Questions or comments? EMAIL me at webmaster9@almy.us
All Macs run macOS Sequoia unless otherwise mentioned.
Click on the system name to see pictures.
Apple iMac; 3.8GHz i7 (eight cores, hyperthreaded, core boosts to 4.8GHz); 40GB RAM; 1TB SSD; 27" 5k Retina display with 27" 4k LG monitor for second display; Wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse put aside, actually use Northgate Omnikey/102 keyboard and cheap Logitech M100 mouse, but have Magic Trackpad as well. Brother DCP-L2540DW monochrome laser all-in-one and Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500; Cyberpower UPS. Purchased 8/2020. Runs on demand using standby mode when not in use. External DVD burner. External Sandisk 1TB SSD
Primary system uses: photo editing, software development, technical documentation, website maintenance, usual "office" tasks. Finances.
Software Used: Parallels 9, Netbeans, iWork, EazyDraw, OmniGraffle, Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, Growly Notes, Scrivener, Scapple, various utilities.
Apple MacBook Air, M3 processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 13" Retina Display, 10/24.
Primary system uses: more portable for travel than the 16" MacBook Pro, described below. Bought to have a system with Apple Silicon. It has the performance of Tom11 and the 16" MacBook Pro combined. Eventually this will replace the MacBook Pro.
Apple MacBook Pro, 2.6GHz i7 (six core with hyperthreading), 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 16" Retina display gives same resolution as my 2011 hi-res 15" model, 1/20. Totu hub with 3 USB3, 1 USB2, HDMI, SD, and Ethernet ports.
Primary system uses: Travel, connect to TV for viewing and streaming video and photos. Portable computer for writing.
Software Used:Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, Photos (to view previous trips edited with Aperture), Scrivener and EazyDraw for documentation. Resilio Sync to synchronize with desktop and server.
Apple iMac; M1 8-core; 8GB RAM; 512GB SSD; 24" 4.5k Retina display; Apple wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse. Brother DCP-L2550DW monochrome laser all-in-one; APC UPS. Purchased 7/2021. Runs on demand using standby mode when not in use.
Primary system uses:Quicken, web browsing, scheduling, word processing and spreadsheets, recipes, playing music. Photography.
Apple MacBook Air; 1.4GHz Core 2 Duo; 2 GB RAM, 64GB SSD, 11" 1366x768 display. Purchased 12/2010. Runs macOS Sierra.
System uses: portable browsing, address book, calendar, email. Nicer to use but same size as iPad.
Apple Mac mini; M1; 8GB RAM; 1TB SSD. Purchased 3/23. Cyberpower UPS; 16TB OWC Gemini; 1TB external SSD to back up internal SSD; additional external drives (including a dock) for server backups. No keyboard, mouse, display, or optical drive. Launched 3/23 Runs 24/7.
System Uses: File server (mainly media files), TimeMachine backups of 4 other systems in house, Plex Media Server. Resilio Sync. Backblaze, UniFi Network application, Hazel
Apple Mac mini; 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo; 8 GB RAM; 250GB SSD; 8x DL Superdrive; 22" Viewsonic HD monitor; External speakers. Purchased 6/2010. Runs on demand using standby mode when not in use. Upgraded from 2GB RAM and Snow Leopard 7/2013. Upgraded to El Capitan 10/2016, the ultimate OS it will run. Ungraded from 4GB RAM and 160GB HD 8/2020.
Primary system uses: This system ran in the living room through a small class-D amplifier and a set of Bose 301 speakers. I now drive the amp and speakers from a Amazon Echo that receives audio from an iPad.
Software Used: Plex, but also used as an auxiliary system for 32-bit software.
Apple Mac mini; 2.5GHz dual-core i5; 8GB RAM; 250GB SSD; connected to TV and home theater sound system. Purchased 2/2014. Runs on demand using standby mode when not in use. Upgraded from 4GB RAM and 500GB HD 8/2020
Primary system uses: Entertainment.
Software Used:Runs MacOS Sierra. Plex, Safari, Preview, Elgato Video Capture
Apple Mac mini; 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo; 4 GB RAM; 120GB SSD; 8x DL Superdrive; connected to two 17" 1280x1024 monitors. Purchased 1/2010. Runs on demand using standby mode when not in use. Upgraded from 2GB RAM, 160GB HD, and Snow Leopard 6/2013 when original HD failed. El Capitan, the ultimate OS it will run.
