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General discussion

mac help..

Sep 26, 2007 11:37AM PDT

i am a pc guy and looking at buying a mac G5 system. I do video and music editing Will a Apple PowerMac G5 Dual 1.8GHz 512MB, 80GB, SuperDrive.. price 979 used. loaded with MAC OS X

Discussion is locked

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Let's see what a new iMac is?
Sep 26, 2007 11:46AM PDT

" * 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
* 1GB memory
* 250GB hard drive1
* 8x double-layer SuperDrive
* ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128MB memory"

1199. Sorry I feel this is a much better deal. The G5 was nice in it's day but I wouldn't touch that unit.

Bob

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where to buy
Sep 26, 2007 11:57AM PDT

any good site to buy this from

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(NT) That content, price at ... apple.com
Sep 26, 2007 12:08PM PDT
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the imac starts at 2700
Sep 26, 2007 12:11PM PDT

what type of system is the one you are talking about

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Nothing at the store starts at that price
Sep 26, 2007 12:16PM PDT
The Apple Store

Shows that the iMac starts at $1199, a much better deal than the G5

P
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2499..i was looking at mac pro
Sep 26, 2007 12:43PM PDT

what's the differance between imac and mac pro

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A Picture is worth a thousand words
Sep 26, 2007 9:44PM PDT

Check out the link I sent you and browse around the store.

iMac = Desktop

MacBook Pro = Laptop, but this does not start at the price you stated. What country is the store you are looking at, in?

P

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Ooops, time for my nap
Sep 26, 2007 11:37PM PDT

I misread the MacPro reference and went MacBook Pro.

However, a browse around the store is still worth it.

What level of video editing are you active in?

If you do not already have the Mac software to do this editing with, the iLife suite does not come on the MacPro line, you will need to purchase new editing software. As grim pointed out, all new software is being written to take advantage of the Intel processor and not the old G5 PPC line.
Of course, the older versions are still available from other sources.

If you are planning on using this machine to run Windows, to use your existing editing software, you should be aware that the G5 processor is not capable of running a virtual windows machine. Only the Intel processors can do that. There is a program called Virtual PC which will run Windows in Emulation but unless you like playing with a PII running at 160MHZ, I would not go there.

If this machine is just for "hobbying" with video and sound, then it will make a nice addition and will perform excellently but if your "hobby" is your bread and butter, considering this machine may not be a wise business move.

I have to admit though, it is a very good price.

P

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(NT) iLife isn't on mac pro? cheap ******** !
Sep 27, 2007 12:55AM PDT
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Guess they figured
Sep 27, 2007 2:50AM PDT

that you "Pro" types would not want to play with the free stuff and would prefer the high end video and sound suites.

BTW, you don't get a monitor either! Happy

P

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Who is a "pro" type?
Sep 27, 2007 3:24AM PDT

I don't earn so much money that I'm willing to give up the consumer level stuff every other apple user gets !!!

I pick up pennies in store parking lots too.

Grin I'm too poor to be considered cheap Grin

grim

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I've been looking at the Mac Pro, too...
Sep 30, 2007 3:04AM PDT
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Hey, that's new
Sep 30, 2007 3:31AM PDT

Time was that it was not included in the "Pro" series of machines.

I stand corrected.

Grim, and others, will now be happy. Happy

P

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They probably heard similar
Sep 30, 2007 5:43AM PDT

comments from others... and took action.

I know I'm happy about it... and my sheckel savings are nearly complete!

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(NT) I am now happy...;-)
Sep 30, 2007 6:44AM PDT
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I used the iMac to compare since...
Sep 26, 2007 10:07PM PDT

It should handily beat the old Pro you were considering.

There are other reasons to dismiss that old iron such as no warranty, no tricks such as Coherence, Fusion and such. For a little more I move to a current version of the machines, warranty and no worry about the age, wear and repair of the old iron.

Bob

PS. Your money, your choice. My money? No way.

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You are looking at towers, the iMac is an all in one...
Sep 26, 2007 10:39PM PDT

... desktop with a slick, LCD display built in. The main difference between the older dual-G5 tower and the newer intel driven macs is the ability to run the newer software (like adobe CS3 Premier/Encore/etc. which is configured to only run on intel chips). If you plan on using older software for video editing then this isn't a problem... if you want to use the freshest stuff on the market, then give up on the G5 and go with an intel powered mac.

Physically, the iMac is less modifiable than the Pro Mac tower since it is an all in one unit. You can add external hardware and internal memory but changing the video card would be problematic (I think, but don't know for sure). The new iMac uses a duo core intel chip... the tower uses dual(2) duo core chips so - of course - processing will be faster. The tower can be loaded with more RAM and multiple internal hard drives can be configured.

The G5 is over a year out of date. Video software by Adobe has been updated to take advantage of the new intel chips - it has been years since Adobe Premiere was updated for mac. More and more programs in the future will be coded for the new processor. If you buy the older G5, you are automatically limiting yourself to using older software.

Questions?

grim