Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

A tough choice for me... PowerMac or not.

E

evilinsanity

macrumors member
Original poster
May 3, 2005
32
0
Here's my predicament:

I'm looking into a PowerMac. I will be using it for occasional Dreamweaver work, GarageBand, and Internet surfing. I'm wondering if the PowerMac is a bit excessive for these tasks. The reason I'm not considering an iMac more is because I would like to make the machine last until 2 years after the Intel switch is complete. I could get a low end PowerMac and an 20-inch ACD with AppleCare now, but I would only have 512MB RAM, which isn't that much. I was looking at a Dual 2.0, with a 250GB Hard Drive and 2.5GB RAM plus the ACD. (And AppleCare, of course) Currently I am $500 short of that set up. So here's my options:

1. Put money saved in the bank, and let it draw interest for a year. Save more money during that year, and get a better PowerMac.

2. I can get a 20-inch ACD to connect to my PowerBook for Christmas, loose the option of getting the ACD added to the PowerMac's AppleCare, and buy the PowerMac later.

3. Get a 20-inch iMac G5 + AppleCare.

-----------------------------------
Those were the first options that I thought of. I would like to know what your opinions were. I am set on AppleCare because a PowerMac is a lot of money for me to spend. So I'm gonna make sure that it lasts.

I also need the Apple Modem because we can not get high speed at home.



Thanks.
 
Lacero

Lacero

macrumors 604
Jan 20, 2005
6,637
3
I would go with option 3.

The Power Mac may be more than you need from what you've described.
 
E

evilinsanity

macrumors member
Original poster
May 3, 2005
32
0
Lacero said:
I would go with option 3.

The Power Mac may be more than you need from what you've described.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Do you think the iMac G5 (I plan on a 500GB HD and 1.5GB RAM) will last until 2009?
 
Lacero

Lacero

macrumors 604
Jan 20, 2005
6,637
3
Yeah. But you might be limping along by then. :p

I upgrade my Mac every 3-4 years, especially only during major chip changes, like going from G4 to dual G5s, and in 2008, most likely upgrade again to dual dual-core intel chips.
 
E

evilinsanity

macrumors member
Original poster
May 3, 2005
32
0
well if you guys like the iMac G5 so much I might go in that direction...

My current Mac (PowerBook in my sig) is 2 years old.

But I like that line about limping along, Lacero. :p
 
Jay42

Jay42

macrumors 65816
Jul 14, 2005
1,416
588
The one thing to consider with the iMac (as with all of Apple's all-in-ones) is that you will be buying the display again, where you could keep the display from your old PM when you upgrade. It sounds like you already have a PowerBook, so I would go with option 2. That would be a good set-up for what you describe until you upgrade. Plus you will be able to afford a better machine and have more options by waiting. If you were ever going to wait on buying a mac, it would be now. There are more significant changes now than ever.
 
C

Coca-Cola

macrumors 6502
Dec 10, 2002
446
0
WA
I agree. Go with the iMac 20". If you feel you need something different before 2009, sell it and use the money to buy a new mac. Just be sure not to sink a lot of money into the iMac. That means, not upgrading the OS and hardware (ram) and goodies(mouse). You can get the newest OS with your new iMac in 2007 after you sell the 20" iMac one. I give this advice from my personal experience. I spent 2000 dollars total on my first mac, the iMac G3 DV 400 SE. I bought many OS's (9.1-10.3), software (Os 10), and hardware(external Hd, ram, and cd burner). I sold it for 360.00. Yikes. My second mac. The one I am currently using was purchased for 1400. I have vowed not to spend any money on it. I am happy not buying into the expensive upgrade cycle. I have vowed not to buy Tiger until my credit cards are all paid off. I will probably just end up 1) using this powerbook forever 2) selling it and getting a new mac with a new OS and all that goodness that comes with a new computer. The moral of the story is don't spend any money upgrading your mac. Buy your new iMac, use it, and enjoy it. When you are unhappy with it's performance or wan't new features, sell and buy another mac.
 
E

evilinsanity

macrumors member
Original poster
May 3, 2005
32
0
Jay42 said:
The one thing to consider with the iMac (as with all of Apple's all-in-ones) is that you will be buying the display again, where you could keep the display from your old PM when you upgrade. It sounds like you already have a PowerBook, so I would go with option 2. That would be a good set-up for what you describe until you upgrade. Plus you will be able to afford a better machine and have more options by waiting. If you were ever going to wait on buying a mac, it would be now. There are more significant changes now than ever.
Click to expand...
yes, that is what I was thinking. (Being able to use the ACD with a newer PowerMac) And I do have the PowerBook.
 
E

evilinsanity

macrumors member
Original poster
May 3, 2005
32
0
Coca-Cola said:
I agree. Go with the iMac 20". If you feel you need something different before 2009, sell it and use the money to buy a new mac. Just be sure not to sink a lot of money into the iMac. That means, not upgrading the OS and hardware (ram) and goodies(mouse). You can get the newest OS with your new iMac in 2007 after you sell the 20" iMac one. I give this advice from my personal experience. I spent 2000 dollars total on my first mac, the iMac G3 DV 400 SE. I bought many OS's (9.1-10.3), software (Os 10), and hardware(external Hd, ram, and cd burner). I sold it for 360.00. Yikes. My second mac. The one I am currently using was purchased for 1400. I have vowed not to spend any money on it. I am happy not buying into the expensive upgrade cycle. I have vowed not to buy Tiger until my credit cards are all paid off. I will probably just end up 1) using this powerbook forever 2) selling it and getting a new mac with a new OS and all that goodness that comes with a new computer. The moral of the story is don't spend any money upgrading your mac. Buy your new iMac, use it, and enjoy it. When you are unhappy with it's performance or wan't new features, sell and buy another mac.
Click to expand...
Well, I did want whatever new Mac I get to last until after the Intel transition is complete, and everything has settled down and a lot of the bugs have been worked out.
 
E

evilinsanity

macrumors member
Original poster
May 3, 2005
32
0
That is good advice too, but I'm not quite sure what my gut is saying right now, which makes these things harder.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom