shiny, new Mac

Joe it will check for new software but will never install without your permission.

I know, iGary. I was talking about attempting such a big download through a 56k modem.

Joe

Joe -

Got an iPod yet?

Mine's pounding away through Naim and Allaes as I type...

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

Joe

What model did you get? Have you powered up the screen yet.

Enjoy the new toy

Derek

<< >>

Joe,

Nice!. So do the lights dim when you boot up? Is yours a single or double CPU?

cheers

Dan

Greg,

quote:

---

Got an iPod yet?

---

No, and I won't be getting one any time soon. I am sooooooooooo broke after this purchase that I'm selling blood at the local Red Cross to buy diapers for the kiddo. (I know, you have to question the wisdom of spending beyond your means just as you have a baby, but I plan to do some freelancing with the computer, so it'll partially pay for itself.)


____________________________________________


Derek,

quote:

---

What model did you get? Have you powered up the screen yet.

---

I got the new entry-level tower, the dual 1.8 GHz machine. I can't even begin to describe how much faster the 1.8 GHz model is than the clunker I bought second hand in 1997 and have been using for the last 7.5 years. It's roughly the difference between the Space Shuttle and a Ford Escort.

I powered up the screen last night. Very nice indeed -- all 2.3 million pixels work beautifully.


____________________________________________


Dan,

quote:

---

So do the lights dim when you boot up?

---

Nah, the 970fx chip uses a lot less power than previous G5 chip and the new display, according to the owner's manual, uses about the same amount of power as my old monitor -- 75 watts for the 15-inch CRT vs 90 watts for the new jumbo display.

Joe

Joe

They are rather nice both the screen and the way the Mac handles Photoshop, because mine is secondhand I do not have the latest Optical drive - however it is still pretty fast - I have not got into DVD writing yet.


How much memory have you got installed.

The Mac Keyboard is a new experience with its strange (to me) icons and terminology.

Derek

<< >>

Derek,

quote:

---

How much memory have you got installed.

---

One GB -- 2 x 512 MB.

I still have two RAM slots open, so I could install up to 1.5, 2 or 3 GB with the current configuration. But I don't foresee needing any more than what's installed. I assume 1 GB is a lot of memory unless you're creating Finding Nemo II at home. (My old machine was maxed out at 64 MB, and my original Mac -- the "Classic" -- at 4 MB.)

Joe

quote:

---

Yeah, seems Apple finally got it (mostly) right with the G5 towers -- all the benefits of running a Mac, with the speed of a proper PC.

---

And it only costs about three times as much as the PC!

quote:

---

Which are?

---

ag,

I mean't to get back to you on that one, but I could go on and on (perhaps this evening). All I'll say now is Macs are a lot like Naim, in that you get a system you just use and don't sit there worrying about what's under the hood. Things work out of the box, and are plug'n'play. You don't see too many cable tweakers here, and you don't see a lot of discussion about video cards etc. among the Mac users I know. The idea of system integration extends to the software too -- you don't need extra software to rip and burn, play music, organize photos, make movies, talk to friends via video, etc.. Stuff like connecting to the internet, sharing printers, updating the OS are a complete doddle.

FWIW, I get at least 10x as many emails from our sys admins concerning Windows software issues than Mac issues. I got 3 just this week, and I dont use a Windows machine.

Now, on the nerdy side of things the dual G5 has the same chips as the IBM supercomputers -- Power4. These are powerhouses (esp. for floating point). Also, since Macs aren't trying to be backward compatible with the original IBM PC the architecture in the new Macs is designed for 64 bits. I'm not sure if it is out yet, but when with the new OS supporting this you'll be able to address huge chunks of RAM. Intel/MS are still playing catch up, and from what I've heard the AMD chips are ahead of Intel in implementing 64 bit chips. I've been told that the scalability of the Intel chips for >2 processors is piss poor.

On top of that, OSX is unix underneath -- opening up a whole set of public domain software, plus you get a built in X server, which is great when working in an environment that has unix workstations. Plus you get vi

HTH,

Dan

Basil,

quote:

---

And it only costs about three times as much as the PC!

---

Actually, it's four times as much as a PC, but only if you upgrade to the Gold package and get the fancy yellow racing stripes, Japanese lettering and coffee can tailpipe.


______________________________________


Alex,

quote:

---

Which are?

---

For me it comes down to three things -- an OS that's easier, prettier and more fun to use; better software and hardware integration; and simpler colour calibration.

