What's the best Mac for my freelance needs?

[wienerdog]

I've been lax on doing freelance work over the past two years, but want to move forward with new projects on the side of my full-time job, doing some projects on weekends. I'm trying to figure out if it's worth the investment, and if I'll be making enough from freelance work to make it a good business decision. I guess, as a business investment, it'll last 4-6 years. I may be able to write it off as a business expense if I'm going to be making enough from freelancing this year to declare it. I'll have to discuss it with my tax guy, I guess, and figure out how much CAN be written off, what steps I may need to take if I'm a small business/independent contractor, etc.

I'm trying to decide what the best computer investment is for my needs. I'm iffy on getting an iMac instead of a Mac Pro because I don't want to drop $1,700-2,000 this year and run into problems with not enough RAM expansion, etc. in 2 years. I'm told an iMac dual-core would be fine for graphic design/illustration, but for a few hundred $ more (probably about $2400) I get a more future-proof computer without an Apple Display. I'm concerned that you can never have enough RAM, especially if I wind up doing more digital illustration work.

Adobe Creative Suite is about $1200, but that's only an estimate since I'm still waiting for CS3 before I switch over. I need to make an official Adobe purchase and get my own license for software and am probably ready to move on to Mac (I'm piggy-backing off of my work software, which does allow you to install on a home PC in the license, surprisingly).

$3600 isn't a lot for a business start-up cost when you look at it, and it will last over several years of doing work. Of course, my wife doesn't see it that way, she just sees it as us going into $3600 of debt (which I can maneuver into a no-interest credit card payment plan anyway).

I bought a new Westinghouse (I know, not the greatest brand) widescreen 19" monitor just last year, and it seems pretty decent, so I don't need a new display as much as I need a new computer, but I haven't used an Apple display in a long time, and haven't done too much color-dependent work recently, so it's hard for me to tell.

However, I wonder if in 4-5 years (about the average life span of a PC for me for the past decade) the processor won't be enough speed then, and it will be time for a new computer anyway, so spending extra $ on a Mac Pro now may have been a waste down the road. And if that's the case, an iMac 20" with 2GB of RAM and expandable to 3GB would probably be enough for 4-5 years anyway, right? Plus I get the benefit of an Apple display, which I assume is better than my Westinghouse that I bought last year that I could always sell on ebay.

Something else someone mentioned is consider getting a MacBook Pro, to make it easier to show off a portfolio when meeting with clients. It removes cost of printing a portfolio when you can just bring your computer with you. They're a lot more pricey at $2600, and upgrades are limited on this as well.

What to do... What to do... :)

[PrintDriver]

How many threads are there on this topic now anyway?

[morea]

how bout MacDonalds?

yes, there are infinite threads on this topic around here. Don't go in for the supersizing... you can easily fill up on a regular value meal and may as well skip the extra calories.

[wienerdog]

How many threads are there on this topic now anyway?

I didn't see any general resource threads on "Choosing the right hardware." I know there's tons of Mac vs. PC, which I don't need to get into again. But this sort of decision is really unique to each person's needs for the business of design/illustration.

[morea]

ooh, I can't resist... that reminds me of a joke:

How do you catch a unique rabbit?
Unique up on him!

(oh, say it out loud, it's funny.)


How do you catch a tame rabbit?
Tame way, unique up on him!

:D I'll be here all week... tip your waitstaff!

[mac.FINN]

a computer's a computer's a computer's a computer's a computer.

I have a gooseneck iMac G4 that runs something like 800MHz with a measly 15" screen, and I can work on it just fine, and have been for about 4 years.

There's never a straight answer to "what's the best I can get..."

[MD]

There are a lot of threads on this issue - I know because I responded to almost all of them :)

CS3 is rumored to be coming out at the end of next month along with 10.5 - start saving your pennies. I also think that the imac line is due for an upgrade. By the time that the new operating system comes out next month it will about 6 months since the last update, you may want to wait.

[wienerdog]

I've run into a couple of projects that would have been helpful to have updated Adobe software and I'm ready to jump to Mac now. Some new hardware to run a new Adobe CS while running iTunes without a ton of lag would be nice for my needs these days would be great too, so obviously RAM is always a resource that you can't have too much of.

I know the computer doesn't make the designer, it's a tool like any other. But some work better than others, and more efficiency isn't a bad thing. I've found when doing digital illustration work that heavy in Photoshop or Painter, you can never have enough RAM.

While you can put something together with a screwdriver, if you have a lot of screws, a drill is so much better. :)

[wienerdog]

There are a lot of threads on this issue - I know because I responded to almost all of them :)

CS3 is rumored to be coming out at the end of next month along with 10.5 - start saving your pennies. I also think that the imac line is due for an upgrade. By the time that the new operating system comes out next month it will about 6 months since the last update, you may want to wait.

I'm definitely not getting it that soon, looking to maybe get some new hardware and Adobe CS3 in the next 6 months.

Are there any threads discussing the business benefits of writing off required equipment and how much you're allowed to do, or getting yourself set up as a business vs. being an independent contractor to report income properly?

[mac.FINN]

I usually check here www.macrumors.com (http://www.macrumors.com); mainly the buyer's guide (top right)

There's been a lot of focus on the iPhone lately though.

[MD]

You can write off any equipment that you want no matter on how much money you make. Setting up a business will reduce the amount of taxes you have to pay buy you may have to estimate and pay quarterly. Equipment can be deducted over 3 years or I think you can take the deduction in one year. I would suggest consulting an accountant / lawyer / tax professional in your area rather than taking advice from a rambling moron from Milwaukee.

You may be able to save a little money by obtaining an older unregistered version of photoshop from ebay and upgrading to CS3 from that. Wait until the specs come out to see what versions that you can upgrade from first.

