beginner's equipment for learning iPhone development

Hey guys,


I have a friend that is starting to learn iPhone development and needs to buy a mac. He does not have much money now, and he is interested in an used MacMini with a 1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo processor and 2GB SDRAM (HD of 500GB, updated by original owner). It comes with Snow Leopard.

The questions:

1) Is this a good machine for iPhone development? Not the best, of course, but good enough for a beginner?
2) Does this Mac Mini supports Lion?

Any additional information or hints are very welcome


Thanks in advance!

 

I was actually going to suggest a Mac Mini, fully expecting you to say you were planning on buying a MBP brand new just to learn iOS development. Glad to see your friend in this case isn't going to do that.

That said, the Mac Mini seems to be a fine choice, especially since he's first starting out. Of course there's always going to be the argument that one should get something with more expandabilty, but in this case...when he doesn't know if iOS development will work out for him, the smallest initial investment that will still work for him, the better.

The processor will stop him from installing Lion, as Lion requires a Core 2 Duo processor. If he could find a Core 2 Duo model in his price range, I'd get that, add in 4 GB of RAM if it doesn't have it and call it a day.

 

Yes, make sure to buy a Mac Mini with at least a Core 2 Duo processor and not a Core Duo. Your friend will want to install Lion (which is a $30 upgrade) down the line when Apple's iOS development software starts requiring a minimum of that (it will happen, I think the development software already locks out OS X Leopard). Just make sure he doesn't spend too much money on it since a new Mac Mini can be purchased for $580 through the education store.

 

core 2 duo is critical. minimum imo.

 

Hello!

First of all, thanks for all the quick replies


I know that Xcode will at some point stop supporting snow leopard, but my friend really needs a cheap investment. Here in brazil, that used mac mini would cost R$ 700,00, the version with a Core 2 Duo new processor would cost like R$ 1200,00 :/ Therefore, if the Core Duo is enough (just for the beginning), it would be best edit: Although, the Core 2 Duo version is not that more expensive, I did understand things incorrectly before

Xcode 4.2 still supports snow leopard, but do you know if it gives a nice experience when programming? Consider that the main use of the equipment will really be for programming, and also that this Core Duo supports at most 2GB of RAM (so, no update to 4GB is viable).


He appreciates all of the answers, thanks!

 

$$$ - any mac with a core 2 duo processor minimum
$$ - os x lion
free - xcode from the Mac app store
$$ - a decent programming book

check local classified ads or used listings or something

 

Yeah.. your friend should look into buying a used (but in good condition) core 2 duo mini if at all possible.

He should check the online sites as well as there may be someone willing to ship to brazil.

Either way... I would really do some searching around and see if there is any way to get the core2duo version in his price range.

Good luck!

D.

 

You can look at it this way: your friend can spend $700 now only to spend $700 in possibly another month (it all depends on how long Xcode supports Snow Leopard), 6 months, or a year only to spend another $700 then on something else just to get him through another year. Your friend could also spend $1200 on a system now and not worry about it not working with future software releases and it will last him longer than the year a Core Duo Mac Mini would put out (assuming Apple acts like their usual selves).

Either way, they should not be looking at a Core Duo Mac at all, period. It doesn't matter how less expensive it is, they need to purchase a Core 2 Duo at a bare minimum. Buying a Core Duo Mac Mini would be an absolute waste of money.

 

it's not R700 vs R1200. Keep looking. Check eBay maybe.