About buying a Mac

Shakedown

Hey guys. I just discovered GameSalad a few days ago. I have developed a few games online but would like to get into iPhone development. I am an artist not a programmer....so GameSalad looks like a good fit for me. I do have some visual scripting experience and can do a litle code.....so the process that is visible through the video tutorials seems great.

I have been working on Pc all my life and Mac is totally new to me....so I have a few questions before I run out to get one.
1) From specs that I have found on this site, it seems that a Macbook would be fine for development. I know that getting the best specs is always the best but I do have a limited budget and the fact that I can be mobile will be a great advantage! From speaking to other developers that use the Mac...they said a Macbook would be more that fine...but is there anyone here that would advise me not to get one?...Maybe some issues relating to the iPhone or GameSalad specifically?

2) According to the Apple site it said you need the Leopord opperating system to develop for the iPhone....the Macs I looked at seems to be Snow Leopord and they seem to be version 10.6....is there any reason for me to not get this...Will I need to find that Leopord?...LOL...you can tell I'm new to Mac right..:)

Thats it for now....hopefully I will go out to get one later today...depending on your responses...then by tonight I can start getting into GameSalad...:)

Thanx in advance

firemaplegames

A MacBook would be perfect. Snow Leopard is the latest version of the operating system (10.6).
Leopard is the older version (10.5)

Both work great for both GameSalad and iPhone development.

Shakedown

@ firemaplegames...Thanx for the quick feedback....much apreciated!..:)

design219

Welcome to the Mac world! Once you get used to the difference I think you will be very happy. Any new Mac will work fine with GameSalad.

scitunes

The more ram the better. I used to use a macbook with 1gig and it worked but it was pretty slow. Now I have a macbook pro with 4gig and it is sooooo much faster - well worth it!

BeyondtheTech

FYI, if you're in the market for a MacBook, the retail chain Microcenter just posted a sale price for the latest-generation 13.3" white unibody model, specs are C2D-2.26/2GB/250GB/DVDRW. Normally $999, on sale for $799, free in-store pickup.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0321997

With the $200 you save, use $99 of it for the Apple Dev Certificate and the other $99 for the GameSalad Express Membership. Simple as that!

(I'm not affiliated with Microcenter, just thought I'd share the scoop.)

JamesZeppelin

yeah, i recently just got a mac just to give game salad a try.

I only went with a mac mini and im happy.

I have two pretty nice PC's both with w7 and nice graphics cards.... both sitting in the garage now lol.

Shakedown

HEY...so Im sitting posting this message from the new Macbook.....:) Must say I am finding my way around the Mac way faster than I thought I would.

Thanx for all the feedback guys.

@design219....Thanx..:)..it was time!

@ BeyndtheTech... I'm in Europe....wish I could do that deal though....but the prices did come down over here also!

@scitunes....got 2 gigs at the moment...will see how that holds up...but will get 4 if it is not enough!

@TinyMonster...I also considdered the Mac mini....one of the minis have the same specs as the Macbook...but I needed to be mobile.

So let me get into GameSalad....Im sure I will be back here shortly with questions...:)...but it seems to be a real friendly community!

cheers!

design219

@ TinyMoster

I recently picked up a new PC with Windows 7, and I have to admit, it is much, much better than previous operating systems. I still prefer my Macs, but Windows has improved much recently.

rebump

I'm holding off on going portable until I see if they announce some new macbooks here soon. I hear they are due for one...it's been like 2.2 years or something since the last major overhaul.

Anyone hear any rumors recently?

Then again, the iPad cost may eat into my budget (unless I get some app money rolling in).

quantumsheep

Once you try a Mac, you can never go back

BeyondtheTech

Amen to that, QS!

Mac: Software Update. Install GameSalad. Start building games.

Windows PC: uninstall bloatware, install antivirus, perform Windows Update, tweak settings, realize you can't install GameSalad, go through denial stage, check out CraigsList for resale prices, read all about Hackintoshing, start Torrent download of an OSx86 ISO, watch torrent die at 90%, head to Apple store...