Hello All,

I'm now fully digitized and my poor little 400mhz G4 is quite overtaxed when it comes to auto processing high volumes of images with PS CS and Dr. Brown's Image Processor.

I wanted tp upgrade to a G5 tower and a new monitor, but just don't have the coin at the moment.

Looking at the 20" G5 iMac with maxed out RAM and CS2 as exclusively a digital photo processing workstation, and wondering if anyone else out there is using these machines and how they like them.

Thanks for any feedback.

Saludos.

Steve-

Are you looking at a used G5 iMac, or the new DualCore Intel-based iMac's?

Obviously you can save some money by buying the refurb (or a used) G5 iMac, but the new ones are so much sweeter that I'd say spend the extra hundred or two and get one of the new boxes.

Sure, there will be bugs they have to work out since this is the first generation of the Intel boxes- but it sounds like you need a computer today(!), so waiting for the next version isn't really an option. And the speed difference between the new ones (which appear to be screamers) compared the old yet stable G5's (which would be good choice still)... well, I'd go DualCore if it were me.

Obviously CS2 isn't a Universal Binary yet (meaning it doesn't yet run natively on the DualCore chips)- so you will see a slight performance hit for a while- but the UB version is coming (when, I don't know), but it will be coming out sooner rather than later- again, if it were me, I'd be willing to take the small performance hit for a month (or even 3), to have truly quick machine once the UB version of CS2 is released.

And goodness, the bang for the buck with the new iMac's is amazing- I think they're a really good budget system, but unlike 24 months ago, you won't see quite as large of a performance disparity between the "budget" level iMac and a mid/entry level G5. (Some Photoshop benchmarks that people are running on the new iMacs run as fast, or even a few seconds faster than my Dual 2Ghz G5 PowerMac- now that hurts!)

Good luck with whichever direction you decide to go! And enjoy the new machine! (Any new machine will feel like an amazing breath of fresh air when compared to the G4/400Mhz that you're leaving behind).

-Jason

Jason,

Thanks for that informative reply.

I want to buy new for sure.

I understand that the new chip is in the MacBooks right now, no? And the iMacs are not available with the DualCore Intel chip. Is that correct?

If so, I guess waiting for the new one is the right thing to do as far as the iMac goes.

The MacBook is more of a dream right now as I have a Titanium Powerbook already.

It would just be nice to upgrade both desktop and laptop at the same time.

And I'll be keeping the ole G4. Will need it to make the occasional scan of an old chrome! If I can remember how!!

The G5 is intended to be the digital photo processing station almost exclusively.

Max it out with RAM and add a couple G-Raid drives for storage and backup.

Getting a machine like that humming with CS2 will improve my workflow by leaps and bounds.

Thanks for the guidance.

Cheers to all.

Hola Steve,

Seen THIS?

What's the word on peripherals like scanners and printers on the new machines, do they also run under Rosetta, or do you need new drivers? I haven't been able to get a definitive answer on that.

Adobe has said that Photoshop won't run natively on the new machines until CS3. Steve Jobs alluded that professionals will want to wait for that. CS2 will work though, certainly faster than your 400 Mhz system, it just won't be optimal until CS3.

Steve,

The main concern that I have is that the chipset and OS in the new iMac is 32 bit, as opposed to 64 bit in the powerpc G5. Intel is slated to release 64 bit CPUs later this year. Although I'm not on the "inside," I think that Apple will adopt those sooner than later. They would do this just becuase Dell, HP et al. will almost certainly implement 64 bit systems for high end users, based on either AMD or Intel chips.

If I'm right, the consequence for users is that the transition will involve 3-4 steps. The first appears to be software that runs with Rosetta (i.e., emmulation rather than native) and the second step will be software that runs natively on 32 bit dual core Intel chips. Adobe may get to this point about the time Intel releases 64 bit dual core CPU's. The final step will be 64 bit dual core chips and software that runs natively on it. Looking at Intel's previous struggles with new chips, I guess that it could easily be 1-2 years to get to this point. When will Adobe PS be ready?

So the question is what to do now? I tend to view computers as tools. I personally don't like to spend time struggling to make them work, either with software or peripherals. With that bias, I'd be inclined to purchase something like the dual core 2.3GHz G5 system. It seems highly unlikely to me that you won't be able to get a good 4 years of use from this system. I have a dual 2 GHz system with 3.5 GB of ram, and use PS with scans of 4x5 film (150 GB files in 24 bit color at 1800 ppi, no layers; 300 GB in 48 bit color). This is far from a top of the line Mac, and yet I've never felt that it was slow.

