Mac Tech Specs Translated for Normal People

Do your eyes glaze over when looking at a spec sheet? Do you know what parts are important and what ones can you skip? We'll give you real world definitions for the important stuff so you'll know what to pay attention to when selecting the right Mac.

Pay Attention to These

Processor – Think of the processor like your car's engine, making your Mac go. More cylinders (cores) and higher numbers means it can accomplish things faster. Made by Intel, the processors are either a Core Duo 2 or a Xeon, except for the Mac Mini which needs an upgrade soon anyway.

Rated in GHz (gigahertz), higher numbers are better. One key to keep in mind, though: Most processors these days are fast enough to do ordinary tasks and they have been for a few years. Paying hundreds more for a 5-10% faster chip might not be worth it.

Memory – You can think of memory (RAM) like your desk space around you when you work. It's the place computers put frequently used files and the ones you are working on right now. If your desk space is cramped, working is inefficient. If you have a nice, large desk and can spread out, you will work faster and more efficiently. Having a lot of RAM is the single best way to make your Mac run faster.

I wouldn't advise having less than 1GB (2GB is better). If your budget has some flexibility, this is where to spend it. And, unless you are getting a Mac Pro, adding RAM later is again like a desk in that you throw out what you have to get a bigger one, so get what you need the first time.

Hard Disk Drive (Storage) – If RAM is your desk space, your hard disk is your filing cabinets. You store files here as well, but it takes longer to do it. Some people have a few drawers under their desk and some people have walls stacked from top to bottom with them. Which do you want? The key thing to know is that like filing cabinets, it's easy to add more later.

Display – The display is your screen, usually a flat LCD. Displays are measured diagonally and larger is better unless you are space challenged. Like a window, when you have a bigger one, you can see more through it.

The other measurement is resolution, measured in pixels. This is the measurement to use when comparing displays. The thing to keep in mind is that with LCD screens, there is only one "just right" resolution for each display. Back when we had TV tube style monitors (CRT), you could change the resolution in software to suit your preference. You can still do that, but expect it to not look right with on a LCD.

Optical Drive – There are only two types of optical drives available with Macs right now: Combo Drive and Super Drive. The Combo Drive is on the cheaper models, and can read and write (burn) to CDs, but only read (and play) DVDs. The Super Drive can do all that plus write to blank DVDs. There are 2 main reasons you might want to write to a DVD: creating DVDs to play in players attached to TVs, and to copy files to blank DVDs for sharing or backup. If you think you will want to do either of these things, make sure to get a Mac with a Super Drive.

Graphics – This is how information goes from your processor to be displayed on your screen. The 2 ways graphics are handled are either by sharing the main processor and memory, or having a dedicated device to take the load off the processor and memory.

Obviously, having a dedicated device is better, but at what price? If you primarily surf the web and do email, shared graphics will be fine. But if you like games, or do intense video, 3D or photographic work, you will want to make sure to get a Mac with a dedicated graphics processor. Higher numbers are better and make the most difference in video games.



Specs You Can Skip

Expansion – These are your opportunities to add stuff to your Mac. All Macs have the same USB and FireWire options except the Pro versions that have FireWire 800 (faster) and slots to add dedicated devices. See Plugging in – No, Really! for more info about ports and slots.

L2 Cache – Special RAM for the processor. More is better, but you won't know the difference.

System Bus – Higher (more) is better. Don't worry about it.

Electrical and Environmental Requirements - You can't really change these, so skip it.



Specs You Can Take for Granted (All the Macs have most of these)

Software – All Macs come with the same software package, give or take a few minor items. Unlike Windows, there is no Home, Professional or Ultimate editions to choose from.

Video – All Macs with built in screens have iSight cameras. Also, you may need to buy an adapter to to hook up another display. You can cross that bridge later.

Audio – They all have the same Audio in and out except for the Mac Pro has TOSLINK too.

Networking and Wireless – All Macs have the same Ethernet and Wireless connections except the Mac Pro doesn't come standard with Airport or Bluetooth.

Modem - Back in the 20th Century, people connected a phone jack to a computer through a "modem" to connect to the internet or "fax" documents. The modem is an add-on optional USB device now.

Hardware Accessories – the other odds and ends in your box. No surprises here

Security – All Macs have a slot for an optional security device if you need to chain your Mac to your desk.

Size and Weight – No real options here to pick from. Just info.

Limited Warranty and Service – They all have the same warranty plan.

Is your head spinning? Don't worry. Just read the top part again if you need to compare models to get the right one.

Did I skip past something important? Can you use some more translating? Let us know in the Comment section below.

DIG DEEPER

Mac Spec Pages
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Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About RAM for Macs from MacTalk

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