I need to buy a desktop. Which one?

[getbigg21]

Hello-

I am looking to buy a desktop but i'm not sure what i should go with. I am looking at a G4 Powermac Upgraded Sawtooth. 1.8Ghz(Upgraded), 768 Ram 110 Gig Hd, TI AGP VIDEO card & a second ATI Rage Pro 32 mg PCI Video card. Or should I go w/ the mac mini w/ superdrive

 

[amac4me]

I would say that your choice depends on your budget and your requirements. If you can elaborate on these then perhaps you will get some feedback and recommendations.

It may be wise to wait until after MacWorld to see if Intel based systems are released.

 

[getbigg21]

I have about between $1000-1200 to spend on both the cpu and the monitor.

 

[alexstein]

Just based on your budged have you looked into getting a refurbished iMac G5 ? That would be my choice for a desktop in that kind of price range!
If you want to go the mini route wait a couple more weeks and see if Apple is going to introduce a new intel mini at MWSF!

 

[macbaseball]

If you are just using it for general use then i would look into an iMac G5, but if you have a specific interest in Video editing then I would like into a Dual G4 with a Dell monitor. It just depends on waht you want to use it for.

 

[chopsuey158]

The first intel mac mini's may be buggy... I think I'd go with a refurbished imac g5 if I were you. You could pick it up for a good price and it would serve you well, unless you don't like the idea of an all in one. It's all up to you, just check out the apple store.

 

[CanadaRAM]

>I need to buy a desktop. Which one?

I'm always irrationally afraid of glass. Besides, do you really want to spend all day looking at your knees? Besides, it shows fingerprints.

Corian is nice but a little cold on the elbows when you lean on it.

Oak is much warmer but more prone to damage -- I like maple, myself.

 

[mad jew]

...I like maple, myself.

You would.

I just use industrial strength fans and let my clutter hover.

 

[getbigg21]

yeah i'm just not into the all-in-one systems so i would rather go w/ a mini or a powermac. i can't afford a g5 powermac so that's why i was thinking g4. plus w/ the powermac over the mini u can really upgrade stuff lots. i will probably be doing some video editing and possibly playing some games.

 

[aquajet]

How much is that Power Mac you're looking at? Does it already include all those upgrades?

 

[SteveS]

There are refurb iMacs on Apple.com for about 1100.00 and thats the 20 inch version. Should do you very well.

 

[hubristol]

There are refurb iMacs on Apple.com for about 1100.00 and thats the 20 inch version. Should do you very well.

Yeah, the Rev A 20" is $1150 refurbished. As long as you don't mind the limited upgradeability (which I assume you don't since you're also considering a mac mini), then that's a great option as well. I heard some Rev A models had some hardware problems (although I can't specifically remember what it was) that I'm sure google could shed some light on.

If i was in your position that's probably what I would aim for.

 

[plinkoman]

ok, so you don't like all in one systems because you can't upgrade them, but your looking at a mini? you realize that the mini is no more upgradable then the iMac, right? ok, so about the G4, you realize that as a tower, it may be upgradable, but in terms of actually upgrading it (aside from bigger hd, or more ram) it isn't any more upgradable either? it lacks SATA, PCI-Express, and unlike a tower pc, you can't swap out the motherboard. There's only so far you can go on AGP and PATA, all the new stuff out there can't be made compatable with it, and at this point, the newest iMacs already kill that G4 your looking at, which itself kills the mini.

so, really long post aside, you don't want an iMac because you want upgradability, yet what you look at in it's place are no more upgradable, and the iMac will kill them in terms of performance.

maybe you should take another look at the iMac

of course, you could always look around and see what you can find an old Rev.A PM G5 for, depending on how much you were planing to spend on a screen, you might be able to swing it.

 

[tivoboy]

imac

I just picked up the imac from amazon, and used the 25% off AMEX coupon.

with their rebate and the coupon, total prices was 1350$ for the 20" this is a sweet computer for 1350$

 

[NYmacAttack]

I just picked up the imac from amazon, and used the 25% off AMEX coupon.

with their rebate and the coupon, total prices was 1350$ for the 20" this is a sweet computer for 1350$

That a good deal. where did you get the coupon from?

 

[tivoboy]

american express

these were the AMEX wishlist certificates, you could get them as an AMEX card holder, or win them.

or you can buy them off ebay for 30-70$

 

[hubristol]

ok, so you don't like all in one systems because you can't upgrade them, but your looking at a mini? you realize that the mini is no more upgradable then the iMac, right? ok, so about the G4, you realize that as a tower, it may be upgradable, but in terms of actually upgrading it (aside from bigger hd, or more ram) it isn't any more upgradable either? it lacks SATA, PCI-Express, and unlike a tower pc, you can't swap out the motherboard. There's only so far you can go on AGP and PATA, all the new stuff out there can't be made compatable with it, and at this point, the newest iMacs already kill that G4 your looking at, which itself kills the mini.

so, really long post aside, you don't want an iMac because you want upgradability, yet what you look at in it's place are no more upgradable, and the iMac will kill them in terms of performance.

maybe you should take another look at the iMac

of course, you could always look around and see what you can find an old Rev.A PM G5 for, depending on how much you were planing to spend on a screen, you might be able to swing it.

Actually, after going back and re-reading his post, I think he means that he doesn't like "all in one systems" as in systems that have the monitor built in like the iMac does.

 

[getbigg21]

yeah ur correct. i don't like the all in one systems when it has a monitor included. i really don't know what i should do. i am looking at a g5 powermac on ebay right now that's 1.8ghz, 1.5 ram. i may be able to get if for around $1000 then i would have to come up w/ a monitor

 

[hubristol]

Well if you're not too picky about monitors you can always find used CRTs for fairly cheap either via eBay or craigslist possibly. Of course they won't be as good as the more expensive options but it would at least make your computer usable.

 

[macbaseball]

yeah ur correct. i don't like the all in one systems when it has a monitor included. i really don't know what i should do. i am looking at a g5 powermac on ebay right now that's 1.8ghz, 1.5 ram. i may be able to get if for around $1000 then i would have to come up w/ a monitor

If it's a single processor I wouldn't bother. I would just get the iMac G5, as you aren't going to see much of a speed increase. If you want to work with video extensively, you need the dual processors. I would look at the Apple Refurbs, as they have a Dual 1.8 for around your price range. They are really difficult to get though.

 

[getbigg21]

i just looked on the apple refurbs and there isn't anything on there for that