[MD]

MacScoop claims to have the inside dirt on next month's rumored Apple announcements, saying we're in for a full barrage of hardware releases, including a black 24-inch iMac and 8-core Mac Pros (no word on whether they'll be sporting new designs). Also in store for us are 15-inch MacBooks and new Cinema Displays with HDMI/HDCP support. I'm getting curious about the Mac Mini upgrades, as they've been flying under the "rumor radar" for awhile now. Only time will tell.

[Seapony]

You should honestly gauge your hardware based on your specific needs. For example, will you be doing scads of retouching or image compositing with layered files? Then chances are your files can be as high as 200MB so you need the power to speedily open and maneuver around. Also consider the HD and RAM requirements of the main software you'll be using.

For what it's worth, any G5 series (iMac or Mac Pro series) should fit the bill. Just add RAM and external drives where needed.

:)

[ecsyle]

The best? Probably the newest one you can get. It will last a very long time. You should just get something that is affordable and will last a while.

[wienerdog]

MacScoop claims to have the inside dirt on next month's rumored Apple announcements, saying we're in for a full barrage of hardware releases, including a black 24-inch iMac and 8-core Mac Pros (no word on whether they'll be sporting new designs). Also in store for us are 15-inch MacBooks and new Cinema Displays with HDMI/HDCP support. I'm getting curious about the Mac Mini upgrades, as they've been flying under the "rumor radar" for awhile now. Only time will tell.

Thanks for the info! I just so happen to be meeting with my in-laws' friend, who is an accountant tomorrow! Mmmmm... tax rebate...

[PrintDriver]

No. Not a tax rebate. You are amortizing an expense.

A machine is a machine (although I have never bought into the iMac all-in-one technology - I like a machine I can get my hands into without using tweezers). You could get a decently priced non-intel pro-mac right now with CS2 and be happy with what you have for the next 3 to quite possibly 5 years. You could wait and get an Intel Pro-mac with CS3 and still be content for a good long while. No one is twisting any designer's arm to go out and upgrade to the latest and greatest when the latest and greatest is only the addition of one or two bells or whistles.

Decide what it is you are going to design and figure out what it takes to design it. Then chock the ram and watch for the program patches.

[wienerdog]

Sorry, I was referring to my tax rebates due to me from '06. But that's paying for my vacation with the wife this fall (YAY! First vacation in 2 years!).

I assume you can get a G5 Mac that's refurbished from the Apple store or something?

[smashmiester]

ooh, I can't resist... that reminds me of a joke:

How do you catch a unique rabbit?
Unique up on him!

(oh, say it out loud, it's funny.)


How do you catch a tame rabbit?
Tame way, unique up on him!

:D I'll be here all week... tip your waitstaff!

lmao morea,

I was working from home today and America's funniest Home Videos was on that joke was on there.

[urstwile]

You should honestly gauge your hardware based on your specific needs. For example, will you be doing scads of retouching or image compositing with layered files? Then chances are your files can be as high as 200MB so you need the power to speedily open and maneuver around. Also consider the HD and RAM requirements of the main software you'll be using.

For what it's worth, any G5 series (iMac or Mac Pro series) should fit the bill. Just add RAM and external drives where needed.

:)
That's how I figure it out as well.

I just got one of the new Intel iMacs at work, out of necessity. I was urging them to wait to upgrade until CS3 came out, but my 366 mHz G4 (:eek:) finally up and died on me, so they had to get me a new computer.

I've only been using it a couple of days, but it's completely fine for what I'm doing, especially if you look at what I was working on before. I expect that when CS3 comes out and they finally make the decision to upgrade to that, the iMac will shine.

I have 2 gigs of RAM in it, and it's a trazillion times (approximately) faster than what I was working on before, even with Rosetta factored in. :)

I tend to take advice to get the fastest thing on the block with a grain of salt. It's all about what you need with this stuff, plus some extra built in so you'll have some shelf life with it, not necessarily the oooh aaah factor.

[wienerdog]

So I talked to my accountant today, and he said that since I don't have employees, I don't need to get a tax ID. For freelance work, that is considered self-employed independent contract work, and any business expenses incurred for that income (separate from my full-time job) can be completely written off as a one-time expense. Thankfully, it's not one of those things where you can only deduct a percentage up to a total, you can write the whole thing off from what I understand. However, all income that I make from freelancing is subject to income and self-employment taxes. The only questions I should have asked are:

What if I make $3000 freelancing and I have $3600 in expenses this year?
Is the income subject to the income & self-employment taxes -$600?
Do I even need to pay any taxes on freelance income since I'm operating at a loss for the first year?

[PrintDriver]

Sounds like you have a little research to do. Is not having a tax ID beneficial? Are you going to use a DBA and keep your personal and business funds separate? What happens when YOU blow a print job and have to take the hit?

Why do people insist on starting a business without knowing the rules of the state they live in? If you are going to start a business why don't you take a Small Business seminar or two. Banks, Continuing Education and Colleges offer them.
It would be a wise investment.

[morea]

Why do people insist on starting a business without knowing the rules of the state they live in? If you are going to start a business why don't you take a Small Business seminar or two. Banks, Continuing Education and Colleges offer them.
It would be a wise investment.

God, I wish I knew.

My mother owns and operates her own business as a sole proprieter, and was advised to get a tax id number. Not the same state, granted, but she did a lot of research on it before she started. And I doubt that an international forum is the best place to find information about starting a business in your particular location...

[wienerdog]

God, I wish I knew.

My mother owns and operates her own business as a sole proprieter, and was advised to get a tax id number. Not the same state, granted, but she did a lot of research on it before she started. And I doubt that an international forum is the best place to find information about starting a business in your particular location...

I did pick up a document from the library on starting a business in my state. So there's that... :)