So Many Macs!
When people think about switching to a Mac, the available options can seem overwhelming. Is a Mac Mini a laptop? Do you need a Macbook Air, or the extra power of the Pro? What's an iMac? Which Mac is best for VoiceOver users? Do they all have the same features? Will your new Mac have the ports you need? The choice is far more complex than choosing between an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. Below, I will try to explain the different options, and what each one has. This article may, of course, become outdated as Apple updates and supplements its Mac lineup, so always rely on the
official Apple website
and documentation for the final word on exactly what hardware features each type of Mac includes. That said, after you read this, you should have a good idea of which Mac(s) you want to investigate further. I also highly recommend
Apple's own Mac comparison page.
For most of the information in this article, I relied on
Apple's Apple Store app for iOS.
Legal Stuff
As I said, all the technical information comes from the Apple Store app (not to be confused with the App Store), and Apple itself is always the final authority on all Mac information, so check with them if you have any question that something might have changed. I make no guarantee that any of the details in this article will always be accurate, and neither I nor AppleVis accept any responsibility for any mistaken orders or information you may receive if you base your purchasing off this article.
Commonalities
All Macs are being upgraded all the time. As of right now, every Mac discussed here will come with:
the latest bluetooth (4.0, also called bluetooth low energy)
wifi (802.11AC), except for the Mac Mini, which currently includes 802.11N
USB III ports (backward-compatible with USB II)
the latest operating system (OS X 10.9 Mavericks)
either straight flash storage, or what Apple calls a Fusion drive, which is a hybrid of flash storage and a larger, mechanical drive
All Apple laptops include full flash storage while desktops use Fusion drives, optionally upgradeable to complete flash, or sometimes the older mechanical drives.
1600MhZ ram and the newest generation of Intel Core I5 or Core I7 processors
every Mac that includes an SD card slot can support SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards
access to free copies of Apple's productivity apps: Pages for wordprocessing, Keynote for powerpoint presentations, Numbers for spreadsheets, Garageband for recording and music editing, iPhoto for photo management, and iMovie for movie or slideshow creation, all fully accessible with VoiceOver.
Desktops
All Mac desktops include the computer itself, and an optional keyboard and mouse/external trackpad. They do not come with speakers (though some include an internal speaker) or screens, and again, not all include even a keyboard. A desktop is meant to stay in one place, connected to peripherals, not to be carried around. Needless to say, desktops do not include batteries either, so they are useless unless connected to a power source. If you are looking for a Mac to bring to work, classes, or even around the house, look at the Macbook lines instead. The main advantage to Apple's desktops is that they are cheaper (the Mini) or way more powerful (the Pro) than a laptop. Many people find them useful as media machines, connected to a TV in a family room. Paired with a wireless keyboard, this setup lets you have an entire computer for everyone to use, and the connected TV is great for watching movies or playing games. A laptop can do this as well, but you'd need to hook it up every time you wanted to use it.
Mac Pro
The Mac Pro (not to be confused with the Macbook Pro, which is a laptop) is the ultimate workhorse. It has dual graphics cards, insane amounts of processing power and ram, tons of storage and expansion options, and more. Honestly, unless you are working on heavy-duty applications (science modeling, intense graphics designing and rendering, demanding video games, and so on) this Mac will be overkill for you.
The Mac Pro is shaped like a cylinder. It is 9.9 inches (25.1 cm)tall, 6.6 inches (16.7 cm) in diameter, and 11 pounds (5kg). It's internals are, as stated, insanely powerful:
2.5GhZ 6-core Intel Xeon processor, which you can upgrade all the way up to a 3.0GhZ 8-core processor, or 2.7GhZ 12-core processor
16, 32, or 64GB of ram
256, 512, or 1024GB (1TB) flash storage
For ports, it boasts the following:
four USB III ports
six Thunderbolt II ports
two Gigabit ethernet ports
HDMI 1.4 Ultra HD port
Combined Optical Digital Audio Output/Analog Line-out Minijack
Headphone Jack with Headset Support
Mac Mini
The Mini is a small machine, and is the entry-level Mac, as it is the cheapest one out there. It offers a good range of ports and jacks, and has the advantage of being a bit more user-upgradeable than most MacBooks. If you need a media machine for the living room, or want a Mac and do not need a laptop, the Mac Mini is a good choice. As mentioned, it is a desktop, so you'll need to provide the keyboard, mouse, monitor, and other accessories. Please note that, on some Mac Mini models, using the device with no monitor can cause VoiceOver to lag rather badly. This is not true of all Minis, but a comprehensive list of affected models does not exist. Monitors are relatively cheap nowadays, so this is not a deal-breaker, but it is something to keep in mind if you were planning on simply not bothering with a screen.
