Mac peeps, what am I missing?

Ghoulish Delight · 05-22-2005, 01:52 PM

Okay, it's getting close to time to buy a new computer. Our dell is almost 4 years old. It's still useable, but it's at the point that it can't handle the newest software, and it's having general performance problems that can probably be attributed to things like the age of the hard drive.

I'd LOVE to buy a Mac this time around, but I don't know. I priced a Power Mac G5 vs. a Dell. I can get a mid-range Power Mac for just over $3k, vs. a high end Dell for under $2k. Yikes. But then I took a peek at the iMac. Here's where I need to know what I'm missing.

I looked at the iMac. I looked at the highest end iMac (the 20"). Added a little RAM, added a wireless keybaord. It's a 2.0Ghz processor whereas the Power Mac I priced is only 1.8Ghz. Everything eles I speced out the same for the Power Mac and the iMac. And the iMac is about $900 cheaper! Same everything, same size display, faster processor, $900 cheaper.

So what am I missing? Is upgradeability the only sacrafice? What about things like number of USB ports? Reliability (I priced Apple Care into both of them)? What gives? What makes the Power Mac $900 better?

DisneyFan25863 · 05-22-2005, 01:57 PM

Upgradeablity, FSB, Graphics Card, Disc Drive and a few others.

Though I've heard the 20in iMac's screen is simply amazing.

Ghoulish Delight · 05-22-2005, 02:08 PM

Actually, I was looking at the low end PM, so the iMac FSB is faster (667 vs. 600) than that. If I start looking at the models with faster FSB, that $900 inflates real quick. By Disc Drive, do you mean floppy drive? Because I don't really care, and if I did I'd just get an external (or, more likely, just use USB sticks). I was comparing like graphics cards. I know the PM has the option for a higher end card, but I'm cheap and wouldn't get it anyway. The Radeon 9600 is good enough for me.

DisneyFan25863 · 05-22-2005, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Actually, I was looking at the low end PM, so the iMac FSB is faster (667 vs. 600) than that. If I start looking at the models with faster FSB, that $900 inflates real quick. By Disc Drive, do you mean floppy drive? Because I don't really care, and if I did I'd just get an external (or, more likely, just use USB sticks). I was comparing like graphics cards. I know the PM has the option for a higher end card, but I'm cheap and wouldn't get it anyway. The Radeon 9600 is good enough for me.

Actually, I ment the DVD+/-RW drive. But looking at it now, they are both 8x.

The iMac doesn't have DVI or ADC output like the Powermac does.

The iMac comes with a 250 GB drive compared to the Powermac's 80.

The iMac includes Bluetooth and 802.11G, the Powermac doesn't.

The powermac has some added on doohickeys that no one really needs.

If I were you, I would go with the iMac.

BTW...a computer guy like yourself can probably get away with no Applecare. I didn't get it on my Powerbook, and everything is just dandy. The stores also have free support, through the genius bar. I brought in mine (out of warrenty) with one broken key, and they replaced the entire keyboard free of charge.

blueerica · 05-22-2005, 02:18 PM

While I may not be quite as tech savvy as others here, I notice that Steve's PowerMac G5 is considerably faster than my iMac, and my iMac is pretty fast.

I dunno -- having something more than the iMac isn't really important (IMHO) if you're doing anything less than working with large media files, as Steve does. Heck our roommate just cut his film on his iBook, which isn't nearly as fast as my iMac, so you can do the home movie thing on the iMac, too. Macs don't need to be expensive unless you *need* them to be (for the specs).

I say, get the iMac, unless someone more genius than I (nearly everyone here) says otherwise.

Ghoulish Delight · 05-22-2005, 02:21 PM

What about gaming?

Fab · 05-22-2005, 02:21 PM

Mostly, it's the label. "I paid more for this computer than you did. I'm one of the millions who 'think different'. I'm a loner, Dottie, a rebel...." It's the difference (esp. after spending a long romantic weekend with the Inspiron 9300) between getting a t-shirt at the Gap and getting one at Abercrombie and Fitch. The salespeople are hotter and it's a lot more expensive, and you'll look a lot trendier using it.

Kevy Baby · 05-23-2005, 07:30 AM

Not much to add to this conversation: I think things have been well covered.

Except to warn you about one little detail on the latest iMac (I have the 17" model). Because everything is crammed into a relatively small case, temperature was of course a concern in design. I don't run into overheatng problems, but when the fan kicks on (which with me is quite often due to processor use), it is quite noisy. Since it sits on your desktop instead of under your desk, it is even more noticeable.

It's a cool looking machine (if you get extra RAM, install it yourself - it's simple and worth it to look inside the cse!), but I think there might have been better choices for me - the noise issue is very bothersome. I use an eMac at home (actually do video editing, but probably not to the extent that Tramspotter does) and it keeps me quite happy for the investment I made. Although I do wish I had an LCD instead of the CRT.

