Mac in Cloud

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Posted by tightbeam
Apr 28, 2015 at 07:16 PM

I really want to start using some Mac apps, but I’m not ready to splurge on a Mac - yet. So I found:

http://www.macincloud.com

which offers monthly “rentals” of Mac servers in the cloud. I’d be able to upload and install licensed Mac software as well as use whatever’s on the server by default. For $20/month (the cheapest plan, which has a daily usage limit of 3 hours), or $1/hour pay-as-you-go, it seems like a good temporary solution.

Has anyone here used Mac in Cloud?

Posted by Prion
Apr 29, 2015 at 09:12 AM

Thanks for posting this, being a Mac person (mostly) I had not seen this before.

Considering the cost, would it not be a viable alternative to buy a Mac mini and connect to it using screen sharing or a VPN connection? I run my own little server that way (Mac and Ubuntu) and my experience has been very positive.
Just a thought.

Posted by MadaboutDana
Apr 29, 2015 at 09:50 AM

I must say I’d agree with that. Rather than spend $20 on a limited-hour monthly plan, why not spend the same money on a basic Mac Mini (on an instalment plan, perhaps)? It would be very easy to use it as a headless system using VNC or some such (it’s what I do with our Windows PCs, which are all headless). Then you can gradually expand it as you get used to all the Mac goodies!

This means (a) you have fully control of your Mac, which is important if you’re going to install software from the App Store, (b) you’re not flinging your cash into a black hole, and (c) you can cuddle your lovely, sexy little Mac during those long, cold evenings and make yourself very happy… hem hem!

Posted by Hugh
Apr 29, 2015 at 10:37 AM

I too agree.

I’m a great fan of the Mac Mini. I’m currently on my second. For someone like me, migrating from Windows to the Mac, a Mac monitor and even a Mac keyboard were not the highest financial priorities - at least for a while I could use the ones I used with my Windows set-up. (I’ve now had a Mac keyboard for several years, but my monitor is still the one I used with my Windows hardware.) My current Mac Mini sits on my desk, not much larger than a hardback book, and so far has happily coped with the demands of three or four Mac operating system upgrades, and can even deliver Windows using Parallels. The key thing in my experience is to install enough RAM - currently the Mini has 16Gb.

Posted by tightbeam
Apr 29, 2015 at 11:53 AM

Thanks for the good advice. Of course you’re right: a Mac Mini hooked up to one of my WIndows monitors makes more sense than renting time on someone else’s cloud machine. I’m going to look into that. (And will look forward to cuddling with my Mac Mini on cold winter nights, as MadAboutDana so alluringly suggests.)

Would something like this do the trick:

http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MGEN2LL-Desktop-NEWEST-VERSION/dp/B00746XCNK

My primary needs will be iOS development (Swift/xCode), outlining/writing, and iBook development. Doubt I’d install anything more resource-intensive than DevonThink or InDesign.

I’m assuming ANY Windows monitor and keyboard will work on the Mac Mini? (I’m *very* new at this.)

Appreciate the help!

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