First Mac? Here's how to set it up

Which Mac does one choose, what about peripherals, gaming and apps on MacOS -your biggest questions answered 

- Tushar Kanwar

Considering a Mac, are you? These days, it's hard not to, particularly if your PC is pushing past the threefour-year mark, what with all that chatter about the remarkable gains Apple Silicon's M-series chips have delivered to the Mac lineup-gains in performance but more crucially, in battery life and sustained performance without overheating.

Moving to a Mac isn't unlike moving homes-you need to figure out what to move along with you, how to find daily conveniences that work for you, and to learn your way around the new place. It's even natural to feel a bit lost at first-fortunately, we have got you covered, and will highlight some of the stuff you should expect with this shift.

WHICH MAC DOES ONE CHOOSE?

Apple makes and sells three "consumer" Macs, all of which have made the transition from Intel processors to Apple's in-house silicon (M2/M3 generation) chips. Most everyday folks will start their search with the "affordable" Macs: the Air and the mini. The 13-inch-screen MacBook Air is available either in the older wedge-shaped design and the Ml chip or the newer modern Pro-inspired design with the M2 chip, both are portable and good for most daily tasks and the occasional video editing. These start at ₹99,900 and 1,14,900, respectively, and there's a large-screen 15-inch M2-powered Air that retails for 1,34,900 onwards.

The M2-series mini desktop, on the other hand, starts at 159,900, but you will need to bring your own monitor, keyboard and mouse-ideal for professionals on a budget or buying their first Mac for the home.