A couple other notes on the iMac: since it is slot load CD, you cannot put the small CDs into the machine. With all the other Macs currently out, they are tray load (at least I think they are), and you can use the small discs. Also, it is a good thing that floppies are not an issue: no Mac is available with a floppy drive. (although external USB drives are cheap).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fab

Mostly, it's the label.

Yeah, that's why I have a Mac.

Ghoulish Delight · 05-22-2005, 02:30 PM

I prefer Macs for several reasons. If I can afford one, I'm going to get one. But this wasn't a "Mac vs. PC" question. My mind's made up on that. It's just a question of whether the Mac that I can afford is worth affording.

surfinmuse · 05-22-2005, 02:36 PM

GD, PowerMacs are generally faster than iMacs, even with the same processor speed because of other factors like something called the L2 Cache I believe, among others (like BUS speed too). Also, the video card (and VRAM) might differ as well. I don't have the specs to compare side by side, but I do know that there are other variables involved besides processor speed.

05-22-2005, 01:52 PM	#1
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Mac peeps, what am I missing? Okay, it's getting close to time to buy a new computer. Our dell is almost 4 years old. It's still useable, but it's at the point that it can't handle the newest software, and it's having general performance problems that can probably be attributed to things like the age of the hard drive. I'd LOVE to buy a Mac this time around, but I don't know. I priced a Power Mac G5 vs. a Dell. I can get a mid-range Power Mac for just over $3k, vs. a high end Dell for under $2k. Yikes. But then I took a peek at the iMac. Here's where I need to know what I'm missing. I looked at the iMac. I looked at the highest end iMac (the 20"). Added a little RAM, added a wireless keybaord. It's a 2.0Ghz processor whereas the Power Mac I priced is only 1.8Ghz. Everything eles I speced out the same for the Power Mac and the iMac. And the iMac is about $900 cheaper! Same everything, same size display, faster processor, $900 cheaper. So what am I missing? Is upgradeability the only sacrafice? What about things like number of USB ports? Reliability (I priced Apple Care into both of them)? What gives? What makes the Power Mac $900 better? __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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05-22-2005, 01:57 PM	#2
DisneyFan25863 Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Stevenson Ranch, CA Posts: 464	Upgradeablity, FSB, Graphics Card, Disc Drive and a few others. Though I've heard the 20in iMac's screen is simply amazing.
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05-22-2005, 02:08 PM	#3
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Actually, I was looking at the low end PM, so the iMac FSB is faster (667 vs. 600) than that. If I start looking at the models with faster FSB, that $900 inflates real quick. By Disc Drive, do you mean floppy drive? Because I don't really care, and if I did I'd just get an external (or, more likely, just use USB sticks). I was comparing like graphics cards. I know the PM has the option for a higher end card, but I'm cheap and wouldn't get it anyway. The Radeon 9600 is good enough for me. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes

05-22-2005, 02:18 PM	#5
blueerica Nueve Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,497	While I may not be quite as tech savvy as others here, I notice that Steve's PowerMac G5 is considerably faster than my iMac, and my iMac is pretty fast. I dunno -- having something more than the iMac isn't really important (IMHO) if you're doing anything less than working with large media files, as Steve does. Heck our roommate just cut his film on his iBook, which isn't nearly as fast as my iMac, so you can do the home movie thing on the iMac, too. Macs don't need to be expensive unless you need them to be (for the specs). I say, get the iMac, unless someone more genius than I (nearly everyone here) says otherwise. __________________ Tomorrow is the day for you and me
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05-22-2005, 02:21 PM	#6
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	What about gaming? __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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05-22-2005, 02:21 PM	#7
Fab Señora Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 124	Mostly, it's the label. "I paid more for this computer than you did. I'm one of the millions who 'think different'. I'm a loner, Dottie, a rebel...." It's the difference (esp. after spending a long romantic weekend with the Inspiron 9300) between getting a t-shirt at the Gap and getting one at Abercrombie and Fitch. The salespeople are hotter and it's a lot more expensive, and you'll look a lot trendier using it.
	Submit to Quotes

05-22-2005, 02:30 PM	#9
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	I prefer Macs for several reasons. If I can afford one, I'm going to get one. But this wasn't a "Mac vs. PC" question. My mind's made up on that. It's just a question of whether the Mac that I can afford is worth affording. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes

05-22-2005, 02:36 PM	#10
surfinmuse Mind the Gap Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 123	GD, PowerMacs are generally faster than iMacs, even with the same processor speed because of other factors like something called the L2 Cache I believe, among others (like BUS speed too). Also, the video card (and VRAM) might differ as well. I don't have the specs to compare side by side, but I do know that there are other variables involved besides processor speed.
	Submit to Quotes