Wanted: Affordable Mac with lots of grunt

Windows is really beginning to get on my nerves, I mean seriously its right damn annoying.

I’m thinking of getting a mac, but the prices are fairly prohibative, and there does not seem to be any rent-to own schemes that are not a total rip off out there :(.

I’d get a mini – but I want grunt++. A mini would be perfect for this web server serving up these pages to you, but not as a desktop – well it would probably be slightly better than windows with its STUPID bloody limit on simultaneous outbound connection attempts in the “Waiting” state, which serves no good purpose other than to get on my nerves, but I dont think I could live with the limitations long term (Max memory, HDD speed and video card).

I’m thinking a Dual 2.3 w/ 2G ram would suit me nicely (if only there was a decent priced 9800 or X800 option and by decent I mean coming in the box standard with it ;)). But all that said – if anyone know’s a place in Australia who do decent hire purchase or lease to own jobbies drop me a line, would be great.

To linux people about to suggest $favourite_disto – please dont I love linux as a server OS serving things, I have tried to live with it on the desktop but there are way to many trade off’s that you have to make when you do that, and I hate having to trade things off – I want my banana, I want to have my cake, eat it and not have to clean up. Yes yes I have the source, but I am not a hacker wizard nor am I anything beyond mediocre as a programmer (i design networks, implement networks, and manage systems not code monkey is me!) and besides I have a life. I’ve tried the linux route and for the record – Ubuntu is my favourite for the desktop – server I dont really care as long as it has decent package management and the usual tools are there I am happy. But yes – tried linux and for a desktop for *ME* it does not fit well enough. Thus I want a mac.

M

Note: I have had a few mac’s before in the past, but they have been laptops, and while I loved them to bits they were ergonomically not quite right for me, so a desktop would be sweet.