[Nessie]

I'm thinking of getting a 17" iMac, with the 160 GB drive and 512 MB ram. Mostly for video and photo editing, but also for writing. I loved the 17" screen I saw at the store, in brightness, definition, and adjustability. My experience with the 15" was that they were quiet, which I liked, and I hope the 17" is quiet, too. I also like the all-in-one design. I'm not sure I want or need the G5, or can justify the extra cost, though I like the performance numbers and the upgradability.

Any thoughts? Anyone know how video editing performs (Final Cut Express/Pro) on the 17" iMac?

[KB6KGX]

Originally posted by Nessie:
I'm thinking of getting a 17" iMac, with the 160 GB drive and 512 MB ram. Mostly for video and photo editing, but also for writing. I loved the 17" screen I saw at the store, in brightness, definition, and adjustability. My experience with the 15" was that they were quiet, which I liked, and I hope the 17" is quiet, too. I also like the all-in-one design. I'm not sure I want or need the G5, or can justify the extra cost, though I like the performance numbers and the upgradability.

Any thoughts? Anyone know how video editing performs (Final Cut Express/Pro) on the 17" iMac?

I'm no "techie", but as you described your needs, the iMac should be more than adquate for you. Sure, for $200 more you can get into the "entry-level" G5, but then you still need to add a monitor. Apple's 17" LCD display is another $700 on top of the $1999 (at least, if you pick the "basic" model) for the G5 tower.

I would say that the iMac is able to hande basic to intermediate video and photo editing work.

[drloomis]

Originally posted by KB6KGX:
I'm no "techie", but as you described your needs, the iMac should be more than adquate for you. Sure, for $200 more you can get into the "entry-level" G5, but then you still need to add a monitor. Apple's 17" LCD display is another $700 on top of the $1999 (at least, if you pick the "basic" model) for the G5 tower.

I would say that the iMac is able to hande basic to intermediate video and photo editing work.

I know I'm going back and forth on which one I want, but I've editing a feature film using Final Cut Pro 3 using my ibook 500 and an external 120 firewire harddrive.

Of coure the 17inch will be great. It's better than what most post house are using to run their stations.

I used to do the same thing. For some reason you think the imac g4 isnt' the same as a tower. It's all the same thing, just in a cooler design.

So these current iMacs are awesome. No worries.

the G5 is cool, but maybe over kill. If my G3 can pull it off, a G4 will rock.

[cc_foo]

Originally posted by Nessie:
I'm thinking of getting a 17" iMac, with the 160 GB drive and 512 MB ram. Mostly for video and photo editing, but also for writing. I loved the 17" screen I saw at the store, in brightness, definition, and adjustability. My experience with the 15" was that they were quiet, which I liked, and I hope the 17" is quiet, too. I also like the all-in-one design. I'm not sure I want or need the G5, or can justify the extra cost, though I like the performance numbers and the upgradability.

Any thoughts? Anyone know how video editing performs (Final Cut Express/Pro) on the 17" iMac?

No, I don't.

But if I were in the same boat, and space wasn't an issue; I would go for the low end PowerMac G5, with a cheap 17" CRT.

My opinion is that the iMacs are a bit overpriced. Unless the LCD screen, and adjustability and the small footprint are features you would pay for.

Just my 2 cents.

[Link]

iMacs are totally awesome.

Given the lack of a few things (firewire 800, dual processor, etc), the imacs are awesome. Had they made a 17" at the time I was looking for a computer I would have gladly bought one.

The only problem is you can't upgrade the videocard or cpu, but by the time you want to do that on a powermac the motherboard will be so obsolete you'll probably end up buying a new machine anyway.