Cheapest mac that supports iOS builds through Corona

[curtishimel]

I’m nearing completion on my game and want to test on iOS devices. I don’t own a mac, but from what I’m seeing, it’s necessary to build for iOS through Corona. This is annoying, but I guess it’s not Corona’s fault.

Anyway, what’s the cheapest (oldest) mac I can buy that can build through Corona? I’ve no interest in the mac outside of this use, so it doesn’t need to be particularly fancy or powerful.

I know the system requirements are listed here: http://developer.coronalabs.com/content/corona-os-x-system-requirements , but I know very little about the mac product line and what I should be searching for on craigslist to fulfill those requirements.

Thanks for any suggestions! [import]uid: 104618 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 331014[/import]

[CraftyDeano]

If the only reason to have a Mac is to build for corona, consider some of the cloud solutions like www.macincloud.com
[import]uid: 62706 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 123997[/import]

[curtishimel]

Oh wow, that’s pretty sweet. I didn’t know such services existed. Thanks! [import]uid: 104618 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 123998[/import]

[mike470]

I tried macincloud. Slow as molasses to the point where it was unworkable. It was not Internet connection either, I am on FIOS.

A good solution is Mac on a VM. That’s what I am using now. [import]uid: 160496 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 124002[/import]

[schizoid2k]

Mike, can you explain your Mac vim config? Sounds interesting. I too was looking at either a Mac or macincloud, but if macincloud is that slow, I don’t want to consider it.

Thanks, [import]uid: 114363 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 124011[/import]

[sumosalesman]

I have a Mac Mini. It works great with Corona. If you really want to save, skip the Apple monitor and just grab an old PC keyboard and mouse. [import]uid: 144359 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 124015[/import]

[mike470]

Mac VM - the OS is Lion, it runs in a window on my Win7 machine. It is fast enough for me to do anything I want on it, the screen resolution is not enormous (that is, I cannot fullscreen it on my 1920x1200 main monitor) but I manage.

I cannot *develop* on the VM - nothing shows up in the simulator, apparently because the OpenGL drivers on the VM don’t work (I hear they did work for Snow Leopard on VM), but I don’t need that. I develop everything on Windows, then move the files over to VM when I need to build for iOS and build it there.

The VM Mac can do everything else - run XCode, browse the net (so I can do the certificates/provisioning), use the Application Loader, upload to Testflightapp etc. I can even hook up the iPad to my Win7 machine and tell VM to intercept it so that it thinks that the iPad is hooked up to it, then run the iTunes there and the iTunes will work with the connected iPad.

Edited to say: VMWare Workstation is $250 or you can buy one ver. back cheaper one
http://www.buy.com/prod/vmware-workstation-8-acad-version/224444236.html
(but they do have a free trial period, and I think you can create the VM machine image during that). VMWare Player is free (to “play” the machine after you created it). OS X copy is something like $20? Can’t really go much cheaper than that. [import]uid: 160496 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 124014[/import]

[schizoid2k]

Thanks for the info… I also develop on Windows so this could be an option. Right now I walk over to my wife’s Mac and compile/upload, but I would rather have my own system to do this.

A Mac mini is also an option if I can work through without buying a new monitor. I would think my Win monitor would be fine, but I have to check to see what free connections are available.

thanks! [import]uid: 114363 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 124018[/import]

[caesss]

buy a refurbished iMac. You still get a lot for your money for under $1000. [import]uid: 133036 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 124052[/import]

[Nob_Studio]

running Mac on VMWare Player works great for me. I only use it to compile. Save the trouble of switching between two computer.
But to set up the mac on VM is not easy.

Otherwise you can get any mac that supports OX lion. [import]uid: 49513 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 124318[/import]

[thedavebaxter]

I run a Macbook from 2006, it’s fine now but won’t take the new OSX. So if your looking to buy a Mac make sure it can handle the latest OSX as am sure Apple will insist you use it one day.

Dave [import]uid: 117617 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 124319[/import]

[CraftyDeano]

If the only reason to have a Mac is to build for corona, consider some of the cloud solutions like www.macincloud.com
[import]uid: 62706 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 123997[/import]

[curtishimel]

Oh wow, that’s pretty sweet. I didn’t know such services existed. Thanks! [import]uid: 104618 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 123998[/import]

[mike470]

I tried macincloud. Slow as molasses to the point where it was unworkable. It was not Internet connection either, I am on FIOS.

A good solution is Mac on a VM. That’s what I am using now. [import]uid: 160496 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 124002[/import]

[schizoid2k]

Mike, can you explain your Mac vim config? Sounds interesting. I too was looking at either a Mac or macincloud, but if macincloud is that slow, I don’t want to consider it.

Thanks, [import]uid: 114363 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 124011[/import]

[sumosalesman]

I have a Mac Mini. It works great with Corona. If you really want to save, skip the Apple monitor and just grab an old PC keyboard and mouse. [import]uid: 144359 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 124015[/import]

[mike470]

Mac VM - the OS is Lion, it runs in a window on my Win7 machine. It is fast enough for me to do anything I want on it, the screen resolution is not enormous (that is, I cannot fullscreen it on my 1920x1200 main monitor) but I manage.

I cannot *develop* on the VM - nothing shows up in the simulator, apparently because the OpenGL drivers on the VM don’t work (I hear they did work for Snow Leopard on VM), but I don’t need that. I develop everything on Windows, then move the files over to VM when I need to build for iOS and build it there.

The VM Mac can do everything else - run XCode, browse the net (so I can do the certificates/provisioning), use the Application Loader, upload to Testflightapp etc. I can even hook up the iPad to my Win7 machine and tell VM to intercept it so that it thinks that the iPad is hooked up to it, then run the iTunes there and the iTunes will work with the connected iPad.

Edited to say: VMWare Workstation is $250 or you can buy one ver. back cheaper one
http://www.buy.com/prod/vmware-workstation-8-acad-version/224444236.html
(but they do have a free trial period, and I think you can create the VM machine image during that). VMWare Player is free (to “play” the machine after you created it). OS X copy is something like $20? Can’t really go much cheaper than that. [import]uid: 160496 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 124014[/import]

[schizoid2k]

Thanks for the info… I also develop on Windows so this could be an option. Right now I walk over to my wife’s Mac and compile/upload, but I would rather have my own system to do this.

A Mac mini is also an option if I can work through without buying a new monitor. I would think my Win monitor would be fine, but I have to check to see what free connections are available.

thanks! [import]uid: 114363 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 124018[/import]

[caesss]

buy a refurbished iMac. You still get a lot for your money for under $1000. [import]uid: 133036 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 124052[/import]

[Nob_Studio]

running Mac on VMWare Player works great for me. I only use it to compile. Save the trouble of switching between two computer.
But to set up the mac on VM is not easy.

Otherwise you can get any mac that supports OX lion. [import]uid: 49513 topic_id: 31014 reply_id: 124318[/import]