Enclosures & Hard Drives:
APC Back-UPS - Uninterruptible Power SupplyWhen your Mac loses power, you lose any work in progress. And if a file is being written/copied/saved at that moment, the hard drive is very likely to get corrupted. An UPS (rhymes with "cups") powers your Mac and selected peripherals (monitor, modem, router) during a momentary power interruption. When the lights blink, your Mac doesn't. In the event of an extended power outage, an UPS gives you time to save your files and do a graceful shutdown.
Use the APC UPS Selector ("PC or Workstation") to find the right model for other Macs + associated peripherals.
USB WebcamVideo conferencing over the Internet requires four ingredients:
Modern iMac and MacBooks have a built-in iSight camera and micophone. Older iMacs and iBooks have only a build-in microphone. If you have a Mac Mini, a Mac Pro, or an older Mac, you can add an external FireWire or USB "Webcam" (many with a built-in microphone). FireWire cameras provide the best video quality. Apple's original external FireWire iSight camera/microphone has been a popular choice, but it was discontinued in December 2006; new and used iSights are still available on eBay at a premium price, often $100 (or more) than the original $150 price. There are a few third-party FireWire cameras in the $125 to $200 range, plus $50 or so for an external microphone. Affordable USB Webcams are a more popular alternative. From the vast array of vendors and models, I've found two Mac-friendly Webcams with good video chat quality and a built-in voice mike.
USB Webcams may claim USB 1.1 compatibility. However, USB 2.0 is required for iChat-compatibility on Mac OS X. White iBooks, later model flat-screen iMacs, and all Mac minis have USB 2.0. A USB 2.0 PCI card can be easily installed in a PowerMac G3/G4 tower. iChatUSBCam is a $10 add-on for iChat that adjusts camera settings (e.g., brightness, contrast) and provides support for a USB 2.0 PCI card. Cable Modem & RoutersWhen you subscribe to a cable broadband service, you're given the choice of renting a cable modem (for an addition $3 or so a month) or purchasing a modem. (DSL providers typically provide a modem at no additional charge.) If you have more than one computer, you'll need a router to connect the computers to the modem.
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