The deal here is that I have used Windows PC my whole entire life and now I'm looking forward to buy a new PC, so why not an Imac? I mean, I've read so much about Apple computers and they seem to be so great, but, I'm wondering what's so special about the Imac compared to Windows 7? I mean, what can I do in the Imac G5(the one I am looking to buy) compared to Windows 7? Obviously no way in hell I can compare both computers because they're totally different but, I'm not an "Apple user", so I really don't know if Imac G5 is a good choice over Windows 7, and if it is, can anyone tell me what are the default programs that already comes with Imac G5 when you purchase it? Thanks!
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iMac G5 over Windows 7
- Thread starter Dylan321
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To me, it isn't about Windows 7 or Mac OS x, its about "pros / cons" on each for different tasks. And, its also about the cost.
Unknown to some, the iMac system is NOT perfect. It has some great things and it has some "needs for improvement" things. Depending on what your friend does, they may find the "lower cost" Windows xx system better (for their specific usage needs). Not Windows Vista or Windows XP - which has its major problems. Stay with the newer Windows 7 systems - that are much better then prevous Win xx systems.
If wondering, I'd buy a Win 7 Laptop "entertainment grade" system with external 24" monitor the next time around. Thus, having both portability and desktop setup at "affordable" purchase price. And when it blows in 2-3 years, I'd throw it away and get another "low cost" Win xx replacement. Especially for my basic home user tasks. I know. Its like going into a GM forum and telling others I'd buy a Dodge or Ford next time. But truth be told, the iMac doesn't measure up to my expectations (based on market and industry reputation "hype" from others). Especially for my basic home computing needs vrs dollars to purchase it.
Below is something I posted on a different (previous) thread. Based on these items and what your friend does on a computer, they can pick their own system. re: Lower cost Win xx system or much higher cost iMac system?
---------------
Personally, I find my HP Laptop running Windows 7 can access and download internet files (even in wirelss mode) much faster then my iMac connected via UTP ethernet. Even with my iMac's MTU set at its optiminal level, the Laptop/Windows 7 machine blows my new iMac out of the water. The iMac is simply "slow" for movie downloads, You Tube viewing and general surfing - expecially all at the same time.
I find my new iMac for pictures is amazing. Easy to load pictures, easy to view pictures and all pictures are crystal clear. In this area, the iMac is much better then my Windows 7 laptop. With digitial pictures, the iMac actually blows the HP Laptop / Win 7 system out of the water.
For mail, I like our HP with its Windows 7 Mail package better. For automatic spell checker (in mail and within forums), I like our new iMac better. For viewing You-Tube files, the iMac screen is crystal clear. Although, streaming video can be choppy - while waiting for its next download chunk.
For automatic backups, I love the IMac's Time Machine. Set it / leave it and it works. A hear WD Automatic Backup software for Win xx systems is an install it and leave it type usage as well.
For Web caming, I like our HP Laptop / Windows 7 machine "much" better. This bundle includes software that allows you to change WebCam settings. Simple things like Zoom and lighting changes. On the iMac, the iSight Camera is fixed. One needs to buy 3rd party software (re: iGlasses) to change its basic settings. Like gee. Pay $2,000+taxes for an iMac and one has to buy 3rd party software to change their built in WebCam settings? Talk about stupid. Apple Corp needs to shake their head over this gap. Especially since their WebCam pixel ratio (for clearer pictures) is better then other market webcams.
To change fonts on the iMac, one needs to use a 3rd party software as well. re: Tickertool. It changes some fonts but NOT all. And, it doesn't change Menu sizes (like fixed text within a windows label). Within Windows 7 system, simply go into Video Screen Resoluton and select usge large fonts. re: 125% DPI. All fonts and "menus" become larger. Clean / simple and easy to use. To me, the iMac OS needs this same "one global click" feature.
The new iMac don't support Jumbo Frame sizes. With Win xx systems, one can cross reference their onboard ethernet cards and if needed, install different eithernet cards.
Win XX and virus problems?? I've been using Win xx for years and practice "safe computing" (along with FREE Virus software packages - like MS Essentials). re: I don't visit smut sites, I don't click on "free offers" or open attachments from folks I don't know. Never had a virus problem on my Win xx systems.
As you can tell, the iMac is NOT perfect. It has some things that are the way behind the Windows 7 systems. But, are better in some areas. As a suggestion, take your large "user needs" checklist and review the Win xx against the Mac OS system side by side. Which system is better - for you? That's the one you buy. Knowing what I know "today", my family should have bought a "beefed up" entertainment class" Win 7 system - instead of our current iMac. But, we're now stuck with our new iMac - until it breaks or needs to be replaced.
Bottom line... Pick the system that is best for you, and your "user needs". As implied, NO system is perfect. Even the iMac platforms...
Good luck...
