Want A Mac, Unsure What Way To Go?

Question

Level 1

4 points

Want A Mac, Unsure What Way To Go?

Hi,

So I, Have An IPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad 9th And Apple Watch Series 8. But I’ve Always Wanted To Get An Apple Computer Or Laptop. So I Can Actually Access And Use The Data And Tech Via My ICloud, Apple Account What Can Only Be Done Via Computer Desktop & Browser. I’ve Never Been Able To Do This. This Is Due To Not Having Any Actual Computer Or Laptop To Do So. So I Want To Buy An Apple Mac Device So I Can Use This And Also Make It Much Easier To Be Able To Do Things And Work On, All In One Place And Not Having To Worry About Anything Or Having To Keep Reaching For All My Individual Apple Devices. Also I Would Like To Achieve And Do My Work On, What Can Only Be Done By A Computer/Software/Hard-drive.

iPad

Posted on Sep 14, 2025 10:15 AM

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Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

214,326 points

Sep 14, 2025 10:51 AM in response to Babyblue10

MrHoffman has made an excellent suggestion in that you should visit a local Apple store or Apple Authorized Service Provider to view the various options.

At this time if you're considering a desktop Mac I'd like to make a pitch for a Mac Mini M4: a 10 Core Mac Mini M4 with 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD ($999 + tax) with a 27" LG 4k monitor ($250 + tax from Amazon.com) is $1249 + tax which is $560 less than a similarly configured new 24" iMac ($1799 + tax) re 07/2025. Keep your keyboard and mouse from your current Mac for use with the Mini.

I got the above Mini with a 32" LG 4K monitor w/speakers for only $60 more than the 27" (didn't know the Mini had a speaker).

As you can see you'd save a considerable amount of money going the Mini route over the iMac. Amazon.com has many options for a monitor.

Note: since you don't own a previous Mac you'll also have to get a keyboard and mouse which will cost an additional $178 (Apple mouse and keyboard w/o numerical pad) or $208 (the same with numerical pad). It's still less than an iMac is budget is a concern.

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Answer 2

Sep 14, 2025 10:28 AM in response to Babyblue10

iPhone, iPad, and Mac are all powerful computers.

iPhone, iPad, and Mac can all access iCloud apps and services.

What are the other apps or services that you want or need?

Do you want mobile use (and its tradeoffs), or desktop (and its associated tradeoffs)?

What is your budget?

A visit to a local Apple Store might be the most appropriate path here.

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Answer 3

Babyblue10 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 14, 2025 11:02 AM in response to MrHoffman

Hi there.

So Some Of My Apps Or Software, Says Connect To My ITunes Store etc.

So I Go Onto This By My App. And Then Some Parts Are Unavailable Or Todo So. Because It Says I Need To Login To My Account Via Computer/Desktop.

So I Can Not Do This Kind Of Stuff, To Whatever I Want To Do As Of Then Or Whatever. Because I Don’t Have That Tech??

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Answer 4

Sep 14, 2025 11:35 AM in response to Babyblue10

Babyblue10 wrote:

Hi there.

So Some Of My Apps Or Software, Says Connect To My ITunes Store etc.

So I Go Onto This By My App. And Then Some Parts Are Unavailable Or Todo So. Because It Says I Need To Login To My Account Via Computer/Desktop.

So I Can Not Do This Kind Of Stuff, To Whatever I Want To Do As Of Then Or Whatever. Because I Don’t Have That Tech??

The iTunes Store is a source of music, and music is available for rental and for purchase on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

You have not mentioned any particular apps, or specific activities.

And have not mentioned your budget. A Mac can run anywhere from roughly a thousand dollars plus some added third-party parts as Old Toad suggests, to five thousand dollars, to rather more

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