Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Hi, I'm a PC and want to be a Mac and need your help!

cydspal said:
So any idea how long I will have to wait? Does the new stuff get rolled out right after Mac World or is it that they just announce what "they are working on", etc?

Thanks everyone, this forum has really been a big help. Now I will just have to start over I guess and find out what kind of Mac Pro box to start building for about $3500? But I sure want one of those beautiful Mac screens!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!
Click to expand...

Glad we can help. Apple usually makes their hardware available the same day it's announced or a few days after, no more than a week usually. The only thing they waited to release was the iPhone, but that is more a toy/gadget than a professional piece of hardware that is behind by almost a year.

Do worry about what you are going to put it the Mac Pro but remember don't buy SQUAT from Apple other than the box, and get EVERYTHING else 3rd party. RAM and HDD are cheap, and Apple overcharges beyond a reasonable amount.

The monitor is up to you. Apple charges way too much for the ACDs as well. If I had the cash to get either a 23" or 30" I would, but if I was working with a budget I would go and by any other company's display. Hopefully Apple gives better specs and prices for some new Apple Displays during MWSF as well.
 
RAM really needs to be bought third party. OWC charges like $620 for 16GB of RAM vs. a couple grand from Apple.
 
Any 3rd party monitor suggestions? Should I search that topic in this forum?
 
I'm in the process of selling my iMac.. Mac Pros are beasts!!! I'm thinking of getting the new BASE Mac Pro when it comes out..
 
cydspal said:
Any 3rd party monitor suggestions? Should I search that topic in this forum?
Click to expand...

Anything really but MY PERSONAL OPINION, for those that are dying to argue with me I said personal, is any size of the HP models or Samsung models. People rave about the Dells, but they are the epitome of cheap and rickety feeling. The others aren't as well built as the ACDs but they have much better panels and are cheaper. The Dells just seem to want to fall apart whenever I try to adjust them.

Hopefully Apple will update their entire PRO line with new towers, new MacBook Pros, and new displays as well, so you don't have to go out and buy another brand's monitor.

je1ani said:
I'm in the process of selling my iMac.. Mac Pros are beasts!!! I'm thinking of getting the new BASE Mac Pro when it comes out..
Click to expand...

Do you mean BASE, or RECOMMENDED configuration? Just curious because either will do, and yes, the Mac Pro is a beast. I wish Apple did more with it, and offered regular desktop processors for it so the gamers would get their mini-tower for cheap.
 
Final Cut Express preinstalled

I humbly bow before the group wisdom of the previous posters but note that you specify FCE and not FC Studio. The Mac Pro towers are indeed what's called for for industrial strength video editing using Final Cut Pro (Studio). But the real question is: what level of video editing are you planning to do? The top-end iMac is certainly capable of "pro-sumer" level work, plus you can have dual monitors - and add a fast external HD. Not a bad setup when you max the RAM.
 
meltshazzar said:
Final Cut Express preinstalled

I humbly bow before the group wisdom of the previous posters but note that you specify FCE and not FC Studio. The Mac Pro towers are indeed what's called for for industrial strength video editing using Final Cut Pro (Studio). But the real question is: what level of video editing are you planning to do? The top-end iMac is certainly capable of "pro-sumer" level work, plus you can have dual monitors - and add a fast external HD. Not a bad setup when you max the RAM.
Click to expand...

We all agree, but he has enough cash to get the Mac Pro for $2500 and still have a grand left over for more than enough ram and a good 24" monitor. He would still end up with a great machine and would be able to upgrade it in the future.

I love the iMac, but a professional or "pro-sumer" (made up word) that wants his machine to last will want a Mac Pro. The iMac is great for users that won't see much use out of their GFX card and processors.
 
I just bought my new monitor the other day... Samsung (the only brand of LCD I've ever purchased, and this is my 3rd one) 245BW
- Gloss black finish, and super clear display. 60hz @ 1900x1200 resolution.

I now no longer need my 2 monitor setup that I was using to put my Photoshop palettes on the other screen. Now I have a ton of space for everything and this monitor is ready for my upcoming Mac with a DVI port built in.

*Impatiently waiting for January 15th*

-Bryan
 
From meltshazzar:

But the real question is: what level of video editing are you planning to do? The top-end iMac is certainly capable of "pro-sumer" level work, plus you can have dual monitors - and add a fast external HD.

Answer:

I do mostly home videos, but it seems that I have been doing more and more prosumer stuff, training videos for work, etc., so I just wanted to make sure that with $3500 spent that I did not regret having the ability to get even better with my video stuff (e.g. Final cut pro) because I was "stuck" with a Imac that I could not build off of or that was frozen in time, etc. But....I still want an Imac!! But this group has convinced me to sit on my hands for at least a few weeks until expo.