Unknown to some, the iMac system is NOT perfect. It has some great things and it has some "needs for improvement" things. Depending on what your friend does, they may find the "lower cost" Windows xx system better (for their specific usage needs). Not Windows Vista or Windows XP - which has its major problems. Stay with the newer Windows 7 systems - that are much better then prevous Win xx systems.
If wondering, I'd buy a Win 7 Laptop "entertainment grade" system with external 24" monitor the next time around. Thus, having both portability and desktop setup at "affordable" purchase price. And when it blows in 2-3 years, I'd throw it away and get another "low cost" Win xx replacement. Especially for my basic home user tasks. I know. Its like going into a GM forum and telling others I'd buy a Dodge or Ford next time. But truth be told, the iMac doesn't measure up to my expectations (based on market and industry reputation "hype" from others). Especially for my basic home computing needs vrs dollars to purchase it.
Below is something I posted on a different (previous) thread. Based on these items and what your friend does on a computer, they can pick their own system. re: Lower cost Win xx system or much higher cost iMac system?
---------------
Personally, I find my HP Laptop running Windows 7 can access and download internet files (even in wirelss mode) much faster then my iMac connected via UTP ethernet. Even with my iMac's MTU set at its optiminal level, the Laptop/Windows 7 machine blows my new iMac out of the water. The iMac is simply "slow" for movie downloads, You Tube viewing and general surfing - expecially all at the same time.
I find my new iMac for pictures is amazing. Easy to load pictures, easy to view pictures and all pictures are crystal clear. In this area, the iMac is much better then my Windows 7 laptop. With digitial pictures, the iMac actually blows the HP Laptop / Win 7 system out of the water.
For mail, I like our HP with its Windows 7 Mail package better. For automatic spell checker (in mail and within forums), I like our new iMac better. For viewing You-Tube files, the iMac screen is crystal clear. Although, streaming video can be choppy - while waiting for its next download chunk.
For automatic backups, I love the IMac's Time Machine. Set it / leave it and it works. A hear WD Automatic Backup software for Win xx systems is an install it and leave it type usage as well.
For Web caming, I like our HP Laptop / Windows 7 machine "much" better. This bundle includes software that allows you to change WebCam settings. Simple things like Zoom and lighting changes. On the iMac, the iSight Camera is fixed. One needs to buy 3rd party software (re: iGlasses) to change its basic settings. Like gee. Pay $2,000+taxes for an iMac and one has to buy 3rd party software to change their built in WebCam settings? Talk about stupid. Apple Corp needs to shake their head over this gap. Especially since their WebCam pixel ratio (for clearer pictures) is better then other market webcams.
To change fonts on the iMac, one needs to use a 3rd party software as well. re: Tickertool. It changes some fonts but NOT all. And, it doesn't change Menu sizes (like fixed text within a windows label). Within Windows 7 system, simply go into Video Screen Resoluton and select usge large fonts. re: 125% DPI. All fonts and "menus" become larger. Clean / simple and easy to use. To me, the iMac OS needs this same "one global click" feature.
The new iMac don't support Jumbo Frame sizes. With Win xx systems, one can cross reference their onboard ethernet cards and if needed, install different eithernet cards.
Win XX and virus problems?? I've been using Win xx for years and practice "safe computing" (along with FREE Virus software packages - like MS Essentials). re: I don't visit smut sites, I don't click on "free offers" or open attachments from folks I don't know. Never had a virus problem on my Win xx systems.
As you can tell, the iMac is NOT perfect. It has some things that are the way behind the Windows 7 systems. But, are better in some areas. As a suggestion, take your large "user needs" checklist and review the Win xx against the Mac OS system side by side. Which system is better - for you? That's the one you buy. Knowing what I know "today", my family should have bought a "beefed up" entertainment class" Win 7 system - instead of our current iMac. But, we're now stuck with our new iMac - until it breaks or needs to be replaced.
Bottom line... Pick the system that is best for you, and your "user needs". As implied, NO system is perfect. Even the iMac platforms...
Good luck...
I assume you know that the iMac G5 you're purchasing is a handful of years old.
That said, iMac G5s are decent machines in their own right, for Web browsing, listening to and/or creating music, light video editing (not HD) and photo editing-- that is, about 95% of what most people use their computers for (besides gaming of course). Because the G5 can indeed run Leopard, it can run iTunes 10, which allows it to be a media server for the brand new
tv. iLife '06 (and I believe '08) should run also, which gives you iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and GarageBand.However, keep in mind that the G5 processor is already considered somewhat obsolete, and that a G5-equipped iMac's last available OS is 10.5 Leopard (not Snow Leopard). It will never run Windows in Boot Camp, if that's what you were hoping-- Boot Camp is for Intel-based Macs only.
If gaming is still very important to you, go for the Windows machine. The G5 will prove disappointingly slow in the latest games, provided they'll even run on a G5.
I currently have a MacBook Pro, iMac 27" i7, and a Dell Precision M6500 i7. I used to be anti-windows, meaning OS X and Ubuntu Linux. However, regardless of brand, it tends to be that the more expensive computers last longer, IMO.
