My first mac...g5 or powerbook

[bmwdmb1]

I am in a real delema here...i am about to buy my first mac :D but i can't decide what to get. My choices would be either a 1.6GHz or maybe dual 1.8GHz g5 or a 1.33 GHz powerbook g4. The main apps i use are photoshop, illustrator, dreamweaver, in design, and all the normal stuff like web, music, etc. My question basically is would i really notice THAT much of a difference between the g5 and the powerbook for what i do? Also do you think that the powerbooks are able to function well enough to be your main desktop system?

Thanks so much

[Sun Baked]

Do you want portability or expandability?

As long as you drop the SP 1.6 G5 from your choices, the biggest thing the G5 gives you besides finishing stuff a bit faster is expandability, dual monitor (or more), and MEMORY.

For some that work on large pictures, the ability for the machine to have more memory is a blessing.

Since all the machines can be expanded externally equally.

[eclipse525]

I agree...do you need the expandability OR portability?

If portability isn't a major issue, I would go with the G5 tower. The only thing to keep in mind is that, this beast they call a G5 is amazingly fast BUT you'll need to invest in some RAM. I would say start with 2gigs and if you'd like to increase, do it in pairs (2, 4, 6, 8). I would buy it with what it has and then buy the RAM from a place like www.CRUCIAL.com. They have great RAM and way cheaper than Apple. That's my 2 cents.

~e

[thirteen1031]

The main apps i use are photoshop, illustrator, dreamweaver, in design, and all the normal stuff like web, music, etc. My question basically is would i really notice THAT much of a difference between the g5 and the powerbook for what i do?

Well, yes and no on noticing a difference. If you're using photoshop, etc. seriously--I mean, it's your job, your business and you're doing it 7 days a week, and you've got deadlines to meet--a resounding "yes!" That G5 is going to noticably be faster and better for that.

If, however, you're just a photoshop hobbiest--it's your pleasure not your business, there's no deadlines and you're not going to go into computer animation for a living (so no homework due) then you might as well go for the Powerbook.

Yes, the pb is more expensive and not as powerful. But the lighter power won't make a difference given what you're doing. The portablity, on the other hand, will make a big difference under those circumstances. Being able to fool with photos while lazing around in bed or eating breakfast is a wonderful thing. Being able to watch a DVD or create music on a bus or plane is a delight. And being able to drop in at hotspots to surf the internet while drinking down a latte, priceless :D In short, if this computer is very much for multitasking, then you probably want a powerbook. It will do the job AND free you from that desk.

I'm not saying the powerbook can't handle serious photoshop/illustrator work, by the by. I'm just saying that if you're very heavily into those, there will be a difference. The desktop G5 will be faster and, if you're on a deadline, then that becomes more important than the joys of portability.

P.S. If you haven't already, go to a Mac Store and play on both. We can advise you and answer questions, but in the end, both computers are wonderful, high-end machines. Ultimately, only you can decide which is best for you--which, in short, you really, really, really want and must have. Dont' rely on us. Take them both for a spin and see which one calls to you.

[revenuee]

Well i have a G4 400 Powermac and i recently aquired a G3 333 powerbook, and i must say for my photoshop work i use the G3 much more because as a hobbiest, even though it is slower, i get way more pleasure doing it because i can do anywhere -- sometimes i like to throw it into a back pack, and drive down to a waterfront park, pull up near the water, take the seat back, throw open my Powerbook and do a little work while enjoying the view

I laptops

[absolut_mac]

My question basically is would i really notice THAT much of a difference between the g5 and the powerbook for what i do?

Regardless of whether you buy a PC or a Mac, there's a large difference in speed between them. Obviously how much of a difference depends on what - and how many - apps you're running.

Lap-tops offer the convenience of mobility, but as one wise sage said "There ain't no free lunch!"

Lap-tops have built in compromises in order to reduce heat and extend battery life, the downside is that these compromises also slow it down. How much, and how important it is to you only you can say. Best to go to a store and compare the two side by side.

My friend has a Sony Vaio 2.8Gig lap-top and a home built comp with a 2.8Gig Pentium4, he said regardless of which apps he's running, when he hits the *enter* buttons simultaneously, the lap-top always lags the desk top. The differences should even be bigger for the dual processor Macs.

[aussie_geek]

I am in a real delema here...i am about to buy my first mac :D but i can't decide what to get. My choices would be either a 1.6GHz or maybe dual 1.8GHz g5 or a 1.33 GHz powerbook g4. The main apps i use are photoshop, illustrator, dreamweaver, in design, and all the normal stuff like web, music, etc. My question basically is would i really notice THAT much of a difference between the g5 and the powerbook for what i do? Also do you think that the powerbooks are able to function well enough to be your main desktop system?

