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A new mac or much newer mac?

S

Scott479

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 14, 2006
6
0
Hi,

My wife and I own a 266 imac. We do a fair amount with Photoshop and use OSX 10.2. The HD is full and it is slow to work through the always growing apps of today. We like the imac and thought that rather than a new hd we'd find a emac to make room for photos etc. and pick up some speed too. But we like the imac design-what would we be giving up by buying a 600 or 700 mHz imac in compatability with current and future add ons? Speed's not too important seeing how we're using a 266 mHz currently. Wouldn't the Firewire allow for the easy use of an outboard hd? Or is it just not wise to consider the older imac?

Thanks,
Scott and Terry
 
Wouldn't a Mac Mini do what you want? You already have a keyboard and mouse, all you need is a monitor. If you don't mind a CRT, you can get one cheap. The Mini can support external drives (USB2 or Firewire).
 
Can you give us a ballpark price range? You could probably get a pretty nice emac for $500-$600 and it would be a good fit for you. You might also be able to get a good deal on a g4 imac. And yes, firewire makes it SO much easier to attach anything (Hard Drive etc.).
 
My parents have a 1 Ghz emac with 640 RAM and a 60 GB hard drive that's about 2.5 years old now and it's a pretty nice, capable machine. You can find emacs of that caliber or even 1.25 Ghz on ebay for $300-400. The G3 imacs in the 600 mhz range I found in a couple of minutes seem to come in at over $200 anyway, so for maybe $100 or $150 more you get a bigger hard drive, a bigger, higher res screen, a much, *much* faster processor, and the ability to run a lot more software further in to the future.

Each new OS release and new batch of software will push the G3 further and further in to obsolescence.

edit, ok, after looking further, $300-400 is a steal on a 1-1.25 Ghz emac. But the deals do exist.
 
I would recommend that you either get a new iMac Core Duo. But if the cost is a problem, then take a look at either a Mac Mini (used or new) or a used eMac G4.
 
Thanks for all the advice!

OK, sounds like we will have to leave the iMac design behind. The new G5 are sharp but we are budgeting $600 tops. Our photography is currently all shelter animal work so there's a fair demand to use Photoshop as the subjects NEVER stand still! This work will possibly lead to an actual business of "best friends" animal portraits. From everyone's guidance, it sounds like a mac mini with a CRT or better for photo viewing or the eMac are most sensible. Do eMacs have what is considered an upgrade over a CRT screen?

Thanks,

Scott & Terry
 
Scott479 said:
OK, sounds like we will have to leave the iMac design behind. The new G5 are sharp but we are budgeting $600 tops. Our photography is currently all shelter animal work so there's a fair demand to use Photoshop as the subjects NEVER stand still! This work will possibly lead to an actual business of "best friends" animal portraits. From everyone's guidance, it sounds like a mac mini with a CRT or better for photo viewing or the eMac are most sensible. Do eMacs have what is considered an upgrade over a CRT screen?

Thanks,

Scott & Terry
Click to expand...


eMacs use a CRT, its just that the glass is straight instead of curved. And with a budget of ~$600 tops, a Mac Mini or eMac G4 should work nicely for you. :) Either system will give you a B-I-G boost in performance.
 
with a budget of ~$600 tops, a Mac Mini or eMac G4 should work nicely for you. :) Either system will give you a B-I-G boost in performance.[/QUOTE]

We're in for nice surprize then speed wise. Funny, but we've gone from a Mac Plus to the 266 iMac and now, possibly a 1.25 gHz eMac/mac mini. Each has been a very large step and probably should have been made a year or two earlier. Where would you go to buy a used or newer eMac/mini?

Thanks,

Scott & Terry
 
The eMac was discontinued in the fall. I would get the last revision. It is better then the Mini because it has a 7200 RPM HD and better graphics. Also I would avoid getting a new Intel Mini because Photoshop is not universal yet and won't be until at least the end of the year. Look in the Apple Refurb store or on the buy sell trade on this forum for the last revision eMac. It should be within your $600 budget.
 
eMac

Here is one at the Refurb store. $639. All you need to do is stick in 1GB of RAM and you are good.
 
hahaha i cant believe you used photoshop on a 266, let alone OS X. do yourself a grand favor and get an intel imac. i know the universal binary is not yet out for photoshop but if you used it on a 266, you will still think its fast
 
hahaha i cant believe you used photoshop on a 266, let alone OS X. do yourself a grand favor and get an intel imac. i know the universal binary is not yet out for photoshop but if you used it on a 266, you will still think its fast
 
jamesi said:
hahaha i cant believe you used photoshop on a 266, let alone OS X. do yourself a grand favor and get an intel imac. i know the universal binary is not yet out for photoshop but if you used it on a 266, you will still think its fast
Click to expand...

