Top end iMac or Power Mac??

[Rhobes]

Hello

First off, I use photoshop exclusively. I'm having the "slows" and think it's time to upgrade.

At this point I'm thinking to go with the iMac 2.1GHz 20" LCD with the full 2.5GB RAM. Would there be any reason to go to the Power Mac 2GHz, it seems like it would be a downgrade.

 

[katie ta achoo]

you won't notice any difference between the .1 ghz

The PowerMac is expandable (stick another HD in) ... I think that's the only reason to go with it for your purposes, but you could always just get an external FW drive.

Well.. unless the 20" iMac's LCD won't cut it for you. Since in your sig it says you're already on an iMac, I don't think you'll have an issue.

IMO, iMac is the way to go.
I hope your case of the slows speeds up soon

 

[Rhobes]

you won't notice any difference between the .1 ghz

The PowerMac is expandable (stick another HD in) ... I think that's the only reason to go with it for your purposes, but you could always just get an external FW drive.

Well.. unless the 20" iMac's LCD won't cut it for you. Since in your sig it says you're already on an iMac, I don't think you'll have an issue.

IMO, iMac is the way to go.
I hope your case of the slows speeds up soon

Thanks for your reply, it helps, and I think the iMac should suit me fine.

 

[Capt Underpants]

Photoshop is dual processor aware, so wouldn't he get a big boost in speed over the iMac?

 

[Rhobes]

Photoshop is dual processor aware, so wouldn't he get a big boost in speed over the iMac?

Guess I'd like to know about that, anyone else chime in here???

 

[eXan]

Photoshop is dual processor aware, so wouldn't he get a big boost in speed over the iMac?

Unless he is working with very large PS files (500 MB+) he will not see any significant performance boost on a PowerMac.

The only reason not to buy iMac in ur case maybe the price of 2 GB RAM stick he is planning to put it it. I thought that they cost over 1000$? Am I right?

 

[Danksi]

The only reason not to buy iMac in ur case maybe the price of 2 GB RAM stick he is planning to put it it. I thought that they cost over 1000$? Am I right?

Seems the price of 2Gb sticks is coming down compared to initial 'estimates' - around CDN$600 (~US$500) - which is still steep for $/Gb compared to 1Gb sticks.

 

[eXan]

Seems the price of 2Gb sticks is coming down compared to initial 'estimates' - around CDN$600 (~US$500) - which is still steep for $/Gb compared to 1Gb sticks.

Thx for the info.

Anyway, if it was my choice (original question), I would get dual-core PowerMac with 20-inch Apple Cinema Display

 

[Passante]

I'd crunch the numbers first and compare. Photoshop is dual processor aware and the ability to upgrade your video card in the Powermac will give it a longer working life. Plus when you go to upgrade you can keep the 20 inch display and only upgrade the tower.

So how much is the iMac with ram compared to the Powermac>

 

[kingcrowing]

well, its $2900 for a 20" iMac+2.5GB of RAM, and $2800 for a dual 2.0GHz powermac+20" Apple LCD... for $115 you can buy another 2GB of RAM for the powermac(http://www.omnitechnologies.biz/cgi...ct=&aff=&pg=prod&ref=APLPMG52X1GB533G&cat=app)
so for like $20 more you'll get a second processor, a better graphics card, more expandability, and a 16x DVD burner, vs. 8x.
so I'd def go with the powermac personally.

 

[Maxiseller]

I'm another bod for the PowerMac Camp.

Frankly, you say you're "photoshop" exclusive however the dual processors will surely love crunching away at Mac OS X in the background too?!

Either way, you can upgrade the ram to more than 2G in a Powermac for cheap compared to the iMac and you can upgrade Hard Drives, Video Cards etc very easily - id say go with that and a decent display. You won't regret it!

 

[Danksi]

well, its $2900 for a 20" iMac+2.5GB of RAM, and $2800 for a dual 2.0GHz powermac+20" Apple LCD... for $115 you can buy another 2GB of RAM for the powermac(http://www.omnitechnologies.biz/cgi...ct=&aff=&pg=prod&ref=APLPMG52X1GB533G&cat=app)
so for like $20 more you'll get a second processor, a better graphics card, more expandability, and a 16x DVD burner, vs. 8x.
so I'd def go with the powermac personally.

Of course that's cheating slightly. Those iMac memory prices will be much lower from somewhere other than Apple.

 

[zap2]

Duel Core against 1 Core

Get a Power Mac

 

[kingcrowing]

and if you wanted to save some more money and dont care too much about aestetics, you could go for a Dell 20" or 24", I'd personally rather have a G5+matchiung alu display, but $$ is money...

 

[chicagdan]

I'm making the same decision as the original poster. The only difference is that I already have a 19 inch Princeton graphics LCD so I don't need to buy a monitor. I have a home business so I don't want to wait for Jan. to see what comes next because I can write off the business expense for 2005 if I buy now. (And why be an Intel guinea pig when so few aps have universal binaries?)

