Another Mac convert maybe?!

[ROLLINSDAN]

I'm tempted on buying an Apple Mac, but which one is the guidance I need! I want to continue using my current PC for software such as Catia V5, basically to continue using it as a cad station.

I want to use the Mac for movie editing, running my guitar into and also for web browsing, the thing is do I buy a second hand G4 Powermac, or a mac mini? Is there really a big difference between the two or is it the older technology re-packaged into the smaller case? Would these be the best to look at for an introduction too?

 

[Dahoum]

Good place to start here

- and a wise decision mate

 

[ROLLINSDAN]

Next question.............. If I were to have a Mac with Airport extreme I can make a connection to the Linksys router I already have at home? If so I know what I'm having for christmas...........

 

[evil_yoda]

I have read a few posts in other forums before now that say Linksys routers and airport extreme dont always work together!

The macmini is a great little machine for the money. More difficult to upgrade than an old g4 powermac though.

 

[Deleted Member I]

I was a Mac convert UNTIL I had to deal with Apple Customer Service! I think they spent on their money hiring talented engineers and designers with no money left to hire any decent employees in Customer Services.

Their processes and policies are idiotic and they are not helpful.

Products are funky but prey it does not go wrong. If it does ... you will be seriously pissed off with the service you get ... given you have paid "premium" prices for the product.

From my experiences, I have decided it is better to buy Windows based equipment. Buy it at rock bottom prices and if it goes wrong ... throw it away. Actually if you buy Dell, they are actually quite good at sending you replacements .. no quibble.

Just thought you should know that before you buy.

 

[unshift]

I'm tempted on buying an Apple Mac, but which one is the guidance I need! I want to continue using my current PC for software such as Catia V5, basically to continue using it as a cad station.

I want to use the Mac for movie editing, running my guitar into and also for web browsing, the thing is do I buy a second hand G4 Powermac, or a mac mini? Is there really a big difference between the two or is it the older technology re-packaged into the smaller case? Would these be the best to look at for an introduction too?

if you are doing movie editing - work out a way to get a g5, g4's are slow - unless they are small clips and not too often

 

[walti]

I certainly don't regret going for the Mac alternative!

I'm using a 17" LCD G4 iMac (the one with the round base)

Having looked at some of the new software coming out I would recomend you get the best processor/memory combination you can afford, as the G4 looks like it may be limited in what can be achieved. - I'm thinking of software like Aperture, which really needs a G5 AND a mahooosive graphics processor.

IF you are likely to go for upgrades then don't go for the packaged systems, as like notebooks there's virtually nothing you can do to them.

If you have a student or teacher in your family, then go for the educational store option, can save significant amounts.

Also look at the refurbished store savings of up to 40% - with warranty. If you do buy from the refurbished store ensure you check that everything works.

As Novice has said the customer service can be "interesting" - If you buy somthing and are not satisfied ensure you get onto Apple within 14 days as they then honour the distance selling rules and exchange/refund without quibble. If you go past the 14 days then you get into the repair system, which works well but can be slow.

I would also recomend you buy direct from Apple if you are buying new, as their warranty procedures are better!

Oh, and keep the packaging until the warranty is over!

 

[unshift]

Next question.............. If I were to have a Mac with Airport extreme I can make a connection to the Linksys router I already have at home? If so I know what I'm having for christmas...........

yup my mac is connected that way - works well with linksys

 

[ianf]

If you just want to use it for email itunes web and the usual stuff you'll be fine with a mini. I got the £500 one a while back and haven't had a single software issue with it. The only thing I need to do is run a pc somewhere to use Garmin Mapsource on still. (Terminal Service into it to save on monitors, or use work laptop).

I've imported video from DV and farted about with it, not too slow. Though if you are doing professional media work you may be happier with the better cpus in the G5 systems.

 

[nadeem]

I've bought direct from either the apple store online or the apple store in london or bluewater and all warranty issues have been dealt with fast and to my satisfaction - i.e. my airport base station went kaput a month ago - a new one was sent out in 3 days and the old one collected at the same time.
Currently I'm using a 2.0Ghz G5 20' iMac (2.0GB RAM) and a 14' iBook 1.4Ghz G4 (1GB RAM).

For movie editing, the basic iMovie package that comes with the Macs is pretty good and runs on my G5 Processor v.fast - but it also runs on my iBook at a decent speed...if you want something like Final Cut Pro; then a G5 might be better.

THIS will give you an idea of iMovie capabilities & usage.

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Thought about it but it does not do:
Outlook
Mapsource
AutoCad

FFS!

 

[ROLLINSDAN]

Nice one gents, I think I'll go for the top end mini to start with, test the water and see how it goes...

At work we will have a "flexible benefits scheme" where we stitch the NHS with a NI fiddle in exchange for interest free computers. If I like the mini enough I'll get a G5 powermac on the scheme.

Thanks!

 

[walti]

Microsoft Outlook roughly equals microsoft Entourage on a Mac... not identical but near enough.

 

[ianf]

Outlook. Not a big loss unless you are using it for work and want to share calendars etc. The builtin mail / calendar / address book stuff is great, and it syncs to bluetooth phones out of the box. - mail is imap compatible so you can talk to exchange with it anyway, apparently.

AutoCad. - probably find there's a better program out there anyway. If you need autocad for working on projects in a team then you'll need to reconsider.

MapSource. - Given how easy developing for OSX is over Windows, it is surprsing that Garmin have neglected this for so long. I'd imagine, unless there's some horrible unportable junk in the mapsource guts, that they could get this working reasonably well in a couple of man-months, and polished in 4. Until then, trusty old dell and RDP client.

I'd say that the mac is a great 'standalone' solution, but slightly tricky in a company/workgroup environment where a lot of machines are windows based.

 

[centaur]

Ahhhh there but for the grace........

How easy it would have been for Apple to have done what Bill Gates did for windows.....if only they'd have had the courage.......foresight.....greed......intelligence....instead of trying to rip off those subscribers they had immediately.....Oh well....like Sony Betamax.....they took the dive...but at least they're 'hanging in there'....the jury is out...unless they can match the range of windows stuff available...cheaply and convincingly !