2,000USD Budget for a new Mac, advice?

I'd say an iMac but you know with them coming out with new ones in September (think Paris), I would wait unless you can't with the budget.

do you need a complete package or do you have a half decent monitor already that you can use...if you do i would try for refurb G5...

I have an excellent 21" NEC crt that I bought in January, so I'm set there. I only wish the Applestore didn't charge sales tax. That puts a refurb dual 2.0 G5 out of my price range.

macconnection doesn't, for what it's worth.

Take that $2,000 to Atlantic City and with a couple good bets you can buy a $10,000 system.
Dual 2.5
2- 23" monitors
ETC........

Just about any Mac these days can handle most PhotoShop work, even the iBooks/eMac range. Make sure you max the ram with whatever you finally get. A larger hard drive is also something to consider.

� 1GB SDRAM DDR333 - 2 DIMMs
� 160GB Ultra ATA drive
� eMac Tilt & Swivel Stand
� Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
� APP for iMac/eMac - Enrollment Kit
� 1.25GHz PowerPC G4
� Combo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)

That should do pretty well for photoshop. its only $1,402 from the Apple Store online.

I already have an 800Mhz iBook G4 which I use as a portable photo studio, but I was looking for a dual G5 because it would have a much longer useful life. I may have to turn to Ebay.....

Consider getting a dualie of any tower. It makes a big difference, G4 or G5.

Or get a refurbished 1ghz 12" Powerbook with Superdrive ($1199 - when they have them in stock), an OWC 512 RAM chip, an Apple Bluetooth keyboard, and a Mitsubishi 21-inch CRT. And sell your iBook. And when you want to upgrade to a tower when you can afford it, you'll still have a satellite system.

Get a dual Refurbed 1.8 with extra RAM. The 1.8 is $1800.

^ ditto .. dualie G5's .. sweet ..

you could ... give me the money ... that's always an option ....
*looks up how to use subliminal messaging over the internet for dummies*

Get a 12" PowerBook.

.....must give money to Lancer409...must give money to Lancer409....must give money to Lancer409...must.. whoa! that was close!!! Looks like that subliminal stuff works.

I think I might be able to swing a refurb dual 2.0Ghz from Apple, we'll see

i bought a refurb 15" 1.25 powerbook for $1999. i *love* it.

but if you are not keen on a powerbook, then i would go with the refurb g5

Good advice. I did!!!

a 1.8 won't be bad or probably even noticeable compared to a 2