Does the 2 monitor approach really help with video editing?
 
Go with the MacPro

Like most of the people suggested + mine sugg.:
1- Wait for MacWorld expo new announcements
2- Continue doing your homework like you are doing right now, be patient, select your big monitor, ask for more tips in forums like this.
3- Get your RAM in OWC (macsales.com) NEVER FROM APPLE (TOO EXPENSIVE) - SAME FOR HARD DRIVES
4- With $3500 you can do many different things, spend wisely, sorry invest wisely...
5- Check if a refursbished MacPro is available at the Apple Store (you can check online), you could save some bucks.

Once you start playing with your videos in a MacPro you'll never stop!
With the iMac you could feel in a couple of months that you are not as fast as you would be with a MacPro...this feeling could be too intense, especially if new MacPros arrive in early 2008...
________
herbalaire review
 
Last edited:
Great! I am going to wait and keep on learning! You all have been great, thanks so much! You will hear from me again when I get closer to making the big move! ;)
 
So, have I waited in vain for a new machine to be announced at Expo? Should I go ahead and buy an Imac or Mac Pro or is there anything that they still might announce?
 
Well there was a new mac pro announced. For what price you were looking at. I would recommend you go with the mac pro. Drop it to the 4 core 2.8ghz model. So thats $2,299, then get a 24" monitor which you can get for $600 or so. Total of $2899. And then you can add third party RAM, and HDs to your hearts content. :)
 
I have 2.8Ghz 24" iMac with a 750 internal drive and 2 750GB external drives, one for Time Machine backups and one for video. I put them in a super sweet RAID case that goes really well with an iMac or Mac Pro, but set them up for independant, not RAID so that they were separate in case one failed. I actually started with one 750 and then added another. The drives are Seagates new 2nd gen. Perpendicular Recording 7200.11 drives with 32MB Cache instead of 16 and cost $195 at Newegg.com shipped. (vs. the 7200.10 version for $180 - same thing for 500s, about $120 vs. $115) I too have the wired KB and wireless mouse setup, but like I said opted for the larger internal drive. And I have Final Cut Express HD on mine. But I purchased a New In Box retail copy of 3.5 for $99 off eBay. And it works great on my setup. Also, and this is very important. I got my 4GB RAM from OWC since it was much cheaper than Apple. But to really save the money, you have to configure the 2.4Ghz model and then up the CPU and HDD to what you want. It saves you $150 b/c you only get 1x1GB instead of 2x1GB.

So, a 2.8Ghz 24" iMac 1GB RAM 500GB HDD BT MM Wired KB Applecare is $2,338 instead of $2,488. OWC RAM is $99. At this point you have saved $50 off the base 2.8Ghz iMac with 2GB but you have 4GB.
You choice on getting FCE HD 4.0 for $199 or FCE HD 3.5 for about $99 off eBay. Add the RAID case and 2 drives and you are looking at about $2900-3100 including the iMac, Applecare, FCE, RAID case, & 2 500-750GB drives.

Seagate Drives at Newegg
 
roland.g said:
I have 2.8Ghz 24" iMac .....Also, and this is very important. I got my 4GB RAM from OWC since it was much cheaper than Apple. But to really save the money, you have to configure the 2.4Ghz model and then up the CPU and HDD to what you want. It saves you $150 b/c you only get 1x1GB instead of 2x1GB.
Click to expand...

You've been talking a lot of sense lately Roland. Good call.
OP Buy buy buy!
(I just bought a 24" iMac this morning)
 
Personally speaking I got an iMac (spec in sig) and if I could turn back time (and somehow have the patience to save up despite constant drooling) I'd get the Mac Pro instead. I'm not overly keen on the iMac's display, which is a pretty big part of it... also coming from PCs it sometimes doesn't feel right to be working with laptop hardware as my main desktop.

YMMV though. iMac is certainly not a bad choice, 99% of people who own them LOVE them, and I don't regret it even if I do think the MP and a display would've been the better choice.

If you do get the iMac, the 24" is definitely the better screen.

As others have said, it sounds like the Pro would be best suited to you though. If even I occasionally wish I'd got one, and I've not even thought of my iMac as slow in any way so far, I think there's an increased probability you'd be wishing more often with what you do.

The expense will repay you in the form of a Mac that will stay powerful for a very long time. Some folk are still using G4 or even G3 PowerMacs and they're apparently still quite formidable machines.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back