Trying to talk my dad into buying a Mac (so I can program for iPhone)
Microcontrolled
Posts: 2,461
Hi,
My dad needs a new computer ever since his other one broke, and I've been trying to talk him into getting an iMac. I want to have one in the house for several reasons:
(1: Mainly, I want to write programs for the iPhone
(2: I've always loved the clean cut functionality of the Macs
(3: The i7 and i5 processors can do one heck of a render (3D design)
I've been showing him the models available, and he seems very interested, mainly because:
(1: He too loves the processor speed
(2: He likes the All-in-one desktop
(3: He likes the multi-touch interface
The fact that he found you can easily install windows on it (so he can run his compatible programs) has pushed this into the "consideration zone". The only thing holding him back is the HUGE price tag of $1200.
Now I'd like some opinions from the forum. What are some other advantages/disadvantages of switching to a Mac? What are some important points to make to a Windows user?
And as a completely unrelated question, can you easily make enough off your app to make up for the $99 a year Mac developer fee?
Thanks,
Microcontrolled
My dad needs a new computer ever since his other one broke, and I've been trying to talk him into getting an iMac. I want to have one in the house for several reasons:
(1: Mainly, I want to write programs for the iPhone
(2: I've always loved the clean cut functionality of the Macs
(3: The i7 and i5 processors can do one heck of a render (3D design)
I've been showing him the models available, and he seems very interested, mainly because:
(1: He too loves the processor speed
(2: He likes the All-in-one desktop
(3: He likes the multi-touch interface
The fact that he found you can easily install windows on it (so he can run his compatible programs) has pushed this into the "consideration zone". The only thing holding him back is the HUGE price tag of $1200.
Now I'd like some opinions from the forum. What are some other advantages/disadvantages of switching to a Mac? What are some important points to make to a Windows user?
And as a completely unrelated question, can you easily make enough off your app to make up for the $99 a year Mac developer fee?
Thanks,
Microcontrolled
Comments
I know, I know, it's easier to spend somebody else's money...
@Mike Green: I have some good and easy app ideas, I don't think that they will be "killer apps", but they should sell a few copies anyway. Maybe after I start I'll figure out how to do some games with simple graphics.
I like the quality of Apple products but I also like a bargain so I have
always stayed away from them. I prefer low-cost Win boxes and I
dual boot Linux on them. Win for the large base of apps and Linux
for when security is important.
Try a google search for info on developing for iPhone on win or Linux.
Here is a search I just did for Win dev and a lot of stuff comes up.
https://encrypted.google.com/#hl=en&safe=off&q=develop+for+iphone+on+windows&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=develop+for+iphone+on+windows&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=c2efe1e08fc192ab&biw=1900&bih=900
I've since bought a $200 android touchpad, which works great, if I decide to write any apps, it will probably be on android due to the costs & available code & tutorials. $200 seems a lot more affordable.
Now don't get me wrong. I love the ipad. And would probably develop on it,if it was not so expensive and restrictive. It would be a great platform if you have a killer app, but your unlikely to get rich.......
Every friend or colleague who switches to a Mac from years of PC use always says something like "I can't believe I didn't do this sooner". Every user I've known who has switched to PC from Mac usually says something like "just kill me now". Note that I am talking about Windows PC here, not Linux, which is a whole different animal.
As far as your app questions -- as a developer -- I am not a fan of Apple's model, which is why I develop for Android rather than iPhone/iPad. I think charging for the SDK is silly given how tightly they control the sale and distribution of the apps. That said, don't develop because you want to break even on $$, develop because there is an app you "wish you had". If you want it, then others probably will too.
The only downside to the Mac, in my opinion, is that Parallax support for non-Windows computers is basically nil (Parallax are you listening!!!!), so be prepared to install Windows on your Mac and/or keep an old PC around for programming your Parallax micros.
Consider doing Android development.
They are correct about Win being a dog
compared to Apple...that's why I dual-boot
Linux.
That said, there is a good option out there that I have found for Android/iPhone/Palm/HTC dev, called PhoneGap, that I have tried but didn't use it long enough to learn it. Now that I actually have an Andriod tablet to play on, I may go back to it and try some more things.
ANYWAY I still want to develop for the iPhone, it seems like a positive venture and it has a lot larger audience than the Android (In apps, not users!).
I agree with this. Twenty five years ago Windows felt like it had a patchwork of clacktraps and Rube Goldberg devices operating behind its curtains. Today, it feels the same. Probably because it is the same.
Why do you need to spend more then 1K on a mac??
I use a 2 year old mini ( 2.26 GHz 4G ram 250 HD OS 10.5.8) with Final Cut Pro and Edit FULL HD videos . And I used to render with Bryce .( need to re install one these days )
Besides games allmost nothing else needs more HP then Video .
Trust me a Mini is more computer then most need and it supports 2 screens so its Very capable to do just about anything .
I used to be the dude on the street who spent over 3 grand on the latest HW .
I got One of the First DP G4s "450MHz DP " to do my videos .
I used a G4 DP >1GHz till 2009 when it up and died .
That year i went form PPC OS9 to X86 OSX . needless to say I neeed ALL new SW .
So to afford it i got a Pimped Mini with top ram and CPU ( less HD to cur costs ) and spent another Grand on SW so that I was for the most part up to date .
As for the latest OS . allmost any X86 mac can run it . with NO issues .
IMHO AVOID core solos and non duos . they are gettiing Old by today standard
Core 2 Duo is plenty ...
I know my 2YO mini can handle it BUT my SW Like $400 Protools is not good above 10.5.8, so I have not upgraded it , and that it is missing rosetta that BTW "MAC BS2 " NEEDS! to run on a non PPC system . the latest OS has NO PPC support so its not worth getting a "new " mac as of now .
I would implore you to look at a used mini . Old case style . what was 1K is now 600 to 800 .
I got my dad on to OSX after Years of him dealing with his HP laptop . He loves it now . and his fear that it can not open a .DOCX was put to rest . .
Peter ...
Android Sales vs. iPhone Sales in 2011
"Android is fast becoming the leader in a race of the giants of the smartphone and consumer tech markets."...
http://www.zanura.com/blog/reviews/android-sales-vs-iphone-sales-in-2011/
More: Search google.com for the following words...
sales android vs iphone 2011
"Many of Distimo’s findings reveal that Google Android Market just isn’t delivering that many apps to customers. For example, 25 percent of free applications and 79 percent of all paid applications in the market have been downloaded fewer than 100 times worldwide. Only two paid apps in Google’s market have crossed the 500,000 download mark worldwide to date, while six App Store paid apps get 500,000 downloads over two months—only counting U.S. sales"
http://www.macworld.com/article/160153/2011/05/distimo_apps_money_app_store_google_market.html