Looking for a new computer,and need some direction...

[Shelly in IL]

Here are our wants/needs...

Our only pc went down (yeah), leaving us with my Mac, a net book, and an iPad. It is really the boy's computer, and they use it for gaming, and my eldest does homework and takes an o line class on it. I'm sure he can do the online class on my Mac, he just has't.

 

The boys really want to continue using their games on a similar system, because they don't (and I don't) want to rebuy. We really have become a Mac family and love the fact that our current Mac is 3 or 4 years old and we have had no problems.

 

What would best fit our needs? My husband would love a Mac laptop, but would that play the kids' games? He travels frequently overseas and would love to use skype.

 

Anyway, just starting to research. Thanks.

[Hannah C.]

What kind of games do they play? Dh likes computer games, and there are a *ton* of games out there that are only for PC, especially older ones. I think that newer games (as in, the past year or two perhaps) more often come in a format where the same disk can be used on either Mac or PC. Either way, though, as far as I know (and I grew up a Mac user) there are, in general, a lot fewer computer games available for Mac. This gap is closing, but it's still pretty big IMHO.

 

I have a Mac laptop, and it is possible to play computer games on it. However, the only games I've ever played on it are Sims 2 and Sims 3. Sims 3 is supposed to work fine, but in reality runs slow, and I have the minimum system requirements. Sims 3 works better on my husband's laptop PC with Vista installed. (Sims 3 is one of the games where the same disk can be installed on a Mac or a PC.)

 

So if you really want a computer for your sons to play computer games on, my guess is, you'll want to get another PC.

[plain jane]

Here are our wants/needs...

Our only pc went down (yeah), leaving us with my Mac, a net book, and an iPad. It is really the boy's computer, and they use it for gaming, and my eldest does homework and takes an o line class on it. I'm sure he can do the online class on my Mac, he just has't.

 

The boys really want to continue using their games on a similar system, because they don't (and I don't) want to rebuy. We really have become a Mac family and love the fact that our current Mac is 3 or 4 years old and we have had no problems.

 

What would best fit our needs? My husband would love a Mac laptop, but would that play the kids' games? He travels frequently overseas and would love to use skype.

 

Anyway, just starting to research. Thanks.

 

Boy that's a tough one. I don't know about a Macbook being able to play games but I don't see why an iMac couldn't handle it. Those are quite powerful, even in the base models. I agree with the PP though- there definitely are more games available for PC than Mac- what do your boys play?

 

As for Skype, I use it on my Mac and love it. I also really LOVE iChat. I have family all over the place that I use to it to video chat with (well the ones who have Macs :D) and it's so easy to use and works every time. - That's Mac for ya! :D

[Shelly in IL]

Nothing exciting, I think they have some star wars games, and some war-type games. I think the solution may be an inexpensive desktop now and a nice MacBook later when my dh goes on deployment.

 

So what is a good inexpensive desktop?

[Lizzie in Ma]

This is my absolute favorite electronics shopping site and they are having a killer sale right now I wish I could take advantage of but perhaps you can?.

http://promotions.newegg.com/nepro/10-2954/index.html?cm_sp=ShoppingGuide_3-_-UltimateCompSale_010511-_-http%3a%2f%2fpromotions.newegg.com%2fHomepage%2fShopping%2fbnr_homelinks_compsalebak.png