Like I said, I don't know Apple's game plan. This just seems to be a way to get the job done.

Best wishes,
Bruce

quote:

scans of 4x5 film (150 GB files in 24 bit color at 1800 ppi, no layers; 300 GB in 48 bit color)

Bruce,

I think you meant to say MB and not GB?

Hello All,

Thanks for these great responses.

So, it sounds like perhaps the new iMac with the Dual Core chip isn't worth it for me at the moment? Could I be looking at some glitch nightmares with PS CS2 if I take that route?

Originally the plan was for a dual processor G5 tower, but the price on the iMac is a lot nicer, and anything would be fatser than what I have right now.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Would I be better off getting an older iMac without the new chip?

Or will the issues with the new chip and PS CS2 not really effect me?

Or maybe I should just get a G5 Tower?

Please help!

Gracias.

S.

Of course another option would be to put in a 1.6gHz processor upgrade for about $250 and hold off for a while for some dust to settle ...

The Power Mac G5 2.7 Dual w/1 GB free memory is is down to $2,799. Now that the Quad is out, it may go a few hundred dollars lower. Wait a little and see if you can snag one really cheap before they are sold out.

mmc,

I can put a new processor in my old G4, and maybe upgrade to the latest version of OSX?

Of course, if I did that my scanner would no longer work with the G4.

And, unfortunately, I'd rather keep the spending to $2K, plus what a couple of external HD's set me back.

I can get a 20" iMac with the Dual Core chip and 2GB of RAM for $2K.

That would be my ideal buy right now. I'm just concerned that the CS2 issues with the new chip, and this talk about Rosetta and 64 bit vs 32 bit (all of which is Greek to me).

However, it also sounds like whenever CS3 comes down the pike I'd be sitting pretty with the new iMac.

Obviously, I'd rather have a tower, but that means higher prices and the added cost of a new monitor, which makes the iMac look mightly attractive.

Thanks to all for your feedback.

Saludos.

Steve,

I think the biggest limitation with the iMac is the 2GB RAM max, and no PCI card ability along with the FW400 only, isn't great either. I think I'd opt for a G5 tower if you can.

And I'd probably shy away from Apple RAM just due to the price. Crucial makes good RAM. It's not the cheapest, but it's supposedly top shelf. I've typically have bought mine via ramseeker.com from either Data Memory Systems or 1-800-4-MEMORY. I'm sure others will poo-poo this suggestion as it's not always the best stuff. But if it fails they replace it. I've had that too!

I looked up RAM in Quicken to see where I've gotten it from and noticed the following prices:

03/1994 - 8MB - $306 Peripheral Outlet
11/1995 - 8MB - $382 MacMall
05/1996 - 32MB - $652 MacMall
08/1997 - 32MB - $129 Mac Warehouse
11/1998 - 64MB - $100 MacMall
02/2000 - 256MB - $252 DMS
01/2001 - 512MB - $298 Coast Memory
04/2002 - 512MB - $106 DMS

Of course these are for different Macs along the way, but the trip down memory lane is a fun one!

And let's not forget the G4 400Mhz I had too - 10GB HD, 64MB RAM, DVD-RAM (remember that weird drive?), zip, and SCSI card, drum roll please.... all for the low price of $2190. Yikes!


Aloha,
jMac

''I can put a new processor in my old G4, and maybe upgrade to the latest version of OSX?

Of course, if I did that my scanner would no longer work with the G4.''

The latest works on the Intel. W/o knowing all your current hardware it's hard to say what would/would not work. Proper installation should allow use of Tiger as well as 9.2. If there is concern about the scanner by doing this it may well have 'issues' on a new G5 as well.

As others have posted you'd probably/may be limited with the imac so I tought this may hold you over a while till the bank is a bit more agreeable....

I'd stay away from the new intel macs until things have settle and they've proven themselves. There's so many what-ifs still surrounding these things and buying one seems to me at least, to be throwing money in the garbage can if you are intending to rely upon it for your business. Not to mention it's the first iteration of new line and it seems there's always been a few problems with the first of anything apple has released. I'd get a G5 tower and go with that. You know it works smooth and can handle the workload no problem and by the time it needs to be replaced the intel transition will hopefully be finished and you can transition then.

John. I just bought a logic board for my old beige G3 266 that's been under my side table for five years. When it went bad back then, they told me a new logic board was $800. The one I bought on Ebay was $5.00. Yes, that's five dollars. I figured for that price, it would be worth the fun of getting it running again, even if I really don't end up using it for anything. :-) I think it has 768MB of RAM it it! OS 8 here I come!