G'day, I need to purchase a new laptop as I don't have admin rights on my work PC (can't install new software). As I am scratching for cash, I want to know what is the minimum requirement and upgrade later if this gig works out.

I know for apple apps you really need a Mac computer with an intel processor to run Xcode. A Mac will also run eclipse for android. Good luck. Dave

Well, if you want to develop iOS (iPhone) apps, the minimum you're going to need is a Macintosh Laptop, which currently is a 'MacBook Pro' of some size. PC's don't do Xcode (the environment to do iPhone development) Regardless of model, it will have the power you need for pretty much 'any' development. If you're buying a 'used' Apple Laptop, try to get something recent, with an Intel Core 2 Duo (Not Core Duo, Core '2' Duo) at a minimum. Most people get a KVM (Keyboard/Video/Mouse) switch and get a Macintosh 'Mini' computer; those can be found used for a few hundred dollars, and can bridge the gap quite nicely although they are not laptops. Cheers! -- Smug

Thanks for the heads up guys.

I think the last supported xcode for Snow Leopard was 4.2. For Version 4.5.2 I believe you need a big roaring lion! So make sure any Mac you buy can go higher than SL.

Echoing MacApple, if you want to develop for iOS6 (and Apple darn near won't let you do anything else anyway) you're going to have to run Xcode v4.5.2, which means you'll have to run at least OSX v10.7 (aka Lion) or the latest OSX v10.8.2 (aka Mountain Lion). According to all the blogs, the models that 'will' work are these: iMac (mid-2007 or newer) MacBook (late 2008 aluminum, or early 2009 or newer) MacBook Pro (mid/late 2007 or newer) MacBook Air (late 2008 or newer) Mac mini (early 2009 or newer) Mac Pro (early 2008 or newer) Xserve (early 2009) Check all the usual suspects (ebay, tiger, et. al) for the best deals if you're going used. Cheers! -- Smug

Would I be at a disadvantage if I couldn't support 4.5.2? Sorry I posted this before seeing your answer.

@Newsight, I use a macbook air, works very well to be able to "code" on the fly. Very mobile and super fast. Being able to store stuff in the cloud etc makes it doable. If the mrs asks, you need the top of the range 13inch I7 with 8Gb ram.

@Kaybee Love this comment "If the mrs asks, you need the top of the range 13inch I7 with 8Gb ram."

Haven't tried this, but u maybe could use a pc and run osx through a virtual machine like VMware.

Has anyone out there used VMware on a PC to create iOS based apps?

Me? I'd lean away from that concept. It 'might' work, but you're trying to coerce an OS that wasn't meant to be used that way, to be used that way. "IMHO" the money saved on Mac hardware will be eaten alive by the time spent configuring a VM to run OSX, and the little things that will inevitably continue to occur. That said, if you're technically oriented and want to research the possibility, there's a fairly good write up here: http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Vmware Cheers! -- Smug

Has anyone out there used VMware on a PC to create iOS based apps?

Thanks Smug.