Joe

P.S. I've used PCs at work for the last 10 years and my current computer is a 2 GHz Xeon-based machine with a GB of RAM and three HDs (two are SCSI), running two monitors -- a fancy 22-inch CRT at 1600x1200 (for layout and design) and a 17-inch LCD at 1280x1024 (for tool bars and pallets). It's a fast, powerful PC, but I still prefer Macs for the reasons listed above.

Advantage of the Mac (versus 'doze) - the browser is not an integral part of the OS ie the application layer is seperate from the OS and so is less likely to conduit viruses into the OS

I have had the benefit of that degree of security/integrity since 1989 and before that on mainframes since I do not know when....

Derek

<< >>

Alex,

I found an article on Macs by Richard Dawkins, the famed Oxford evolutionary biologist, that you may be interested in reading. (If you haven't heard of Dawkins before, let me fill you in: He's purported to be almost as smart as Matthew Robinson, but only half as good looking.)

The article is here.

Joe

Joe come on now, you have been pissing around putting a bit in here, a bit in here there.

How do you find it? What screen did you get, give us the details.

Have you played in iDVD yet for instance?

iGary,

quote:

---

How do you find it?

---

I'm still adjusting to the new OS, as my previous Mac was really ancient and running only slightly less ancient System 8, but I really like Panther. Trés cool.

The computer, of course, is night and day better than what it replaced, as you would expect going from a ~1996 100 MHz Performa to a 1.8 GHz G5 tower.

quote:

---

What screen did you get

---

The shiny one with 2.3 million pixels.

quote:

---

Have you played in iDVD yet for instance?

---

No, but I have played with GarageBand, which has been tons of fun despite not having a single musical bone in my body.

Joe

quote:

---

Originally posted by alexgerrard:

quote:

---

all the benefits of running a Mac

---

?

Which are?

---

It depends on who you are. If you like to take time thinking about how to do things then go for a PC. If you don't want to think go for a Mac.

Having owned around 8 or 9 pcs since approx. 1990, and having just acquired my first Mac, a Powerbook G4 12", I am struck with how much I am enjoying using the computer and how much more I am accomplishing.

I will never go back...

I am now in the process of trying to scale down the 3 desktops and 1 laptop that I still have (PC-wise, that is) - and I'll go down to 1 and RDC into it when required.

For me there is no comparison. I'm sold. Hooked. Completely won over.

Says it all really. Only wish I'd moved across to the Rebel Alliance years ago, so to speak...

John

Top Cat said:

quote:

---

Having owned around 8 or 9 pcs since approx. 1990, and having just acquired my first Mac, a Powerbook G4 12", I am struck with how much I am enjoying using the computer and how much more I am accomplishing.

I will never go back...

I am now in the process of trying to scale down the 3 desktops and 1 laptop that I still have (PC-wise, that is) - and I'll go down to 1 and RDC into it when required.

For me there is no comparison. I'm sold. Hooked. Completely won over.

Says it all really. Only wish I'd moved across to the Rebel Alliance years ago, so to speak...

John

---

I couldn't agree more - you took the words right out of my mouth.

I still have my PC since getting my first mac 16mnths ago. A good friend had a bit of a laugh when I mentioned that ocassionaly I go back to the PC for the 'playing around' tinkering aspect - something I just never have to do on the Mac - as you say it is fun, pretty, reliable and one accomplishes so much more in terms of productivity v's time.

Even though there is a new model iMac due to be released next mnth, possibly with the G5 processor in it, and still regard my G4 17" widescreen iMac as being one of the very best 'appliances/things/tools/indulgences' I have ever bought, used or owned.

The price arguments don't wash IMHO.

I run Sony ES gear for AV use, alongside my Naim 2 channel equipment.

It is very high quality, and outstanding value for money.

But in terms of design philosophy, and the sound; the overall 'package' if you will, I will be a Naim customer until such time as I can either a) no longer afford it, or b) - hopefully never, Naim get taken over, or sell out to some corporate conglomerate, where commercial interests take precedence over sound and quality aspects and they end up becomming just another piece of 'me too' HiFi kit.

I tolerate the PC, and quite enjoy the tinkering aspect as long as it's not my main computer, I like the Sony ES gear a great deal, but I love Naim and my Mac.

Here's to another satisfied Mac customer :-)

Cheers

John... :-)

This is my last upgrade.... after this my system will be finished...:-)

Alex,
Unfortunately, for gaming, PCs can't be beat. I wish it weren't so...
Simon

In terms of game choices I have to agree, in terms of performance, I can't keep up with unreal tournement, and I have the base single processor G5, I would imagine a duel 1.8 with 128meg graphics card will kick ass

In about 5-6 weeks I'll have access to a dual 2.5GHz G5 with 4GB of RAM. Can't wait to test it out.

Dan