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g5 wise to buy
- Thread starter bokdol
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No. PPC is the past. Unless you have a specific need to run PPC software, I would invest in a more futureproof technology like a Core 2 Duo iMac.
yes. PPC is the past, but one of the most stable computers ever produced. it's fast even by current standards. unless you have some need to run intel/windows based apps, g5 is the way to go and at a really good price now days!
The G5 is the new G3. Kinda slow compared to the latest offerings. Stay away from it unless you need to run OS 9 apps in classic.
The only G5 I would recommend would be the last rev G5- either the dual-core or the quad. I have a dual-core 2.0 and it's pretty awesome. The main reason I say that is the PCI-Express video technology. It's still the most current thing. Even then, I would tell you not pay a ton for one. That said, I love my Power Mac. 
It really depends on your needs.
I recently sold my G5 for almost 70% of what I had purchased it for 2 years prior. They are still very much valued.
If you get one of the last G5s put out, cutting edge, it's still a very fast machine. People say that Intel is more future-proof, but really, you're buying computers that are roughly the same speed if you get one of the G5s or one of the lesser Mac Pros.
I'd say this is especially the case if you are a (legitimate) Photoshop owner who doesn't need a lot of the extras that comes in CS3.
Mac Pros are expensive, and so is CS3. If CS2 satisfies your needs and Tiger / Leopard will suit you for the next few years, I don't think it's any kind of computer suicide to buy a G5.
I recently sold my G5 for almost 70% of what I had purchased it for 2 years prior. They are still very much valued.
If you get one of the last G5s put out, cutting edge, it's still a very fast machine. People say that Intel is more future-proof, but really, you're buying computers that are roughly the same speed if you get one of the G5s or one of the lesser Mac Pros.
I'd say this is especially the case if you are a (legitimate) Photoshop owner who doesn't need a lot of the extras that comes in CS3.
Mac Pros are expensive, and so is CS3. If CS2 satisfies your needs and Tiger / Leopard will suit you for the next few years, I don't think it's any kind of computer suicide to buy a G5.
I agree with this as well. I bought mine on the advice of my IT guys here at work. They predicted right- the MPs were just out of reach for me price- wise. I plan to buy a used one at some point in the next 2 years. I just can't justify spending the cash on a new one.
Will your MacBook Today make you happy in 4 years?
The question is which computer should I spend $1600 on? I could buy a Macbook or a used G5.
In both cases, they are peppy by today's standard. We can be reasonably sure that they will be supported for about 4 years ( the trend for Apple ) .
After four years though....
Will my PPC be supported by Apple anymore? Probably not.
Will My MacBook be supported ? Maybe.
- Will it be fast enough to install the latest OS and run at a speed where I would be satisfied with it's performance? Probably not.
Will Apps be available for both machines over the next four years??? Most apps will probably be universal, with a few that are Intel only.
Based on this logic, used last year, I purchased one of the last Quad G5 machines, as well as a MacBook Rev1. After using both heavily, I suspect I will be upgrading my MacBook a year or more before I replace the Quad machine.
YMMV
Max.
The question is which computer should I spend $1600 on? I could buy a Macbook or a used G5.
In both cases, they are peppy by today's standard. We can be reasonably sure that they will be supported for about 4 years ( the trend for Apple ) .
After four years though....
Will my PPC be supported by Apple anymore? Probably not.
Will My MacBook be supported ? Maybe.
- Will it be fast enough to install the latest OS and run at a speed where I would be satisfied with it's performance? Probably not.
Will Apps be available for both machines over the next four years??? Most apps will probably be universal, with a few that are Intel only.
Based on this logic, used last year, I purchased one of the last Quad G5 machines, as well as a MacBook Rev1. After using both heavily, I suspect I will be upgrading my MacBook a year or more before I replace the Quad machine.
YMMV
Max.
ok i have 2 g5 for sale in my area. both at 1600. one is on craigslist now. one is a 2.5 dual proc and the other is a 2.3 dual core. both with high end graphics card. 2 gigs ram on the 2.5. 1.5 gigs on the 2.3. what you guys think now?
I'd have to agree with many of the posters, I would not buy one unless you get a very sweet deal or you have to run a PPC-only program.
Would I buy another G5 right now? Probably not. What I have will hold me over until the current Mac Pros become "G3" like. In one to two years? Who knows?
Given there are a LOT of professionals still doing a LOT of work G5's, I would guess that OS support for the G5's will be around for a while, possibly longer than for the Core Duo.
I would steer clear of Core Duo processors, not to be confused with Core 2 Duo processors. Core Duo's are 32-bit-only processors not suited for processor intensive applications. It's anyone's guess when OS support for them will cease.
I have a dual 2.7 G5 that still gives many Mac-Intels a run for their money. This is only because my main processor intensive application is heavily optimized for the G5 and the Mac-Intel version happens to be compiled with a crappy compiler. In all fairness I would have to say that most Mac-Intel apps are fairly efficient run faster than my G5.
Would I buy another G5 right now? Probably not. What I have will hold me over until the current Mac Pros become "G3" like. In one to two years? Who knows?
Given there are a LOT of professionals still doing a LOT of work G5's, I would guess that OS support for the G5's will be around for a while, possibly longer than for the Core Duo.
I would steer clear of Core Duo processors, not to be confused with Core 2 Duo processors. Core Duo's are 32-bit-only processors not suited for processor intensive applications. It's anyone's guess when OS support for them will cease.
I have a dual 2.7 G5 that still gives many Mac-Intels a run for their money. This is only because my main processor intensive application is heavily optimized for the G5 and the Mac-Intel version happens to be compiled with a crappy compiler. In all fairness I would have to say that most Mac-Intel apps are fairly efficient run faster than my G5.
Most that you will find for a great deal are not the fastest on the block, but that doesn't make them slow. I like the PPC stability, just plain stable as a rock. I have a Macbook 2Ghz C2 Duo at work and my 3 yr old Powerbookb 1Ghz G4 here at home and the Powerbook is more stable IMHO. Everything runs on them, Universal or PPC, there are lots of little apps that I like that are not Universal yet, having to run so many apps on Rosetta just isn't as stable.
I plan to upgrade in the next few short months and plan to get one of the later G5 Powermacs to work from, lower cost, incredibly stable, and more than enough power for what I do.
By the way .... who says PPC will not be supported in 4 years? Why would they stop making Universal Apps in so short a time? Also.. will a solid G5 run the OS in 4 years fast enough? Absolutely. My 3yr old PB runs Tiger without a hitch, Leopard won't be a problem.
I plan to upgrade in the next few short months and plan to get one of the later G5 Powermacs to work from, lower cost, incredibly stable, and more than enough power for what I do.
By the way .... who says PPC will not be supported in 4 years? Why would they stop making Universal Apps in so short a time? Also.. will a solid G5 run the OS in 4 years fast enough? Absolutely. My 3yr old PB runs Tiger without a hitch, Leopard won't be a problem.
I definitely don't agree that PPC Macs are teh doomed and whatnot, but I do think this is a good time to be patient and wait out good deals if you can. I just managed to snag a 2.3 DC via Craigslist for $900 with AE and BT. I certainly would have payed that for a 2.3 DP one! Being my first powermac it does seem like an awesome machine and I'm loving it. $1600, while not a great deal, is a solid price I think for either one. I'm hoping to see a Quad fall down in that price range in the next few months, but we'll see.
If you've got the cash and want one, get it. You'll love it.
If you've got the cash and want one, get it. You'll love it.
It better not cease too soon because they are still selling a model with the Core Duo processor!