Thanks so much

I would be putting off your selection for a little while so you can see what advances are comming round the corner with the G5's. It has been rumoured that there will be updates soon. You wouldn't want to buy a new G5 now and in a month there would be an update and a price drop.

As for the Powerbooks buy one if you want some portability. They will be able to run your apps quite well and let you sit on the lounge while doing it!! They have been recently updated so now would be the best time to buy.

Just remember to put in some additonal RAM...

aussie_geek

[Steven1621]

i think the G5 might be the better bet for what you are doing. as powerful as the PB's are, the G5 is the way of the future. they are also better for what you are doing.

[denm316]

I have a 1.8GHz G5 and just ordered a 12 inch PowerBook, I would say get the powerbook. I love my G5 and it is nice and fast, however I just love the mobility more which led me to biting the bullet and ordering a powerbook.

[Chaszmyr]

Everyone keeps talking about how the G5 isn't that much slower than the PowerBook... I know the new PowerBooks are faster, and I do have the fastest G5, but I have a dual 2ghz G5 and a 1ghz PowerBook, and the PowerBook seems pretty slow. I'd go with the dual 1.8 G5.

[Capt Underpants]

Everyone keeps talking about how the G5 isn't that much slower than the PowerBook... I know the new PowerBooks are faster, and I do have the fastest G5, but I have a dual 2ghz G5 and a 1ghz PowerBook, and the PowerBook seems pretty slow. I'd go with the dual 1.8 G5.

Yes, when comparing a dual G5 with a single G4 (in a notebook enclosure), the G5 will be bunches and bunches ahead. However, when comparing a single G5 with a single G4, there is less of a difference. There is still a difference, but it certainly isn't as much as comparing the PB to a dualie.

If I were you, I'd try and stretch for a dual G5. If you can't get a dualie, then I'd get the powerbook. Portablilty is just so cool. I've enjoyed using my computer more since I bought a laptop. I can surf wirelessly, or plug it into an external monitor, and it will act as a desktop (although not quite as fast as one).

I am biased, though (see sig).

[Capt Underpants]

Regardless of whether you buy a PC or a Mac, there's a large difference in speed between them.

What does a PC and a mac have anything do do with this thread. Isn't he trying to decide between a mac and a mac (powerbook or powermc)? :confused:

[bmwdmb1]

hmmm...after thinking it over i just can't see giving up portability, so i think i may be leaning toward the powerbook g4...now the question is 15" 1.33GHz or 15" 1.5GHz...again is there a large difference between these two? :confused:

all the help is greatly appriciated, thank you again :)

[Dont Hurt Me]

just get the best video. 9700

[JOD8FY]

Here's what you should get.

15"
1.5 Ghz
Backlit keyboard (comes standard on this model)
Largest (and fastest) HD
128 MB Graphics
DON'T upgrade the RAM

Upgrade the RAM at www.crucial.com and install it yourself. It's very simple - just look in your manual when you get it.

These specs should put you in power range of a 1.6 G5. It should be perfect for what you want to do.

Best wishes :),
JOD8FY

[bmwdmb1]

well after thinking some more i have figured i would probly get either a 1.33GHz with an extra 1GB stick of ram for a total of 1.25GB or a 1.5GHz with stock ram. Would i the extra 1GB of ram bring better performence then the faster processor?

Sorry for all the questions, but i am quit new to the mac world, but i hope to enjoy my stay :D ;)

thanks

[JOD8FY]

Sorry for all the questions

No problem.

I just checked and the stock RAM on the 15" 1.5Ghz is 512MB. I'd still go with that. The faster processor will make up for any lost RAM, but like I said, you could pick up another 512 stick at crucial for just over $100.

Go with the 15" :) .

JOD8FY

[Sun Baked]

No problem.

I just checked and the stock RAM on the 15" 1.5Ghz is 512MB. I'd still go with that. The faster processor will make up for any lost RAM, but like I said, you could pick up another 512 stick at crucial for just over $100.

Go with the 15" :) .

JOD8FYExtra MHz does not make up for lost RAM.

When you don't have enough RAM you need to use the drive -- at 50MB/s.

When you have 'enough' RAM -- it's accessed by a G4 (166MHz FSB) at about 1000MB/s.

Usually simple MHz don't make up that big a gap, which was one reason the G5s fared so poorly in benchmarks when they used stock RAM amounts -- and how adding memory made a BIG boost in benchmarks.