The Mini is shaped like a square; it is 7.7 inches (19.7 cm) on each side, 1.7 inches (3.6 cm) thick, and weighs in at around 2.7 pounds (1.22 kg). All the ports and jacks are on one side with all the other surfaces blank except for the Apple logo on one of the large faces, and the access port on the other. It also includes:
2.5GhZ Core I5 dual core processor, which you can upgrade all the way to a 2.6GhZ quad core Core I7
4, 8, or 16GB of ram
a 500GB mechanical hard drive, 256 or 512GB flash storage, or 1TB Fusion drive
four USB III ports
HDMI port
SD card slot
Thunderbolt port
FireWire 800 port
line-in and line-out audio ports
Gigabit ethernet port
IR receiver
iMac
The iMac is an all-in-one computer. That is, it is a screen, either 21.5 inches or 27 inches, with the guts of the computer built into the back. It still needs a keyboard and mouse/trackpad, but it has speakers, a microphone, a camera, and (of course) a screen all built in. Both sizes include:
4 USB III ports
SD card slot
2 Thunderbolt ports
Gigabit ethernet
Kensington security lock slot
The iMac's front is mostly screen. Above the display is the camera, and below that are the speakers. All ports and slots are located on the back panel.
The smaller iMac is 17.7 inches (45 cm) by 20.8 inches (52.8 cm), and has a 6.9-inch (17.5 cm) stand (the Mac is thinner than that, but I could not find an exact thickness). It weighs 12.5 pounds (5.68 kg), and has the following internals:
1.4GhZ Core I5 dual core, up to 3.1GhZ quad core Core I7 processor
8 or 16GB of ram
500GB or 1TB mechanical hard drive, or 256 or 512 flash, or 1TB Fusion drive
The 27-inch model is, of course, larger. It measures 20.3 inches (51.6 cm) by 25.6 inches (65 cm) with an 8-inch (20.3 cm) stand, and weighs 21 pounds (9.54 kg). It also offers the ability to accept more powerful internals:
3.2GhZ quad core Core I5 processor
8, 16, or 32GB of ram
1TB or 3TB mechanical hard drive, 1TB or 3TB Fusion drive, or 256, 512, or 1024GB (1TB) flash drive
Laptops
The Macbook lines are Apple's laptops, and there are two of them. The Air is the entry-level laptop, and is cheaper, lighter, and thinner than its big brother, the Pro. It is a perfectly capable machine, but offers less in the way of power and connections than does the Pro. Both, however, include such standard features as a backlit keyboard, multi-touch trackpad, built-in camera and microphone, and, of course, a screen. As of the time of this writing, the Air's screen is not Retina (Apple's high-quality display) while the Pro's is. For blind users this is not a concern, but low-vision users may find the Pro's Retina display easier to see, especially when using screen magnification.
The keyboard layout is identical to Apple's wireless keyboard. Specifically, there is only one set of VoiceOver keys (control and option), and that is on the left side of the spacebar. The layout of the bottom row of keys, from left to right, for an American English keyboard is: function, control, option, command, space, command, option, arrow keys. You can use a utility like KeyRemap4Macbook to alter this arrangement if you like; many users find the availability of VoiceOver keys on the left side only to be limiting and frustrating when trying to perform certain tasks. It is something you get used to, but it can be quite a rude surprise, especially for those used to having an insert key for Windows screen readers on the right side of the keyboard.
Macbook Air
There are two sizes of Air: an eleven-inch and a thirteen-inch. Both have the same internal options (graphics, processor, ram, and hard disk space). They even have the same keyboard; the extra space in the larger Air is taken up with aluminum around the keyboard, but most of the keys themselves are the exact same size no matter which model of Air you choose. Both also include a Thunderbolt port, two USB III ports (one on each side), a charging port that takes MagSafe II chargers, and a combination headphone/microphone jack. The main differences between the two sizes are:
the eleven-inch model has a smaller top row of keys (escape, F1 through F12, and power) and arrow keys than the larger Air. Again, though, all other keys are the exact same size on both models.
The thirteen-inch Air has a battery that lasts a few hours longer (twelve hours compared to nine hours for the smaller Air).
The thirteen-inch Air includes an SD card slot absent on the smaller Air.
Physically, the Air is very thin (0.11 inches, or 0.3 cm) along its front edge, where the screen meets the body. It slowly thickens as you move along the sides, and is thickest in the back (0.68 inches, or 1.7 cm). The eleven-inch version is 11.8 inches (30 cm) wide, and 7.56 inches (19.2 cm) deep, and weighs 2.38 pounds (1.08 kg). The thirteen-inch model is a bit larger, at 12.8 inches (32.5 cm) wide by 8.94 inches (22.7 cm), and 2.96 pounds (1.35 kg).
