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-- Imac Vs PowerMac

Imac Vs PowerMac

helllooo to everyone'

I am at a stage of where I am considering to go Apple as my PC has shit itself. I have been looking at Imac's and PowerMac G5 towers but am unsure on the direction to take. So i thought I would hit up this board of brains and get some opinions on this!

I like the idea of a Imac as its all in one which i guess poses a conveniency, but other than that, they are really one and the same to me, that is, besides the obvious specification diff between models.

again thanks heaps appreciate any information

i know its ultimately a preference thing, but are then any limitations between both models - internal sound card vs external etc

If you get a tower, you need to get an Intel Mac, the G5 software support is slowly evaporating. Where did you see G5 towers for sale?

Go with the powermac if u can't afford the intel

on Ebay there are heaps of towers for sale, but not many of them are Intel. I actually had a brand new IMAC 24 back home but sold it to go overseas and am still. But thats why i put this thread up i thought i would get some solid info before i go ahead and buy anything.

Coz apple is bucket loads cheaper here in the states so i figure take one back with me when i leave. From what i know its the mainly the new Quad Cores that are intel and some of the late model PowerMac G5's

quote:

Originally posted by Alekos Go with the powermac if u can't afford the intel

I dont want to spend anymore then 1200/1500US. back home i payed 1400 Aus for an IMAC 24 with intel system (new). I know for that money i can get something with ample juice, and i am aware i dont want to skimp either given its the central part of my studio so to speak

I highly recommend staying away from any G5 towers. You'd be investing a technology that is end-of-life soon. As an example, the new Logic 9 is Intel only, so anyone with a G5 PPC tower is stuck with Logic 8 until they buy a new computer. You can be certain that other software will follow as Apple abandons the PPC processors for Intel. I'd get the Imac before I invested in a G5.

quote:

Originally posted by Eric J I highly recommend staying away from any G5 towers. You'd be investing a technology that is end-of-life soon. As an example, the new Logic 9 is Intel only, so anyone with a G5 PPC tower is stuck with Logic 8 until they buy a new computer. You can be certain that other software will follow as Apple abandons the PPC processors for Intel. I'd get the Imac before I invested in a G5.

yeah thanks for that, thats why ther cheap as, coz the new range of intels are on the market

what about IMAC, what do you think, i had an apogee for my IMAC back home but sold and never got to use it along with , thats why last week i posted a thread on that too.

So this time before i completely remove myself from the PC i want to get a heads up on MAC again if i am to repeat the past.

but yes indeed intel for sure

problem with imacs is that its hard to upgrade RAM and HD later. other that that its awesome imo. I got the Macbook Pro recently though and that one rocks too but its abit small screen and keyboard for a main computer, im thinking about an imac in the future myself but not before they came in models with easier upgrade possibilites and maybe another HD slot.

Generally speaking, the IMac will work fine. I wont presume to understand your needs, but your main disadvantages to an IMac are lack of PCI expansion slots, integrated design, lack of upgradability, and processor speed. The IMac has slower CPU than a new Mac Pro.

That being said, if the above items are not a problem for your needs then an IMac will be fine. There are plenty of people producing on an IMac without a problem.

my needs. lol there complicated. Just to make some beats!

yeah decisions decisions hmm what to do? I know well i would like to think that i would want to diversify later on, the imac may not be the best of choices.

but i think they are damm capable, i think the amount of ram they can hold is oodles enough, and the processing power should be suffice too.

Or, should i build a PC?

quote:

Originally posted by Energy_3 my needs. lol there complicated. Just to make some beats! yeah decisions decisions hmm what to do? I know well i would like to think that i would want to diversify later on, the imac may not be the best of choices. but i think they are damm capable, i think the amount of ram they can hold is oodles enough, and the processing power should be suffice too.

IMac is a fine and capable machine, its just has limited expandability. It'd be no different with a laptop.

quote:

Originally posted by Energy_3 Or, should i build a PC?