$600 is their budget, so the iMac is out unless a good G4 can be found. I would look for an eMac and keep an eye on the Apple refurb store for a good deal.
 
Artful Dodger said:
$600 is their budget, so the iMac is out unless a good G4 can be found.
Click to expand...

Seriously. I don't get some people's advice. Not everyone wants or needs either the expense or the power of a brand new mac.

I'd look for an emac, personally. Anything 1 Ghz or higher would be great, and if you don't mind ebay, you can find some fantastic deals.
 
In digital art class at school, I use a G4 eMac w/ 1ghz PPC and 1 GB of ram running 10.3.something.

It runs both photoshop and after effects just fine. Granted, not blazingly quick or even approaching so, but from what you are upgrading from, it will feel nice and snappy. For example I can have three or four 10mb images in PS, a 1 compostion in AE, and a few safari windows open and the system is still more than useable.
 
Fellow iMac g3 user advice

I'm real impressed at how you've held on to that original iMac. I've got a 600mhz model and will be looking to upgrade some time this year too. My parents however had the same model as you and they we're doing fine with it but I talked them into getting a machine more fitting for osx. They got a 1ghz emac and really dig it and so do I. It's much faster than what i've got. This being the case I would say go with really any model of the eMac and it'd be like you were in another world. The all in one design is super convinient as you know, and also with the emac you'll get a 17 inch screen upgrade which is a big help in photoshop. You'll always find the best deals on ebay.
 
QCassidy352 said:
Seriously. I don't get some people's advice. Not everyone wants or needs either the expense or the power of a brand new mac.

I'd look for an emac, personally. Anything 1 Ghz or higher would be great, and if you don't mind ebay, you can find some fantastic deals.
Click to expand...

I forgot to say take a look at the MacRumors Marketplace for some great deals as well that would be in the $600 budget. Also you never know as someone may want your older Mac as well ;)
 
Thanks again!

We are looking at the refurb emac, MacRumors Marketplace and are comfortable with an ebay purchase esp. after the help here on the board. It's taken some resolve not to have bought a new mac several times over since picking up the 266- that and a lot of patience as the poor thing slowly wades through the deep pools of code these days. We were tempted by a 6 or 700mHz imac but not anymore. A brand new 600 just went on eBay for $370+ and that's with only OS9. That looks to be about a 40% nostalgia bid premium.
 
QCassidy352 said:
Seriously. I don't get some people's advice. Not everyone wants or needs either the expense or the power of a brand new mac.

I'd look for an emac, personally. Anything 1 Ghz or higher would be great, and if you don't mind ebay, you can find some fantastic deals.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I upgraded my brother's Power Mac G3 B&W 400 to an iMac G4 800 and it's much faster. The built-in LCD, G4 power, and Quartz Extreme make it a killer machine for his needs.

LowEndMac eMacs

LowEndMac iMac G4

With a $600 budget you can get a 1 GHz eMac or a 800 MHz iMac G4 and both would have a SuperDrive. Just remember that the eMac is a heavy CRT monster and shipping would be much more expensive.

In addition you could check Apple's Refurb Store a refurbished Mac Mini G4. They run from about $400-500 and usually come with 512 MB of RAM stock. Just get a good CRT or even LCD if you can afford it. You'd have to have a mouse and keyboard though.
 
Eidorian said:
Yeah, I upgraded my brother's Power Mac G3 B&W 400 to an iMac G4 800 and it's much faster. The built-in LCD, G4 power, and Quartz Extreme make it a killer machine for his needs.

LowEndMac eMacs

LowEndMac iMac G4

With a $600 budget you can get a 1 GHz eMac or a 800 MHz iMac G4 and both would have a SuperDrive. Just remember that the eMac is a heavy CRT monster and shipping would be much more expensive.
Click to expand...

When I sold my eMac it came in at a nice 56lbs for shipping :eek: But those things run like champs and can handle a good work load :)
 
Artful Dodger said:
When I sold my eMac it came in at a nice 56lbs for shipping :eek: But those things run like champs and can handle a good work load :)
Click to expand...
Eh, I'd be worried about raster shifting and bad capacitors in the eMacs.
 
Eidorian said:
Eh, I'd be worried about raster shifting and bad capacitors in the eMacs.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you know as some people have problems with certain Apple lines (I had with my new Intel iMac) my eMac that I had ran great, quiet and could play SimCity4 on medium size cities...yet some people had the CRT trouble with them or the loud fan issue.
In the nature of the OP I'd look for a 15" or 17" iMac G4 (lcd/lamp)....that would even make a nice "backup" for most of us as well ;)
 
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