---

A faster CPU on a 166MHz bus will give you bragging rights. Which is sometimes more important. :p

[JOD8FY]

Extra MHz does not make up for lost RAM.

When you don't have enough RAM you need to use the drive -- at 50MB/s.

When you have 'enough' RAM -- it's accessed by a G4 (166MHz FSB) at about 1000MB/s.

Usually simple MHz don't make up that big a gap, which was one reason the G5s fared so poorly in benchmarks when they used stock RAM amounts -- and how adding memory made a BIG boost in benchmarks.

---

A faster CPU on a 166MHz bus will give you bragging rights. Which is sometimes more important. :p


Thanks for the info, I didn't know that :). I guess the only other reason to go with the 15" then is that it's a 15" screen and more portable than a 17". But, if it won't move around too much, then get the 17".

Thanks again (learn something new everyday!)
JOD8FY

[faustfire]

I really wish apple would offer a two button option on their laptops. One button mice are fine on a desktop because they are easily replaced, but there is no replacing the buttons on a laptop. When is apple going to get over this stupid notion of a one button mouse. All pro apps have second button options and apple shouldnt expect you to hit control+click to access them while working on a "pro" level laptop (powerbooks)! This may seem like a small inconvienence but I edit video for a living and the lack of a two button option is all thats holding my back from buying a powerbook. I dont want to have to plug a mouse in everytime i want to use my powerbook, it kind of defeats the purpose. Well, theres my rant for the day. :)

[furrina]

no plug. Problem solved. Don't they make 2 button mac compatible wireless mousies? I never liked laptop trackpad/click setups anyway.

[bmwdmb1]

hmmm...still debating between the 1.33 and 1.5 PB's :)

[slooksterPSV]

I'm just putting in my 2 cents. If you go on the road and want to do Illustrator and Photoshop stuff and that then go with the PowerBook. The G5 is just as it is, a desktop system (or can be run as a snazzy file server, but get G3 for small servers lol). Laptops may be used as a main desktop system, thats why they have USB ports, so you can hook up a mouse and keyboard to it. If you do buy a G5 you have to buy a monitor for it too, unless you get a converter or have a DVI connector. The single 1.6GHz processor for the G5 is $1,799.99, 1.8 Dual is $2,499 - The 15" PowerBook is 1.5 GHz single G4 Processor is the same price as the 1.8 Dual $2,499.99. If you go with the PowerBook you'll miss out on 64-bit processing (which they need to get some apps out for). But with the G5 you'll be missing out on extreme portability to take your computer anywhere. Honestly, I'm going to try and save up and buy an iBook. I do want to do somethings with 3D and that, but I don't want to go out and buy another monitor for another computer (for the Mac) and we don't have the space for another desktop. Like I said, thats my 2 cents. You make your own decision. Good Job for going with mac though. Congrats!

[oingoboingo]

Yes, when comparing a dual G5 with a single G4 (in a notebook enclosure), the G5 will be bunches and bunches ahead. However, when comparing a single G5 with a single G4, there is less of a difference. There is still a difference, but it certainly isn't as much as comparing the PB to a dualie.

Yes and no. Obviously a single CPU G5 isn't going to be as fast as a duallie, but the difference between my G5 and my 12" PowerBook is night and day. You definitely notice the difference. Apart from the faster CPU, bus and memory system, you've also got a 7200rpm SATA hard drive and a full-spec AGP 8x graphics card (not a watered down 'Mobility' version).

If you can afford it, for sure...go for a dual processor G5. But the single CPU G5 isn't the retarded stepchild that the Mac community seems to (for some unknown reason) make it out to be. Check out www.xlr8yourmac.com. There's a link within the past few days to a fresh set of benchmarks comparing the G5s to the G4 PowerMacs. The single 1.6GHz G5 beats the dual 1.25GHz G4 PowerMac in almost every test they throw at it.

[johnnyjibbs]

Extra MHz does not make up for lost RAM.

When you don't have enough RAM you need to use the drive -- at 50MB/s.

When you have 'enough' RAM -- it's accessed by a G4 (166MHz FSB) at about 1000MB/s.

Usually simple MHz don't make up that big a gap, which was one reason the G5s fared so poorly in benchmarks when they used stock RAM amounts -- and how adding memory made a BIG boost in benchmarks.

---

A faster CPU on a 166MHz bus will give you bragging rights. Which is sometimes more important. :p
Yes, it's much better to get extra RAM but that can always be got later (and for far cheaer outside of Apple).

I think more MHz is more important on the initial decision because that can't be upgraded later on. I think it's much wiser to get the 1.5GHz 15" than the 1.33 (sans-backlit keyboard) 15" with extra RAM. It sounds like he was going to get the poorer model with expensive Apple RAM, so IMO this was not so good advice.

