Should i switch?

[^squirrel^]

Hi all,

I am seeking some friendly advise regarding if should but the MacPro (Intel Powermac) when available?

I'm a network analyst for a publishing firm. We are 80% mac, 19% win and 1% Linux. so it would help me with work issues if i had a mac platform machine at home.

I also play a couple of games (Counter Strike and Flight Sim). It's great now that a mac can run Windows as i'll be able to play these games on a mac. What kind of GPU would you expect in the Intel G5/MacPro? As the new Flight Sim X requires a high end card and if you want to play with full rates you'll need a card with Direct X 10.

I use MSN Messenger and Skype. Both i know are available for Mac but both suck on a mac. MSN has no video or voice and skype has no video. I was wondering in 10.5 will iChat be capable of communicating with MSN? I'm sure Skype on mac will get a video upgrade soon, so i'll be able to contact friends and family via video.

I have a video and digital camera..........iLife is perfect so no questions required there!

And last of all....would you expect the price of the mid G5 to be much different to the Intel version? Is there any news on pricing or spec for the Intel Powermac?


Thank you for your time

Darren

 

[yellow]

I also play a couple of games (Counter Strike and Flight Sim). It's great now that a mac can run Windows as i'll be able to play these games on a mac. What kind of GPU would you expect in the Intel G5/MacPro?

Probably ones similar (and the next "step" up) to those in the current x86 iMac.

I was wondering in 10.5 will iChat be capable of communicating with MSN?

No one has a clue.

Is there any news on pricing?

None. But I would guess it would be on par with the G5s.

 

[gloss]

I'm not a pro, but...

a) The GPU will likely be high or mid-high end by default, with an upgrade option to a top-of-the-line solution. I don't know about dual/quad graphics cards, but I would say it's a possibility.

b) You can currently get aMSN for the Mac, which is third-party but allows voice and video chat with MSN Messenger users. With Skype I believe they're still working on video chat for the Mac.

c) I think the pricing should remain the same, but you're going to get a lot more bang for your buck. High-end models will probably include two dual-core processors (so...quad-core Intels) and be faster than most PCs you'll see on the market.

 

[yellow]

Hmm I hadn't thought about Apple offering SLI.. somehow I just assumed they wouldn't.

 

[gloss]

Hmm I hadn't thought about Apple offering SLI.. somehow I just assumed they wouldn't.

Well, if they're thinking of going quad-core on their Pro models, I wouldn't put it past them. After all, they are the people who introduced the first dual-dual link DVI graphics card. And these machines are supposed to be the best-of-the-best - now that they're on Intel they've got much harsher competition in the high-end PC range.

 

[know-it-all5]

you should switch

I also play a couple of games (Counter Strike and Flight Sim). It's great now that a mac can run Windows as i'll be able to play these games on a mac. What kind of GPU would you expect in the Intel G5/MacPro?

i too would expect a graphics card similar to that in the x86 imac. It'll be 256mb of video memory with likely more power than u could ever need for your games. i would however think about putting windows on your mac. There are many consequences. My guess based on rumors is that mac os 10.5 will likely have virtualization technology advanced enough to not require windows in order to use windows apps on your mac.

I was wondering in 10.5 will iChat be capable of communicating with MSN?

use the program called ADIUM X

Is there any news on pricing?

i have heard a number of rumors suggesting that they will have prices similar to that of the g5s, but it is wise to assume there will be a stronger model that may exceed current g5 prices.

 

[bbrosemer]

This is like asking if you should stop smoking everyone knows its bad for them yet they do it anyway.

For anyone who didnt get it Smoking was the equivelent of Windows.

 

[^squirrel^]

When you quote "High end graphics" would you be indicating something on the lines of a X1900XT-X?

 

[gloss]

When you quote "High end graphics" would you be indicating something on the lines of a X1900XT-X?

I would assume that top-of-the-line graphics would at least be an option.

It's all hearsay at this point, though.

 

[^squirrel^]

I'll keep my eye on the forums them for the time being. Maybe i'll decided what i'm going to do in Aug once the WWDC has passed. I'm very interested to see what 10.5 can do. Would be great if i could install windows software within 10.5 as someone indicated.

Oh and one more thing.....where has the iSight gone from the Apple site?

 

[WildCowboy]

Oh and one more thing.....where has the iSight gone from the Apple site?

You're right...I don't see it in the UK store. The hardware page is still there though. And all is fine in the US store.

 

[mduser63]

You're right...I don't see it in the UK store. The hardware page is still there though. And all is fine in the US store.

It's probably one of the products that Apple had to drop in Europe due to that new environmental law.

 

[plinden]

Oh and one more thing.....where has the iSight gone from the Apple site?

http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=14979

 

[WildCowboy]

It's probably one of the products that Apple had to drop in Europe due to that new environmental law.

Oh, right...forgot about that. Silly me.

 

[^squirrel^]

So will we see an external iSight from apple at all?

 

[theBB]

So will we see an external iSight from apple at all?

I am guessing Apple will add built-in iSight to Apple displays and stop upgrading stand-alone iSights. Of course, because of the new European law, that would mean no more of them over there. They will probably keep selling them in the US for a while.

 

[vniow]

I'm sure Skype on mac will get a video upgrade soon, so i'll be able to contact friends and family via video.

The latest beta supports video.

 

[^squirrel^]

I am guessing Apple will add built-in iSight to Apple displays and stop upgrading stand-alone iSights. Of course, because of the new European law, that would mean no more of them over there. They will probably keep selling them in the US for a while.

What about mac mini owners? I was going to buy one with external isight for the GF. Not everyone can afford Cinema display.

 

[theBB]

What about mac mini owners? I was going to buy one with external isight for the GF. Not everyone can afford Cinema display.

But you will sleep better with the knowledge that the environment and health of some workers are being better protected.

Check eBay, there must be quite a few sellers.

 

[^squirrel^]

I cannot believe that Apple will drop the iSight and not bother to make an eco friendly external camera?