1)Purchased a high-end dell in 2003, still running just fine (Ubuntu 10.10)
2)My MBP is still pretty powerful, and will last for a while
3)My new Dell was a bit more expensive, but with a tremendous upgrade factor
That said, what OS you go with depends on your needs. My favorite thing about windows is that I can run Unreal for game development. But from a media consumption standpoint/final cut pro/compositing needs, I prefer my mac.
OP: What are you looking for to do in a computer?
1)Purchased a high-end dell in 2003, still running just fine (Ubuntu 10.10)
2)My MBP is still pretty powerful, and will last for a while
3)My new Dell was a bit more expensive, but with a tremendous upgrade factor
That said, what OS you go with depends on your needs. My favorite thing about windows is that I can run Unreal for game development. But from a media consumption standpoint/final cut pro/compositing needs, I prefer my mac.
OP: What are you looking for to do in a computer?
I'm very thankful for the reply's, but like I said, I've never used macs before & just now that I am going to buy a new computer I thought of Apple for the very first time in my life. Anyway I would just use the computer for an everyday computer to edit some videos, mp3, photos, etc. The very great thing about Apple is that I don't have to worry much about viruses like Windows but I'm still having a hard time to decide which one I'm going to purchase, because I don't want to regret it. So if I happen to choose Imac over Windows 7 desktop computer I would purchase the one in the link below.
- http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC508LL/A?mco=MTg1ODA3OTA
(Please leave me comments about it.
- http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC508LL/A?mco=MTg1ODA3OTA
(Please leave me comments about it.
That's an Intel model, not a G5. The good thing about the Intels, aside from being much faster, is that they can run Windows 7 as well.
As a suggestion, visit your local Future Shop, Best Buy, Apple Retail store and try the iMacs for tha while. "pull up a chair" and try different things on it. Try web browsing and decide if its fonts are too small, try its photo both and displying / editing some pictures via iPhoto program. Try a few You-Tube videoes and display them. Try, try and try.
If you have a friend who has a Mac, visit their place and ask them to show you a few hands on usage tricks as well. re: Simple things like cut/paste, screen prints, email, changing screen sizes, etc. etc.
One can explain the pros/cons but to really decide for youself, take the Mac OS for a "real world" spin. Something I should have done - before buying the iMac (for my family).
.
Well, are the Intels good for browsing the internet, youtube, downloads, etc? Like I mentioned before, I'm willing to buy this Intel as an everyday computer, mostly for the internet, but of course I would do some mp3 editing, videos, photoshop, etc.
They're both good at different things. You need to list what you would use the computer for, otherwise noone will be able to help you.
The G5 is a pretty old machine and not as fast as newer Intel iMacs. If you're buying a Windows 7 machine, it's probably going to be a newer and faster one.
Depending on the software you want to run (games?) the PC may be the better choice.
The G5 is a pretty old machine and not as fast as newer Intel iMacs. If you're buying a Windows 7 machine, it's probably going to be a newer and faster one.
Depending on the software you want to run (games?) the PC may be the better choice.
Yes, it will do all of those things and more. The Intel chips are the same ones found in Windows PCs.
Intrigued as to why you're having this problem, even on default settings you shouldn't suffer issues like that. What kind of speed are you talking about (for both the line itself and the actual speed).
If I take my late-2007 MBP to a friends house and hook up via N band to his router, I get ~6MB/sec on his 50mbit line which pretty much maxes it out. I find trying to run other tasks on a 2.5" 5400RPM drive at the same time as this will kill the speed somewhat, but that's to be expected.
Well here's my two cents:
Today the Mac OSX/Win 7 talk is a moot point. Get the iMac; then get any of these: Virtual Box, or VMWare Fusion, or Parallels. These are virtual machine software packages. They ARE NOT emulators! Doing this you can now have both Mac OSX and Win7 running simultaneously in the same session. I have the Parallels package and run Win7 occasionally. Two computer systems in the same box, sweet!
Oh, okay, I now see that you're looking at an Intel Core machine. Yes, this will do all you want, and probably more. With this one, gaming is definitely possible, especially with Valve releasing more and more of its hit game series (Half Life, Left 4 Dead) for the Mac.
iTunes runs considerably smoother on a Mac than on Windows.
And since this is an Intel iMac, you can have both worlds: OS X and Windows 7.
iTunes runs considerably smoother on a Mac than on Windows.
And since this is an Intel iMac, you can have both worlds: OS X and Windows 7.
I mean the Intel showed in the link and not a "g5* (my bad) Like I said, I really don't know much about Apple...Okay guys! Thanks a lot for the reply's. I'm probably buying the Intel instead of Windows 7 machine, I can run Windows 7 on it anyway, just in case I don't get comfortable with Apple (Which I really don't thank that's going to be an issue) But anyway thanks again!