The left side holds, from front to back, the headphone/microphone jack, a USB port, then the charging port. The right side, again from front to back, holds the SD card slot (thirteen-inch only), the other USB port, then the Thunderbolt port.
Again, both units are identical in terms of internals, except the battery and SD card slot. These internals include:
1.4GhZ Core I5 dual core processor, or 1.7GhZ Core I7 dual core processor
4 or 8GB of ram
128, 256, or 512GB of flash storage
Macbook Pro
The Pro is the more expensive, but more powerful, Apple laptop. Like the Air, it includes a camera and microphone, backlit keyboard, flash storage, and multi-touch trackpad. Unlike the Air, though, it has even more connectivity options, and it comes in thirteen- or fifteen-inch variants, no eleven-inch option at all. Unlike the Air, both sizes of the Pro have the same ports and slots:
two USB III ports
two Thunderbolt II ports
an HDMI port
combination headphone/microphone jack
MagSafe II port for charging
Physically, the Pro has a more traditional shape. Instead of tapering like the Air, the Pro is the same height all the way around - 0.71 inches (1.8 cm). The thirteen-inch Pro is 12.35 inches (31.4 cm) by 8.62 inches (21.9 cm) and weighs 3.46 pounds (1.57 kg); the fifteen-inch is 14.13 inches (35.89 cm) by 9.73 inches (24.71 cm) and weighs 4.46 pounds (2.02 kg).
As mentioned, the Pro is the beefier of the two laptop options. Here are the internals:
2.0 Core I7 dual core, or up to 2.6 Core I7 quad core processor
8 or 16GB of ram
256, 512, or 1024GB (1TB) flash storage
Which One is Best?
That's up to you. Here are some things to consider, though:
If you'll be taking the computer with you, even occasionally, a laptop is better. Plus, laptops have everything built in, so there's no need to buy a screen, keyboard, or mouse/trackpad. However, Apple's laptops don't offer a great deal in the way of connection ports; if you'll need to plug in a lot of drives, cameras, printers, and so on, consider a desktop or a laptop with some kind of dock or hub.
Desktops are cheaper, and if you need a machine for home (a home office, a media center in the living room, etc) then this might be a good option. Remember that you'll need to supply all necessary peripherals, and, in the case of a Mac Mini, you may need to hook up a monitor even if you can't actually see it.
My Macbook Air runs more smoothly than my Mac Mini (which has a mechanical hard drive), despite having half the ram and a slower processor. If at all possible, choose a Mac with all flash storage. Fusion drives are a good option here, as they try to provide the extensive storage of a mechanical drive with the speed of a flash drive.
VoiceOver is going to work the same across all Macs. MacBooks have the advantage of a built-in trackpad, letting you take advantage of the Trackpad Commander, but lack a number pad. Of course, you can connect most any third-party keyboard to any Mac if you really want the numpad.
The Macbook Air has a better battery life than the Pro, and is smaller to boot. However, if you plan to run more intense apps, the Pro might work out better in the long run.
If you plan on running Windows in a virtual machine, I strongly suggest that whichever Mac you go with includes 8GB or ram or more. Again, flash storage will help everything to run much faster as well.
If you want a Macbook but also sometimes need a larger screen, you can always plug one in. Simply obtain a Mini Display Port adapter for your monitor's connection type, and plug that into your Macbook's Thunderbolt port (Macbook Pros can also use HDMI). The 27-inch iMac is also good for those needing a large screen; unfortunately, there is no iMac sized between the 21.5-inch and 27-inch models.
MacBooks offer little in the way of audio jacks, only the headphone/microphone jack. Mac desktops provide more (a headphone jack as well as a microphone-in jack). If you still want a Macbook but need extra audio options, consider a USB sound card. Remember, too, that the microphone jack on Mac desktops needs a powered microphone; a standard 3.5mm unpowered mic will not work.
MacBooks and iMacs all include a camera. While this is of less use to the blind, in general, remember that it can come in handy when redeeming iTunes gift cards, or video chatting to other people (you can get help with visual tasks, such as identifying items, from others via the camera).
The keyboards on all Macbook models, Pro or Air, are about the same size. As mentioned above, the only difference is the shrunken top row and arrow keys on the eleven-inch Air, and even then these few smaller keys are no problem once you get used to them.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully this has given you a better idea of the Mac landscape. If you have questions, corrections, concerns, or anything else, please sound off in the comments. I'll do my best to keep this updated as Apple continues to update their products, so if you spot an inaccuracy, let me know. I've also not had personal experience with a Mac Pro, and limited experience with the Macbook Pro and iMac, so I was not able to describe those models in quite as much detail. As to the Mac Mini, mine is from 2011, and I am not sure how the newest ones have their ports arranged, so I didn't want to go into detail on that either.
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