G4 or G5-not sure which would suit needs

P

PieMac

macrumors 6502a

Original poster

Oct 3, 2002

769

29

• Aug 11, 2003

• #1

I am going to be upgrading from my iBook to either the G4 or the G5. I want to invest enought money in my purchase to cover my needs for at least the next 2 or 3 years but I also don't want to break the bank.

I will be doing some web design, home video editing and DVD burning, photoshop and the usual stuff...surfing the net, e-mail, music, multitasking, etc.

I was gearing for the 17" Powerbook but then I realized that for about the same price I could get a G4 or G5 with the 20" cinema display.

I was thinking between the low end G5 and one of the G4 models, but I'm not sure which G4 model would most adequately suit my needs.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

nospleen

macrumors 68030

Dec 8, 2002

2,719

1,560

Texas

• Aug 11, 2003

• #2

I think the dual 1.25 would more than fit your needs. You can get one for around 1500 brand new, and you can add a super drive for around 160. If you can wait a couple weeks, I would wait to see the real world tests on the G5. If the G5 1.6 is faster than the dual 1.25, I would spend the extra cash on the G5.

 

MacUser1

macrumors 6502

Aug 23, 2001

335

2

New York, NY

• Aug 11, 2003

• #3

G5

personally, i would try to purchase the higest end mac that i could afford without breaking the bank. that way, through the years your G5 will still have a lot of life left, especially compared to a G4

 

P

PieMac

macrumors 6502a

Original poster

Oct 3, 2002

769

29

• Aug 11, 2003

• #4

Re: G5

Originally posted by MacUser1
personally, i would try to purchase the higest end mac that i could afford without breaking the bank. that way, through the years your G5 will still have a lot of life left, especially compared to a G4

Click to expand...

That's just it...I can't help but feel like I would be moving backward if I went with the G4 now that the G5's are out.
I'm also wondering if the prices will drop on the G4's once the G5's start shipping.

 

Daveman Deluxe

macrumors 68000

Jun 17, 2003

1,555

1

Corvallis, Oregon

• Aug 11, 2003

• #5

I propose my patented test:

Go to the computer store and find the G4 setup you would buy. Then find the G5 setup you would buy (or a picture of it). Then set a pile of five $100 bills next to the G4 and buy whichever calls out to you.

In your position, I would personally buy a G5 1.6. In either case, consider getting Final Cut Express--I think it's only $99 right now.

 

rainman::|:|

macrumors 603

Feb 2, 2002

5,438

2

iowa

• Aug 11, 2003

• #6

Assuming you'll never want to do anything else, or more intensive, than what you do now, and you never want to sell it to recover some money, and you're not worried about how long it will continue to be supported by Apple, by all means go G4. If you'd like something that has a long lifespan ahead of it, will be able to handle new tasks with ease, and will maintain high resale value, go G5.

The architecture difference between generations of chips here makes the lowest G5 loads better than the highest G4... at least to me...

pnw

 

P

PieMac

macrumors 6502a

Original poster

Oct 3, 2002

769

29

• Aug 11, 2003

• #7

Originally posted by paulwhannel
Assuming you'll never want to do anything else, or more intensive, than what you do now, and you never want to sell it to recover some money, and you're not worried about how long it will continue to be supported by Apple, by all means go G4. If you'd like something that has a long lifespan ahead of it, will be able to handle new tasks with ease, and will maintain high resale value, go G5.

The architecture difference between generations of chips here makes the lowest G5 loads better than the highest G4... at least to me...

pnw

Click to expand...

Good points and I am leaning more and more towards the G5...which leads to another decision...the 1.6 or the 1.8...*sigh* Never ends, does it?!

 

K

kenkooler

macrumors regular

Jan 2, 2002

195

0

Mexico City

• Aug 11, 2003

• #8

Originally posted by PieMac
Good points and I am leaning more and more towards the G5...which leads to another decision...the 1.6 or the 1.8...*sigh* Never ends, does it?!

Click to expand...

I would go with the 1.8, it has twice the hd (80 vs 160gb) and twice the ram (256 vs 512) and much faster pci-x slots for expansion (133mhz vs 33 mhz).