Is anyone buying Powermac G5 anymore?

[milo]

i run a video transfer/editing business. i'm doing ok with it and would probably do better, but i spend 70% of my day being a stay at home Dad.

i have G5 dual 2.0 and a dual g4 mdd 1.25. i'm watching the price of the G5s as another one would be fantastic to have. i could have 3 machines transferring, editing and burning DVDs, all at once, thus increasing my sales. both of my current macs were paid off within half a year.

g5s are great and they will last a long time. my g4, God bless its soul has been functioning perfect for almost 4 years

What apps are you running? If you're using the Apple pro stuff, you should take a look at the intel boxes, they run those apps great and the price blows away the G5's.

 

[tuartboy]

If that were the case, why are there intel-only binaries of some apps out there?

hmm, not sure.

What apps?

 

[Demoman]

In December I bought my 2nd PM, this time a 2.5 quad. I am still very happy using my 2.0 x 2 PM. The second machine was to add more horsepower to video compression. I want a 3rd machine, but am waiting to see what the new Intel based PM's perform like and I am not pressed to make a purchase right now. But, I would not hesitate to buy another PPC based PM. I love these machines and I do not see Apple dropping support for them with their pro apps.

 

[tuartboy]

If that were the case, why are there intel-only binaries of some apps out there?

Did a bit more research and, to my knowledge, I'm right. Xcode cannot do intel only, but I did leave out the GCC option. If anyone is compiling with the x86 GCC compiler I would assume you could make an intel only app, no problem. I don't know of any current intel-only apps offhand (I'm using PPC so I don't research much) but I hear firefox is supposed to be doing both a native PPC and x86 to reduce download bandwidth. To my knowledge the intel-only VLC was a fake.

 

[dmw007]

But, I would not hesitate to buy another PPC based PM. I love these machines and I do not see Apple dropping support for them with their pro apps.

I agree, Apple will not likely drop support for PowerPC based Macs for a looooong time to come.

 

[milo]

hmm, not sure.

What apps?

Mostly apps that have intel versions in beta releases. Instead of releasing them universal, the intel version is a separate release because they don't want PPC users trying to run it.

For a specific example, look at Parallels. When you do get info on the app, it says Application (Intel). I don't know if they didn't use Xcode, but it's certainly possible to create intel only apps.

 

[iGary]

I was seriously considering selling my PM for a Quad, but after playing around with one at the Apple Store yesterday, the Photoshop and Aperture difference are so small, I can't justify trying to stay with the PPC platform for the extra money.

If I was video editing, which I the Quad just crushes mine at, it would be one thing, but I don't do video...yet.

 

[Eithanius]

Mostly apps that have intel versions in beta releases. Instead of releasing them universal, the intel version is a separate release because they don't want PPC users trying to run it.

For a specific example, look at Parallels. When you do get info on the app, it says Application (Intel). I don't know if they didn't use Xcode, but it's certainly possible to create intel only apps.

Parallels is designed and written in conjunction with the Intel virtualisation technology, so there's no point writing it for PPC since there's no such technology for the latter....

 

[Keebler]

expandability is why i haven't

What apps are you running? If you're using the Apple pro stuff, you should take a look at the intel boxes, they run those apps great and the price blows away the G5's.

thanks milo. i thought about that, but i like the expandability of the g5s. to me, it seems the intels are good, but not very expandable. it may be an option though.

i know one thing, i love my g5 i would love to have another

 

[drbrog]

Sorry I asked....

 

[milo]

Parallels is designed and written in conjunction with the Intel virtualisation technology, so there's no point writing it for PPC since there's no such technology for the latter....

Absolutely. I was just disagreeing with the comment that it's impossible to compile an app "intel only".

 

[THX1139]

my g4, God bless its soul has been functioning perfect for almost 4 years

Did it cost extra to get a soul built into your G4, or is that a software upgrade?