Thats up to you. You can certainly build a very capable PC, if you have the know-how and are so inclined to do so. I use Mac because I want to run Logic and I've always had a Mac in the studio. I spend enough time with Windows on a PC at work each day.

quote:

Originally posted by Energy_3 Or, should i build a PC?

if u find out that mac OS X sucks u can install windows on it with good luck. hardware is rock solid both ways, Ive installed windows 7 on my mac now and it works great. i use windows to play Hitman and torrents, and then I do all my production on the OSX.

thanks guys a bucket load. I was using PC before with cubase which was great. but i am wanting to use Logic now, hence the Mac debate.

really really appreciate it the help!

i will think about it some more have a couple of months to decide, but thanks again!

Im still bloody unsure though after all this lol.

Check THIS out

In short it's a device you plug on to your motherboard which allows you to install OSX without needing to hack the OS like with Hackintosh. So long as you use the same hardware as the Mac Pro you can build a highly spec'd Mac Pro for less than the cost of an iMac.

Everyone is waiting to see if they work with Snow Leopard though so you might have to wait a few months.

quote:

Originally posted by Cryogen Check THIS out In short it's a device you plug on to your motherboard which allows you to install OSX without needing to hack the OS like with Hackintosh. So long as you use the same hardware as the Mac Pro you can build a highly spec'd Mac Pro for less than the cost of an iMac. Everyone is waiting to see if they work with Snow Leopard though so you might have to wait a few months.

very nice, had a look. damm good idea!

Definitely go with the Intel-based iMac. It may lack the internal expansion capabilies (internal drives and optical drives), but the PowerPC technology is dated and will be no longer supported with the upcoming Snow Leopard operating system. Plus, any Intel-based iMac is going to be faster and have more power than the G5.

If I could give you one tip, I'd say that you're better off with a macbook pro instead of an iMac. Why? Because of the hard drive, besides portability. You can't upgrade it on your own on the iMac. Don't bother? Well ok, but I don't know if you won't bother still when your hard drive crashes with a defective boot sector. Every HD upgrade on the iMac means Apple tech support and they'll charge you hundreds of $$ for the HD replacement. Don't think that you'll be safe because it's Apple Hardware, they rely on manufacturers that also have their defective units (Seagate, WD, etc...). Practically, this means that every single time you have a problem on that side you're stuck without your iMac for weeks until they get it repaired.

With a macbook (pro) you can upgrade the ram and hd on your own without the need of a tech support, you simply go straight to the pc shop in the neighbourhood and order/buy a good HD Installing it in the laptop takes less than 5 minutes.

You don't like smaller screens?? That's what bigger displays are made for, and you can take anything you want, including pc screens that are a lot cheaper.

The only downside of it is that you must use external HD's for backup, and some found the use of usb hd docks a very convenient solution.

You can still build a pc, and you can even install mac os on it if its hardware is fully compliant. But for that you'll have to order pieces and you will end up paying as much as you will for a mac if you want the exact same specs.

To sum it up, in your case, it's macbook, macbook pro or mac pro, until they change the iMac range so you can replace the HD on your own, like on previous (unfortunately PPC) versions. Or the Grey Area solution, you build a pc and try installing mac os on it, and pray for it to work properly.

Apple Tech Support are very quick. My friend had a screen failure and they had it back to him in less than a week.

Upgrading a hard drive is supposed to be quite tricky and will invalidate your warranty if you do it in the first year. Apple Care is advised which covers you for three years. Costs about �150 for an iMac which pays for itself at the first sign of trouble. Still, it's an extra cost you could do without.

A PC with the same spec as a Mac Pro will cost less than half the price too. Go to any PC component website and price up a PC using the same components used in the Mac Pro and you'll realise how much Apple rip people off.

yeah i know apple get their pockets full from their sales. Just with the differences from me buying a new G5 quad core here in the US to Australia is 1500Aus dollars after changing currency etc etc on their top model and slightly less as we go down [honest truth - i couldn't believe it]. on the Imac's there is a 500-600 dollar saving if i get it here in the states. Crazy!

Lolo, Cryogen thats heaps for that input most informative - the macbook sounds like a good option and like u said just get a larger screen LCD etc and just run that of the laptop which, i have thought of doing. And external HD doesn't bother me either.

I know i could save a bucket load if i went PC and i am def considering it - my mate is a comp progr and he would build me one up if i wanted which, is a great option as well.

I think the MAC Vs PC debate is a life long one! I mean at the end of the day there are multiple ways to an end and they are two of them!

thanks guys - cool as

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