I have a Mac, but is getting a PC really worth it?

[SeeGoldTees]

Most of the important IM tools are on Windows like Scrapebox, article spinners, and all the other necessary tools. I've been really gray hat so far and have been a decent profit but I think I'd be better off with a computer designated to IM.

Is it better to keep my personal computer separate from my IM computer? The ram some of the softwares take up is just too much for my MacBook Pro.

 

[Abstroose]

You could pick up a pretty cheap PC dedicated for marketing tools, but to be honest, you're probably better off just getting a VPS. Will save space, money, bandwidth.

 

[toyo]

you can always install windows on a macbook pro these days. Win 7 runs flawlessly on MBP

 

[sukataetumba]

exactly... just install windows via boot camp. however, if you need to run dedicated automated tools then just get a windows VPS

 

[SeeGoldTees]

I've looked into VPS, but the cost per month would be the price I'd pay for a good desktop in only 5 months. The cheapest one for me with all the RAM and bandwith is around $60.00 plus I have to pay three months up front. It just depends on if I want to put a desktop with extra gigs of RAM on a Best Buy credit card right now. :thinking:

 

[Abstroose]

I've looked into VPS, but the cost per month would be the price I'd pay for a good desktop in only 5 months. The cheapest one for me with all the RAM and bandwith is around $60.00 plus I have to pay three months up front. It just depends on if I want to put a desktop with extra gigs of RAM on a Best Buy credit card right now. :thinking:

You can get a decent VPS for $35/month. What's your home connection like?

 

[JimmyConway]

Macs are sweet due to the fact they cant really get viruses. But no exe's and alot of software isnt programmed for a mac. Which is why I havent got one yet.

 

[wkirk]

I'm in a similar situation, I get around the problem by running winxp inside virtualbox.

hxxp://www virtualbox org

It really doesn't require much resources and all IM tools are running just fine on xp inside virtualbox. Just give it 1gb memory, and 1 cpu core and you'll be just fine.
I wouldn't recommend using your main operating system for running IM tools anyway.

It's much easier and faster to backup/restore it, malware does not really matter also.
Use any kind of virtualization environment you prefer. You absolutely don't need another computer.

 

[TeenAngel]

I'd love to see a good thread about what a good computer/hardware would be for SEO. I'm just starting out and let's just say I'm not the only one using this computer.

I've search and haven't been able to find much luck on that front.

 

[sercon]

 

[Autumn]

No one has suggested http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/overview.html yet so I will suggest it. It is by far the best enterprise grade solution to virtualizing Windows on your Mac (on top of your OS X desktop) and is well worth the $80 or so. It blows Parallels out of the water and there's a free demo (that you can crack).

I would say for times that you want to run your Windows apps at the same time as using OS X, use VMWare. For really RAM / CPU / graphics intensive stuff, boot into Bootcamp and run Windows natively.

If you get to the point of needing 24 / 7 horsepower to throw at Windows spamming apps, get a VPS or dedicated server. There are other advantages of a VPS other than price: much faster and cheaper bandwidth than your home connection, possibly a managed service, portability (you can travel and still run your spamming no problem), no fire hazard etc.

The only reason I would buy a PC would be to install Linux / Unix on it and learn a real man's operating system, rather than some Windows toy shit.

 

[SeeGoldTees]

My home connection is pretty good. I'm not worried about buying a PC, that's not a big deal. I'm worrying about it slowing down my computer because right now I just use it for some minor editing. I'm eventually upgrading to a 27" iMac depending on a few methods I've modified from the forum. But I'm worried about my personal files getting too mixed with business files. It's all about organization for me personally, that's how I make a good profit.

 

[Fwiffo]

I've looked into VPS, but the cost per month would be the price I'd pay for a good desktop in only 5 months. The cheapest one for me with all the RAM and bandwith is around $60.00 plus I have to pay three months up front. It just depends on if I want to put a desktop with extra gigs of RAM on a Best Buy credit card right now. :thinking:

the value of the VPS isn't in the horsepower, it's in bandwidth (usually wayyy more than most home connections) the connection speed, and the ability to stay operational without a physical location you need to manage (good for where you're on the road and need a reboot)

depending on what setup you have at home, these values may be different, however I personally find the value to be there.

 

[SeeGoldTees]

The bandwith for that specific VPS isn't too great. I need a lot of power, so paying for a computer in the long run just seems more worth it at this point. Scrapebox for Mac without any other programs needed should be made. I'll just buy a PC and download everything. I don't want to ruin my Mac with extra programs that aren't really needed.

 

[bertbaby]

The bandwith for that specific VPS isn't too great. I need a lot of power, so paying for a computer in the long run just seems more worth it at this point. Scrapebox for Mac without any other programs needed should be made. I'll just buy a PC and download everything. I don't want to ruin my Mac with extra programs that aren't really needed.

I think you are heading in the right direction. You'll have control, better performance and PCs or laptops have never been more affordable. I have several PCs used for different functions just for those reasons plus redundancy. Most of the SEO programs are relatively light in terms of their resource requirements other than bandwidth, note I said most.

 

[SeeGoldTees]

See, that's exactly what I was thinking. It's the start now when I know companies are pushing for sales on this years model computer to sell them for when the college kids go back to school and when they're clearing inventory for August when the new PC's come out.

 

[wokaka]

Install XP through bootcamp, and dual boot your mac. Don't use virtual machine, it's pretty slow

 

[bertbaby]

Install XP through bootcamp, and dual boot your mac. Don't use virtual machine, it's pretty slow

I'm not a MAC guy, more a matter of money rather than religion, but with dual boot you can only run either the PC or the MAC session not both at the same time unless you go VMware which we are agreed is a sluggish solution. And there's a lot of PC based SEO software that you have to let simmer in the background if you get my drift. The other advantage of two PCs is if one is having a problem you have the other to get to the Internet to get a solution. The disadvantage, is of course, you have two computers to maintain.

 

[wokaka]

I'm not a MAC guy, more a matter of money rather than religion, but with dual boot you can only run either the PC or the MAC session not both at the same time unless you go VMware which we are agreed is a sluggish solution. And there's a lot of PC based SEO software that you have to let simmer in the background if you get my drift. The other advantage of two PCs is if one is having a problem you have the other to get to the Internet to get a solution. The disadvantage, is of course, you have two computers to maintain.

True but this is exactly the reason why i suggested OP to use bootcamp instead of virtual machine. A macbook pro would be too heavy to run both Windows and Mac with virtual machine. Hell, even my iMac is too slow for it. Plus he needs SEO software in windows which will surely make it even heavier.

What im saying is, when you run your SEO software you go use windows. Yeah you wont be able to use your mac but why do you need both? When you are done with those seo software, go back and use your mac to browse, chat, email logins, etc. Unless you need a 24/7 seo software then buy a pc. macbook pro wont be able to cope up with it no matter what. Forcing your imac/macbook to run both windows and mac osx through virtual machine would only make you feel "this machine is so damn slow"..except if you are using a mac pro lol

 

[SecretMoney]

buying a VPS is the best solution!