I'm leaning towards the PowerMac because 1) the graphics card is superior and upgradable 2) maybe next year I'll come across some bonus cash and will want to upgrade to a 23" HD display 3) I can use EyeTV 500 with it (and I have HDTV digital cable) and would like to be able to export movies to my PSP and 4) I can increase the RAM incrementally with the PowerMac.

In short, spending a few hundred extra now for the PowerMac means more flexibility over the life of the computer. Buy an iMac and that's all you're ever going to get.

 

[maya]

iMac G5.

Why, why would I recommend that instead of the PowerMac......well in 2 years time when you upgrade to an Intel Mac the cut to your pocket will not be as deep.

Plus the iMac G5 looks so warm in any decor than the PowerMac G5 which looks industrial.

 

[Rhobes]

iMac G5.

Why, why would I recommend that instead of the PowerMac......well in 2 years time when you upgrade to an Intel Mac the cut to your pocket will not be as deep.

Plus the iMac G5 looks so warm in any decor than the PowerMac G5 which looks industrial.

Anyone actually have an idea what the price might be on the new Intel's??

 

[chicagdan]

Anyone actually have an idea what the price might be on the new Intel's??

In the long run, I'd assume the products will be a bit cheaper than the PPC models because they'll have to compete (price wise at least) with directly comparable Windows products from now on.

But as a point of reference, that Mac Mini Media everyone expects Jan. 10 might be quite a bit more expensive than the current Mac Mini. Alienware's cheapest media center PC is $1769. I doubt seriously that the MMM will be that expensive, but it's almost certain to top $1000.

 

[maya]

In the long run, I'd assume the products will be a bit cheaper than the PPC models because they'll have to compete (price wise at least) with directly comparable Windows products from now on.

But as a point of reference, that Mac Mini Media everyone expects Jan. 10 might be quite a bit more expensive than the current Mac Mini. Alienware's cheapest media center PC is $1769. I doubt seriously that the MMM will be that expensive, but it's almost certain to top $1000.

How do you figure? We don't even know what generation x86 Apple will put in it, let alone know if it will be some "all-in-one" media centre.

Yes, the Intel PowerMacs and iMac will be cheaper. Since Intel will be supplying most of the components.

 

[chicagdan]

How do you figure? We don't even know what generation x86 Apple will put in it, let alone know if it will be some "all-in-one" media centre.

Yes, the Intel PowerMacs and iMac will be cheaper. Since Intel will be supplying most of the components.

I'm just making an educated guess. I doubt that the processor will be responsible for much of the price anyway ... do you honestly expect Apple to find a cheaper CPU than the G4 they put in the current Mac Mini? They probably get those for free in packages of Captain Crunch.

The most expensive Mac mini right now is $699. That has a pathetic 32 megs of video ram. Do you really expect any kind of media computer to have lower specs than that? Not if you expect to be able to hook it up to an HDTV. And if I can't hook up a media PC to my HDTV, why again would I want it?

I didn't make my $1000 guess assuming a tricked out all-in-one. If I were doing that, I'd probably price it closer to the cheapest Alienware.

All I'm saying is be prepared ... anyone assuming this new media Mac Mini is going to be $499 might be disappointed. The video card alone needed to make this system something worth having will probably drive the price up to 1K.

 

[Atlasland]

... do you honestly expect Apple to find a cheaper CPU than the G4 they put in the current Mac Mini? They probably get those for free in packages of Captain Crunch.

Classic

 

[triotary]

Hey guys!

I'm in the same dilemma! I use photoshop and illustrator all the time~ and especially on illustrator, when I draw so many vertices on so many layers, my old 733 or my GF's 867 just wouldn't cut! and on photoshop, the files I work on varies from 10MB to 80MB, and occasionally up to 200MB. And once in a while, I work on flash, aftereffects and painter.

from my old 733 to an imac, it would be a big jump for me

I would love to get a powermac, but Im afraid it might be an overkill

 

[Danksi]

Anyone actually have an idea what the price might be on the new Intel's??

The question on my mind is how much will Apple lower the prices of the current PPC device range - as this will likely effect the short-term resale value of my current machines.

 

[Blue Velvet]

I would love to get a powermac, but Im afraid it might be an overkill

Today's overkill is tomorrow's slow machine. Get the biggest and best you can afford.

Have been messing with InDesign 3 recently (regular Quark user) and that can be painfully slow on my once-top of the line dual 1.42 with 2gb RAM.

 

[Lacero]

Yeppers. I'd go with a dual 2.0 Ghz PowerMac.

Expandable RAM and more firewire ports and more slots means your machine will last longer than the iMac. iMacs are for noobs.

Here's to the Crazy Ones ​