Primary system uses: Now in closet since I retired.
Software Used: Circus Ponies Notebook, Scrivener, LPCXpresso, BBEdit, LibreOffice, EazyDraw, Keynote, Pages, iPhoto.
Apple iMac; 2.8GHz i7 (quad-core with Hyperthreading); 8GB RAM; 1TB HD; 8x DL "SuperDrive"; 27" display. Purchased 11/2009. Display card replaced 9/2014. Retired 12/2017
Other systems of note. These have been recycled through FreeGeek 4/2009.
Dell Optiplex GX60 in Small Form Factor case, 1.8GHz Celeron, 640MB, 40GB, CDR, (no floppy drive), 1504FP display using analog, integrated sound, Logitech optical mouse, no keyboard. Only additional software -- iTunes. Bose 301 speakers driven from old Pioneer amp. Upgraded at purchase with 128MB Crucial RAM, and in 3/10 with additional 512MB Crucial RAM. Best build quality of any of my Dells. Runs on demand, using standby mode when not in use. Purchased 3/03. No repairs.
Primary system uses: Retired 12/2012 Now recycled
Dell Dimension 4300S P4, 1.6GHz, 384MB, 40GB, 16x10x40x CDRW, 1702FP using analog, 16 MB ATI Rage Ultra, integrated sound. Stereo speakers with subwoofer (offbrand). APC UPS. Dell A940 Printer/scanner/copier. Purchased 12/01 and upgraded with 256MB of RAM from Crucial at time of purchase. Hard drive failed after 31 months, replaced under extended warranty. 10/04 replaced keyboard/mouse with Dell wireless keyboard/mouse combo. System retired 12/04.
Dell Inspiron 8200, 1.6GHz P4M, 384MB, 30GB, WiFi, DVD (no burning capability), 15" SXGA+. Carrying case. Logitech wheel mouse. Purchased 7/02. Upgraded to 384MB and XP Pro from 256MB 3/03. DVD drive failed first day and was replaced quickly. DVD drive failed again after 2.5 years and was replaced quickly under warranty. No other repairs. Semi-retired 5/05 when I got the iBook.
Dimension 4100, 1GHz P3, 256MB, 40GB, 12x8x32x CDRW, Sony DVD+R+R/W, integrated sound, 23" LCD monitor (DVI), Win2K, stereo speakers with subwoofer (offbrand), HP "all in one". Purchased 4/01 with only upgrade being the the DVD burner and new display card for new monitor. No repairs. Ran 24/7. Retired 7/08
Given Away or Sold
Apple MacBook Pro, 2.4GHz i7 (quad core with hyperthreading), 8GB RAM, 750GB Seagate Momentus XT hybrid drive (replaced original 750 GB 5200RPM drive at time of purchase), Superdrive (DVD/CD burner), 15" antiglare 1680x1050 display. Logitech optical mouse. Purchased 3/12. Replaced original 750 GB 5200 RPM drive at time of purchase with 750 GB Seagate Momentus XT hybrid drive. Drive failed 2/13 and was replaced with Seagate 1 TB SSHD (hybrid) drive. Replaced again with 480GB SSD March 2015. Display and logic board replaced 6/2016 because of lines in display. Runs High Sierra. Direct replacement for MacBook now used by my daughter.
Primary system uses: Travel, connect to TV for viewing and streaming video and photos. Portable computer for writing. This doesn't get used nearly as much as it used to, and not for as powerful software.
Software Used:Photoshop CS5, Aperture, QuickTime, Scrivener and EazyDraw for documentation. Chronosync to synchronize with desktop.
Apple iMac; 4.0GHz i7 (quad-core with Hyperthreading); 16GB RAM; 1TB HD + 128GB SSD ("Fusion" drive); 27" 5k Retina display with Dell 2001FP 20" monitor as second monitor; Wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse
Apple iMac; 3.5GHz i5 (quad-core with Hyperthreading); 8GB RAM; 500GB SSD; 27" 5k Retina display; Apple wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse. Brother DCP-L2550DW monochrome laser all-in-one; APC UPS. Purchased 12/2017. Sold 8/2020.
