Future Mac user needs help deciding

[richali1327]

First off I can't wait to get rid of this buggy, flawed, and flat out boring OS we all know as windows. I've been bitten by the mac bug and I'm happily switching over to mac after too many years on a windows machine. The first part of my question is regarding the new Intel iMacs. After FC goes universal will this system be powerful enough to handle medium to heavy sized video projects(such as wedding or promotional videos)? I was also contemplating just buying a refurbished generation C powermac but I'm not sure I can afford to drop another 800 bucks to pick up an apple display. I just figured I could use the iMac for the next year or so and then possibly upgrade to the new intel versions of the Powermac when they came out. Another guestion I had is how do iMacs handle 3d animation programs such as After effects(in relation to a Powermac that is....now I know Powermacs can probably wipe the floor clean with an iMac, but will it drag that much more behind a middle of the road Powermac?) I have a million other questions I could ask but I think I'll leave it at that for now. I appreciate any helpful advice you could offer.

 

[iEdd]

A dual core 2.0Ghz 20" iMac with 2GB RAM and 256MB VRAM could handle any native task you throw at it. And at lightning speeds. You might want to wait for the software you require(if it's intensive) to be universal before opening your wallet though.

 

[Chundles]

A dual core 2.0Ghz 20" iMac with 2GB RAM and 256MB VRAM could handle any native task you throw at it. And at lightning speeds. You might want to wait for the software you require(if it's intensive) to be universal before opening your wallet though.

I dunno about that, FCP could really tax the Core Duo processor.

The PowerMac could be cool too, you don't need an Apple display, PowerMacs (in fact all current Macs) will work with any DVI or VGA display, (iBook = VGA only).

I'd hang off until FCP goes Intel native within I suppose the next 4 to 6 weeks and then see how well the tests go.

 

[Abstract]

After FC goes universal will this system be powerful enough to handle medium to heavy sized video projects(such as wedding or promotional videos)?

It's impossible to answer, but yes, most likely. And if you think that an Intel Core Duo computer using Windows could do this sort of work quickly, then yes, a Mac could as well.

What type of PC do you have now? Did your old Pentium IV do the job at an adequate speed? I don't know how else to give you an idea of what to expect. All I can say is that the Macs are fast, and probably fast enough to run FCP when it goes Intel since the Core Duo chip in the new iMac has been proven to work at comparable speeds to a dual proc 2.0GHz G5 PowerMac.

But again, how quickly FCP univeral will work on an extremely fresh Intel Mac is very difficult to say.