Buying my 1st Mac!

[JFreak]

first of all, if you're buying a system for learning macintosh, don't buy a monitor - just plug your existing pc monitor to the mac you are going to buy. if you don't fall in love with apple monitor design, there just isn't a valid reason to buy used CRT monitor, if it isn't dirt cheap ($50 max).

second, osx runs fine on G3@350MHz if you install at least 512MB ram. even if someone says it will be slow, it's still completely usable and fast enough for the learning process. you can watch dvd:s too, but you might have a problem with the iMovie... i got a cheap iMac with those specs and replaced its hard drive with a current (=fast) 80GB model, and the system is pretty snappy even with photoshop work.

so what i'm trying to say buy whatever you can get cheap enough, and think about what upgrades are worth it. memory? if you already have 512MB, then there's no reason to buy more. hard drive? if it's slow one, buying a faster drive will give a nice speed bump. cpu? come on, this is a system for learning macintosh. no reason to upgrade cpu, and let me say this: cpu upgrades are very expensive and can break your computer.

bottom line: buy a cheap mac and upgrade what is necessary. use it, use it, use it - until you have learned enough to buy a new system 🙂 after that, you can donate your old system for someone else who might want to learn the macintosh way...

 

[GameGuru]

Yeah I actually have a few PC monitors I could use. If I was to pick up a PowerMac G4 500 (sawtooth) what would my CPU upgrade choices be?

 

[JFreak]

your best choice would be not to upgrade the cpu at all - you are after all only learning the system 😉 when you know how much power you would need, then it's time to buy a new computer anyway. at least i'd suggest you save your money and leave the cpu as it is.

however, if you really have to do it, i guess you can go all the way to dual 1.42 or whatever those upgrade firms have available. beware though, it can ruin your system and it will cost a lot anyway.

 

[Macs R Us]

No I don't want dual processors, single is fine...

Thats a good system... I would say there no need for dual processors if you not doing graphincs.

 

[Björn]

Upgrading an old mac will turn out quite expensive. My local MacWorld tried this about a year ago. New CPU, new graphic card (OS X need a 16 MB graphic card to benefit quartz extreme, which will relieve the CPU), new disc etc ended up with a pricetag almost equal to a new Mac. Still it will not at all be competitive with the iMac G5 in performance, since the G5 is altogether a totally different and much better architecture. The options and prices for upgrading Macs are, unfortunately, not as good as for PCs.

 

[tateusmaximus]

ive noticed that macs dont seem to need the heavy duty graphics cards that often are found in PCs like the X800XT. for example doesnt the basic G5 powermac ($3000 computer) come with a $80 graphics card? (all in AUD$)

i can only guess that the OS relies more on the processor in a mac to do what the graphics card does in a PC (to an extent).

 

[Flynnstone]

ive noticed that macs dont seem to need the heavy duty graphics cards that often are found in PCs like the X800XT.

i can only guess that the OS relies more on the processor in a mac to do what the graphics card does in a PC (to an extent).

A Power Mac can come with a 9800XT.
These high end graphics cards are for 3D graphics. For 2D, which is what used most of the time, the cards are much closer in performance.

On the second item, you got it backwards. OS X uses the features of the cards more than Windows. Windows is pretty much 2D only. the Windows games use the 3D. OS X uses the graphics cards for speeding up the user interface. A while back, when Apple didn't have a source of higher performance CPUs, performance was a problem. Since the GPU can crunch numbers a whole lot faster than the CPU, Apple decided to use the GPU to speed p the UI. Brilliant move in my opinion.

 

[Flynnstone]

Here is my opinion. I am a recent switcher.
Get a reasonable Mac at low cost, so you can get yout feet wet.
Don't plan on upgrading the machine ! Other than RAM perhaps.
Then at a later date, sell that machine and buy what you think is more appropriate. A Mac is a more intergrated system. Its not like you can simply change the motherboard of a B&W G3 and drop in a G5.
I have old Bondi Blue iMacs running Panther. Slow but useful.

Once you determine that OS X is for you, that new G5 iMac looks like a reasonable good deal. I am using a PowerMac Dual processor G4 867 to reply, its a very decent machine.

Some other notes of comparison with PCs.
I think OS X does a much better job of utilizing dual processors than Windows.
I recently bought a new P4 3 GHz for work. Blazingly fast, but ... because of Windows Insecurities, I always install Norton Antivirus. That slowed that puppy right down! So in effect, my P4 2.26 Ghz at home is less speedy than my 1.8 Ghz G5 Power Mac at home.

just my 2 cents

 

[superfunkomatic]

Ok I have been a PC user for years and will continue to use PCs but I also want to dabble a bit in Macs. I have been checking out iMacs on ebay and have bid on a few (the older G3 ones up to 600MHz) but then I came across this deal and was wondering how upgradeable this system will be and if it is a good 1st Mac.

G3 400MHz Blue & White & 17" Monitor

It includes the monitor too so I thought it sounded like a good deal. Anyone know about this company also? Any help would be great!

this is a fantastic computer, if you're just dabbling. it'll run all the current apps, supports 1.5 GB of ram, can have an additional harddrive attached, firewire, etc. it'll run 10.3.x no problem, load it with ram. you can always upgrade components as you see fit - video cards, drives, even the processor to a G4.

it's not a rocket, but it's fast enough to use as a main computer without any issues. good luck.

 

[Coca-Cola]

iBook

I think you need a laptop to go with those two PC's. Get the basic iBook maybe last generation g4 model? You will love it. I think a G3 would be a waste of money. Especially if you feel the need to buy any extra software that you may get for free with a new mac. Software like Quicken, Worldbook, and other goodies. I think you would have to buy Mac OS X and iLife to go with the G3. That is about 200.00. So you will end up spending 500.00. If you plan on upgrading the ram which you will need to, you will have to spend another 150.00. So you will end up spending 650.00 dollars on a very low end mac. I think you should treat yourself to something really fun with your cash. Get an iBook, iMac g5, or eMac.