Apple iMac; 3.7GHz i5 (six core boosts to 4.6GHz); 8GB RAM; 1TB SSD; 27" 5k Retina display; Apple wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse. Brother DCP-L2550DW monochrome laser all-in-one; APC UPS. Purchased 6/2019. Traded in 7/2021
Apple MacBook (Aluminum), 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM, 500GB Seagate Momentus XT hybrid drive (replaced original 250 GB HD in 1/2011), WiFi, Superdrive (DVD/CD burner), 13" 1280x800 display. Logitech optical mouse. Purchased 6/09. Drive replaced 2016. Direct replacement for older MacBook listed.
Primary system uses: Daughter uses for classes.
Apple "Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server"; 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo; 8 GB RAM, 2x500GB HD; Purchased 3/10. Defective hard drive replaced 1/12. Upgraded from 4 GB RAM and Snow Leopard Server 7/2013. Upgraded from Mountain Lion Server 12/2013. Defective hard drive replaced with SSD 9/14. Swapped SSD with 1TB hybrid drive so I'd have the SSD in my portable system, 3/15. Ran 24/7.
Primary system uses: Retired 11/2014 Now sold to a friend
Apple Mac mini; 2.3GHz quad-core i7; 10GB RAM; 1TB SSD. Purchased 11/14 and upgraded immediately to 10GB from 4GB RAM, running Server 4.1. Cyberpower UPS; 4TB external drive for TimeMachine backups of other systems; 2 4TB external drives for videos and archival files; additional external drives (including a dock) for server backups. No keyboard, mouse, display, or optical drive. 1TB HDD replaced with 1TB SSD 9/17. Launched 11/14 Retired 3/23.
Apple iMac, 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo; 4 GB RAM; 640GB HD; Dual-layer DVD Super drive; 24" display; OS X; Canon all-in-one. Purchased 6/09. No repairs. APC UPS. Runs on demand using standby mode when not in use.
Primary system uses: Retired 12/2014 Now sold to a friend
My father's last computer was this iMac. My daughter took it at his death. I maintained it for him and now I maintained it for her. Then eventually it was scrapped.
24" Apple iMac, 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM, 320GB HD, 8x DL "Superdrive". Purchased 7/08. Hard drive replaced with a 500GB drive in November 2012.
Apple MacBook, 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM, 160 GB HD, WiFi, Superdrive (DVD/CD burner), 13" 1280x800 display. Logitech optical mouse. Purchased 1/08. destroyed with water 6/09 then restored.
Primary system uses: Retired 3/12 -- daughter gave to friend who needed a computer.
Apple iMac Core 2 Duo; 2.16GHz; 3GB RAM; 250GB HD, 8x DL "SuperDrive"; Purchased 11/2006. Increased from 2GB to 3GB ram 12/07. Repaired under warranty 6/09. Gave away 2/10.
Apple iMac G5, 1.6GHz PowerPC G5; 1 GB RAM; 80GB HD; DVD-ROM/CDRW drive; 17" display; OS X; Purchased 12/04. Original 512MB RAM replaced with 1GB RAM 11/07 when upgrading to Leopard. Given away in 2011 when power supply died.
Apple iBook, 1.2GHz G4, 1280 MB, 60GB, WiFi, CDRW/DVD (no DVD burning capability), 12" 1024x768 display. Purchased 5/05. No repairs. Sold 07/09
Dell Dimension 8300; 3.2GHz P4; 2048 MB RAM; 120 GB SATA HD; NEC 8X DVD+R+R/W; No display, keyboard or mouse. NVIDIA FX5200 128MB video card; embedded sound; HP Scanjet 5100C scanner. Purchased 2/04. Second 1024MB RAM added after one year for photo software. Second DVD drive added to get "-" capability. No repairs.
Retired in June 2008. Kept as spare to possibly replace Dimension 8200 as server (this one uses SATA drives). Given away when moving to Mac mini server, 4/10.
This went from being my home system to being the server (which it did faithfully for over 6 years).
Dell Dimension 8200; 2.2GHz P4; 512MB; 500GB + 200GB; NEC DVD+R+R/W; no connected monitor keyboard or mouse but relies on Remote Access; no sound card, SB Live! 1024 has been removed; APC UPS. Purchased 3/02 and only upgrades have been to add a second NIC, replace DVD recorder with one that supports -R format, and 12/04 add the 200GB hard drive. 6/07 replaced original 80GB drive with 500GB. 4/09 replaced NIC with gigabit NIC. No repairs.
Primary system uses: It served all the music, photo, and video files for the house, as well as the Microsoft Money files and archival storage. Most application software removed to save disk space. Ran 24/7, Turned off 4/10. Given away 6/10.
Revised October 2024