[Ozi]

my brand new 15" is truly beautiful, so I am a bit biased... :)

But when you get the 1.5 15", you get heaps of screen, so I would certainly recommend the 15" over a 12".

As for Processor, there isnt a huge difference in performance (maybe 10% faster on 1.5 over 1.33) but the 1.5 comes with built in backlit keyboard. And that is majorly cool.

To upgrade the combo to superdrive, and add a backlit keyboard to a 1.33 makes it almost as expensive as the stock 1.5, so I would definately say 1.5Ghz 15" pBook is the one for you.

And then buy AS MUCH RAM as you can afford; you can never have enough RAM! :D

~ozi

[bexpert]

Extra MHz does not make up for lost RAM.

When you don't have enough RAM you need to use the drive -- at 50MB/s.

When you have 'enough' RAM -- it's accessed by a G4 (166MHz FSB) at about 1000MB/s.



This is very interesting. Is there any mathematical way to find out how much RAM is 'enough'?

I have a G3 iBook 600 with 256MB. On the one hand, I figure that this pokey processor won't make much use of any more RAM. On the other hand, I figure it could use all the help it could get. (I use it mostly for word processing and occassionally for audio and video editing).

So, how does one figure how much is optimal? And how much is too much? I know, I know, there's no such thing as too much--a lie. There is. Too much RAM is too little money in my bank.

Thanks,

Adam.

So

[johnnyjibbs]

This is very interesting. Is there any mathematical way to find out how much RAM is 'enough'?

I have a G3 iBook 600 with 256MB. On the one hand, I figure that this pokey processor won't make much use of any more RAM. On the other hand, I figure it could use all the help it could get. (I use it mostly for word processing and occassionally for audio and video editing).

So, how does one figure how much is optimal? And how much is too much? I know, I know, there's no such thing as too much--a lie. There is. Too much RAM is too little money in my bank.

Thanks,

Adam.

So
Actually, OS X uses all of the available RAM on your machine, whether that be 256MB or 4GB. However, if you're only doing word processing, or one thing at a time, it won't really make much difference to you. You'll notice the difference of more RAM when you start to have several things open. 256MB was alright for me for 3 months. Now I have 768 and it's much better when I have MSN, iChat, Mail, Safari, Word, iTunes open plus maybe the odd powerapp.

If you don't have enough RAM, the OS uses the hard disc as RAM, but since this is much slower, it is a bottleneck. When you have more RAM, it can cache lots more stuff into RAM, especially when lots of programs are open. The actual optimum RAM you need is dependant on your system, although the more you have, the better (however for example, 4GB of RAM, if that were possible in my PowerBook 12", would not really benefit me for my uses).

[Rod Rod]

bmwdmb1, if you're going with the 15" PowerBook I'd advise that the only RAM you order from Apple is the single 512MB module option. the stock configuration gives you 2x256MB modules, so if you go stock on the RAM and spent $100-130 on a single 512 (Crucial or other brand) stick your total would become 768MB, a net gain of just 256MB. the extra 256MB stick would become useless to you.

the price difference between the 1.33GHz 15" and the 1.5GHz 15" is $100 when you make all things equal (configure a backlit keyboard in the 1.33GHz, and add a superdrive to the 1.33GHz or downgrade to a combo drive in the 1.5GHz). the price difference between the 1.5GHz 15" and the 17" PowerBook is $100. upgrading to the 128MB video card is only possible in the 1.5GHz 15" and 17" PBs (there's no such option with the 1.33GHz one).

I have a 1.8GHz G5 single and a 12" 1.33GHz PowerBook (both with 512MB RAM; the G5 goes to 1GB today or tomorrow), and the G5 smokes the PB. of course I can't take the G5 with me all over the place and use the free wireless internet spots I've found. but creating movies and DVDs would relatively be such a pain if I only had my PowerBook and not my G5.

because it'll be your first Mac, you really can't go wrong. if you plan to do more high-end and intense work (and games), the G5 is the way to go.

[alexf]

If you're looking for something to use at home, I would go with the G5 1.6 GHz, especially since you can get good deals on them now in the Apple Store Specials section.

I have a G5 1.6 GHz and an 800 MHz TiBook and the speed difference between them is incredible. Of course the new Powerbooks are faster than mine, but even then I am sure there is a huge speed difference between the G5 and G4 processor (plus laptops are always a bit slower for other reasons).

My only complaint is that the G5 is huge; but if you have space in your office, this doesn't really matter.