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G5 only 2 Drive Bays?
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Yeah, 500 gigs might be a little small when the script kiddies get around to ripping HD DVDs, or whatever they call the new video disc technology. Seriously though, if your dad needs more than 500 gigs, it sounds like he is editting uncompressed video. In that case it might even be a requirement to use a solution like the Xraid.
There are other reasons why you would want more bays.
For example: I could just put my old computer's HDDs in the new tower. (But, Apple has not left enough room to allow a PATA=>SATA converter to be fitted to the drive, so that option is pretty much out anyway.)
It is not cost-effective to buy 250GB SATA drives now, as they are too expensive per GB. 80GB or 120GB drives offer the best price per GB. So if I upgrade with another 120GB now, I'll not have room to upgrade with a 300GB drive when they are the cheapest per GB (in 2-3 years).
With a G4, I could do both these things.
For example: I could just put my old computer's HDDs in the new tower. (But, Apple has not left enough room to allow a PATA=>SATA converter to be fitted to the drive, so that option is pretty much out anyway.)
It is not cost-effective to buy 250GB SATA drives now, as they are too expensive per GB. 80GB or 120GB drives offer the best price per GB. So if I upgrade with another 120GB now, I'll not have room to upgrade with a 300GB drive when they are the cheapest per GB (in 2-3 years).
With a G4, I could do both these things.
-AngryAngel
Very true. But if you may recall, RAM and HD's were just as, if not more expensive (expecially adjusted for inflation) when the G4 was introduced.
This is the price (literally) we pay for LAGS (Latest-And-Greatest Syndrome).
When any of the G4's were introduced, they were compatible with older HD's, so easy to bring old data onto the new machine and have some extra storage.
Patrick, the point I was making was that if I had upgraded (for example) a G4 866MHz with a 60GB drive (cheapest per GB at the time), it would still have space for a 120GB drive now. And a 300GB drive in two years' time when that is the cheapest per GB.
If I do a reasonably-priced HD upgrade on purchasing a G5, I will have no more bays free in the future.
That fact that huge HD are available now doesn't mean we should just accept that Apple doesn't have an expandable pro-desktop case.
There have always been HDDs of a size that you could have said were huge (like the 250/300GB drives today), but before there have pretty much always been more than two internal bays.
We pay a large premium on Apple hardware (compare 1.6GHz G5 with a P4 3.0GHz) and we have no alternative manufacturers to choose from. Having the pro case with only one optical drive and only two HD bays that don't accept even older drives (because the P->S ATA converters don't fit) isn't a brilliant situation.
Anyway, I know this is the price I pay for being a Mac user. Apple can only fund it's innovation through high hardware pricing.
The G5 case is revolutionary and a design leap, but it would have been a greater one if it had not made compromises in expandability.
-Ben
(awaiting a 1.6GHz G5 with combo-drive, no modem, 9600 pro, 1.25GB RAM and 17" NEC 1760 LCD)
Patrick, the point I was making was that if I had upgraded (for example) a G4 866MHz with a 60GB drive (cheapest per GB at the time), it would still have space for a 120GB drive now. And a 300GB drive in two years' time when that is the cheapest per GB.
If I do a reasonably-priced HD upgrade on purchasing a G5, I will have no more bays free in the future.
That fact that huge HD are available now doesn't mean we should just accept that Apple doesn't have an expandable pro-desktop case.
There have always been HDDs of a size that you could have said were huge (like the 250/300GB drives today), but before there have pretty much always been more than two internal bays.
We pay a large premium on Apple hardware (compare 1.6GHz G5 with a P4 3.0GHz) and we have no alternative manufacturers to choose from. Having the pro case with only one optical drive and only two HD bays that don't accept even older drives (because the P->S ATA converters don't fit) isn't a brilliant situation.
Anyway, I know this is the price I pay for being a Mac user. Apple can only fund it's innovation through high hardware pricing.
The G5 case is revolutionary and a design leap, but it would have been a greater one if it had not made compromises in expandability.
-Ben
(awaiting a 1.6GHz G5 with combo-drive, no modem, 9600 pro, 1.25GB RAM and 17" NEC 1760 LCD)
So what. You had one opportunity to upgrade your drive. You premise seems to be based on what's economically advantageous to you. Apple must consider their own needs as well.
It is expandable. Apple needn't be hampered by supporting your legacy equipment. They are damnded if they do damned if they don't.
Just compared :
Dell Dimension 8300
256MB RAM
80GB HD
P4 3.0Ghz
Soundblaster live
Basic Speakers
Gigabit
XP Pro
DVD Burner
Geforce 5200
No Monitor /Floppy
56k Modem
$2056.00
Just where is this mythical HUGE PREMIUM ?? Apples are well configured and have been for years. They may not be the fastest but they come loaded generally.
Extra Drive bays would be nice but Apple focused on cooling over internal expansion. A tradeoff to be sure but I doubt many will be adversey affected. Professionals having been using Server based storage for years. I use Server storage at work for important files. It's the person with 4 old drives sitting around that wants to stuff them in the box that is complaining the most here. Hardly Professional.
Seriously, by the time G5 is mature... approx 6 moths time from now or xmas... I am sure the SATA hard driver will go beyond what we could imagine... 2 x HDD is more then your everyday need... what are you going to download everyday? Yes, I know all the DV user eat up HDD... but ask youself seriously... how many GB or TB are you currently using? I am a ex-Windows/PC user.. and I once through one optical drive was a bad idea... but once you use a Mac or take note of what optical to optical do... you dont need 2 drive anyway... chances are you image the CD/DVD to your HD then to your burner.. so what difference it make to us... one less EJECT button and swap a disc... man.. are we getting a bit too lazy.... I think the G5 design is perfect... just right for a STANDARD PC... the entry level of G5 is aim for average Personal Computer user... not a professional DV user or some HIGH END user... Nothing is perfect in this world.. someone must complain about something... if you dont like it, buy something you like man... You are the one who is spending your $... no one is going to force you to buy a G5 or whatever...