Regarding the original poster's question: I think you should sell the G5 and get the Intel Mac Pro.
You are a graphic professional charging clients by the hour. It's about their perception of what they think they are getting for their hourly rate they are paying you. Practically, it comes down to to a mutual exchange of being able to read each other's files, as well outputting the work professionally. It's also that intangible idea in your client's mind that my, "graphic artist is current". You cannot underestimate the capacity for people to judge you by appearances because it is easier than using their brains - despite the fact that you do good work. Just let them get a whiff that you might be "behind the times" when they are paying you good money - and they start to think, "what am I paying this guy for". After that, it's a short step to not picking up the phone to call you for the next one because Chuck down the street is "current". Yes, it is dumb because the good work you do doesn't look good enough because you are now seen as "backward". Try to argue with, or convince people who think this way when your livelihood is at stake.
I'm an artist (note the small "a" because I can put a real sentence together - as opposed to real Artists who get the big "A" who cannot write their own names). It is my belief that the software tools we now have - that your G5 - is capable of anything you need for professional output. That is not the question. Others, correct me if I am wrong on this point. Your G5 is a fine machine. However, you are a professional who is in business - and you must be current. It's not a question of what your G5 can do today. What will your G5 need to do tomorrow?
It is inevitable that at some point that Adobe, Apple and others will drop their support for the the IBM ppc chip. Right now you can get decent money for the G5 because the buyer knows that he can load current software on it. The moment support for the ppc chip is dropped, the value of your G5 will become almost worthless just at the time when you need the extra cash to upgrade. And upgrading your computer is not the only cost - you need to upgrade the software. Going Intel for some, might require an upgrade to CS3. Why not upgrade at a time when you still qualify for the upgrade prices to the software you own. Leave it too long, and those Adobe pirates will soak you for the full price version. Apple in their cruel cunning forces you to only go forward with current versions of their software. Buy a Mac Pro today, and you'll not be able to load Tiger on it. If a scanner you have can only work on Tiger - and they won't write drivers for Leopard - there is a problem.
Think it through. Plan how you are going to replace your equipment in the manner that is advantageous to your financial situation. These companies have rigged the game. Intel is the new game.
One last thought about selling the G5. One of my own considerations for recently buying a used G5 was that it was all I can afford now. My reasoning is that a major business Recession, with a big "R", is close at hand. This is the best I can do to have a decent machine that can serve my needs for a very long time if push comes to shove in this coming economy. When a Recession does arrive, do you have the tools you'll need at that moment? They are all you might have for as long as it will last. I firmly believe that the equipment we have going into the Recession will be the equipment we will be stuck with until it ends.
Sell the G5 now when the difference of switching to Intel is not as great as it will be. And this is coming from a guy who thinks that CS2/Tiger is awesome for me needs, with a few other small software programs (panoramic stitching) to fill in the holes. I hate the thought of senselessly upgrading and spending hard earned money for eye candy or because these companies force me too. Mechanically, our machines last far longer than the software environment they exist within.
Mike
