=============================================================== From: Lisa Ridley ------------------------------------------------------ Tom, You really need 4GB RAM to do any development work with Xcode -- it's a = great development tool, but due to some of the internal workings (CLANG = analyzer being one of them, code completion another) it's a bit of a = memory hog. You can get by with 2GB RAM, but you'll be much happier if = you have at least 4GB. My MBAir has 4GB RAM and it does fine running = Xcode -- I've got 8GB on my iMac (my primary development machine) and my = Mac Mini at home and they both handle Xcode and other memory hog = applications (like Adobe Photoshop) with no problems at all. I'm not aware of anyone that has the development tools running on a = Hackintosh -- I know some folks that have Leopard running on one, but = that's two OS versions ago. I've got an iMac that I just had to replace the HDD ... disaster = recovery was pretty simple with a Time Machine backup -- plugged in via = Firewire and restored my user profile and work files from that. Haven't = had to do disaster recovery on a machine without a DVD yet. I'm = comfortable with no DVD on my MBAir, and the last time I used my DVD = drive on my iMac was to run the diagnostics programs when my HDD was = going down, and to reinstall Snow Leopard as a prelude to redownloading = Lion when I restored (had to upgrade the OS to Lion before I could = restore from the Time Machine backup as I was on Lion when the HDD = failed). The machines that come configured without an optical drive = come with a small partition that has the diagnostics on it so you don't = need the DVD drive to do that. A reminder: if you're interested in iOS development, you might think = about joining the Apple Dev group if you're here in Chattanooga. You = can find us on Meetup at = http://www.meetup.com/Tennessee-Valley-Apple-Developers/ Lisa Ridley iPad development. am aware of the Hackintosh route. No, I am not interested. Eleven years = of Linux and BSD have pretty much cured me of tinkering. upping it to 8GB? (ie: clean OS reinstall) easily accomplished? rocks through straws?
=============================================================== From: Aaron Welch ------------------------------------------------------ I would skip the Mac mini and get a cheap MacBook or iMac. You can get new o= nes around $1k and good used ones for $700-800. That has been my experience= , but YMMV. -AW eat development tool, but due to some of the internal workings (CLANG analyz= er being one of them, code completion another) it's a bit of a memory hog. Y= ou can get by with 2GB RAM, but you'll be much happier if you have at least 4= GB. My MBAir has 4GB RAM and it does fine running Xcode -- I've got 8GB on m= y iMac (my primary development machine) and my Mac Mini at home and they bot= h handle Xcode and other memory hog applications (like Adobe Photoshop) with= no problems at all. tosh -- I know some folks that have Leopard running on one, but that's two O= S versions ago. as pretty simple with a Time Machine backup -- plugged in via Firewire and r= estored my user profile and work files from that. Haven't had to do disaste= r recovery on a machine without a DVD yet. I'm comfortable with no DVD on m= y MBAir, and the last time I used my DVD drive on my iMac was to run the dia= gnostics programs when my HDD was going down, and to reinstall Snow Leopard a= s a prelude to redownloading Lion when I restored (had to upgrade the OS to L= ion before I could restore from the Time Machine backup as I was on Lion whe= n the HDD failed). The machines that come configured without an optical dri= ve come with a small partition that has the diagnostics on it so you don't n= eed the DVD drive to do that. t joining the Apple Dev group if you're here in Chattanooga. You can find u= s on Meetup at http://www.meetup.com/Tennessee-Valley-Apple-Developers/ evelopment. ware of the Hackintosh route. No, I am not interested. Eleven years of Linux= and BSD have pretty much cured me of tinkering. t to 8GB? : clean OS reinstall) easily accomplished? through straws?
=============================================================== From: Nick Smith ------------------------------------------------------ You could go to the dark side and make a hackintosh Mac Pro for around $1K The specs beat the real Mac Pro and alot cheaper. This guy details exactly what to buy and exactly how to install. http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/ Just a thought.
=============================================================== From: Stephen Kraus ------------------------------------------------------ I've got OSX on my HP Elitebook 8730w Definetly beats the crap out of an actual Macbook
=============================================================== From: Chad Smith ------------------------------------------------------ I would suggest getting a MacBook Pro 13" for $999 at Microcenter. I think you are wise to avoid Hackintosh - especially when developing. Or, Microcenter has a refurbished MacBook for $579. Both the Duluth and Marietta stores have them in stock (not sure which is closest to you). You can buy it online and then go pick it up to reserve yours. http://www.microcenter.com/single