We've been accepted into MFi and will need to code up a few simple iOS apps. We're a windows shop, so that means buying a new Mac or two. I have no idea which model provides the the best bang for the buck--any advice? I doubt that we'll use it for much more than compiling and loading apps onto devices.
I am not sure where you live, or if you are comfortable with buying things off of Craigslist...<p>1) You should be able to find a perfectly capable used iMac or macbook (pro) on Craigslist for anywhere between
$400 - $800.<p>2) If Craigslist is not your thing, Apple has an excellent refurbished program, I have bought refurb. a number of times with no problems.<p><a href="http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac?mco=OTY2ODY3Nw" rel="nofollow">http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac?mco=O...</a><p>3) If you want to go brand new, any of the MacBook Air's or iMac desktops would be perfect.
I'd say a MacBook Air (portable) or iMac (desktop) absent any other information, but I'd also recommend checking out this article:<p><a href="http://brooksreview.net/2011/05/macs-cars/" rel="nofollow">http://brooksreview.net/2011/05/macs-cars/</a><p>What is MFi?
Macbook Air. I'm an MS guy, it can actually handle having a Win7 VM w/ Visual Studio alongside Xcode (not brilliantly, but adequately).<p>That way you can use it as your laptop too, and it's a frigging nice little laptop.
Consider the mini, though it is overdue for a hardware update. A mini with a Sandy Bridge processor, Thunderbolt connector, and SSD would actually be a pretty sweet little workstation.<p>The bang-for-the-buck factor on the SSD is in your compile times.