[Dimoss]

Hi

A while ago I read about this discussion. But I want people to give me feedback in relation to what I will primarily need my G5 for.

I am a multimedia student. I have chosen the computer science stream instead of design stream for 2004, so no 3D design for me etc. I am a freelance web desginer/developer and use photoshop and macromedia studio mx. I am doing video production as an elective next year for uni, but will do CS subjects, like user interface design (java), programming principals (ansi c), web database development, ecommerce... etc. And I think some MS vb apps with sql server subjects...

Will Virtual PC be out for the G5 that can run W2k with SQL Server 2000 in say feb 2004??

I am a web developer that writes websites in ASP VBscript. (yes i do use MS technologies and still rather have a mac then my current PC with stupid windows)

So looking at this, what would be the best for me? Should I buy a dual G5? Would I need the extra processor for my core uses? Or should I stick to a single as I won't be doing heaps of video editing, and I don't use photoshop to the max with heaps of filters etc...

Also I will wait after the macworld san francisco expo to see if there would be any upgrades, as I start uni in march anyway...

[mousehouse]

i think in your position you should get the best tool for the job. if you depend so heavily on MS products you sould go ahead and buy a PC.

no offence! But for the money you'd spend on a PowerMac you can get a decent PC AND an ibook/g4. that way you have a Mac for your notes, college things, reports etc that you can take home when visiting parents etc. and have a PC for your college work things.

having two machines allows you to keep the "work" machine free of private junk as games etc.

[mitchell_pgh]

I would get the 20" iMac and max out the RAM (or even consider a PowerBook [or iBook] in combination with a larger LCD screen [depending upon budget]).

Since upgrading from PowerPoint to Keynote, I'm only received the highest grades with regards to presentations (sad but true... it's sexy, and I've even had professors come up to me and ask me to design presentations for them!)

Regarding your schoolwork, with a new iMac, PowerBook or even iBook, you are going to be WAY ahead of the curve speed-wise. With the saved money, go buy a DUMB windows box (or upgrade your current configuration) for $300 and use VNC or something to access it remotely (and hide that UGLY beige box in your closet)

A beige box will cost about the same as Virtual PC and a real system will run much better and offset the workload. Also, doing what you may be doing, you will become accustom to reinstalling Windows every few months.

I have a similar configuration and am the envy of my peers. I'm forced to run Windows 2000 on our server so I really don't have any options. When people come to my nice 21" screen and ask me to work on something... their jaws drop when I open up Windows 2000 via VNC.

Laptops open up a whole new world of computing. Especially PowerBooks (or even iBooks)

[Dimoss]

thanks for that

i already own an iBook, G3 700MHz. I was always a windows boy, but did like the macs. I never knew how bloody sweet they are until i got the cheapest iBook i could coz i wanted something portable, and decided to give macs a go.

A year later I am etching to throw away (sell) my PC and get a powerful mac... A 20" iMac sounds really good. I have a good LG 17" monitor already thats why I was thinking of a G5... Plus I'm in australia not america, our uni system is way different to yours, i live with my parents, and my old uni was only a 5 minute drive, but now i changed uni and its a 40 minute train ride, or 20 minute drive with expensive parking.

Unfortunately I had a **** box comp I used mainly for web dev, pentium 300 i think, until the stupid carked it on me and died.

Anyways in Aus dollars student price here are my 2 options...

iMac w/ 1Gb RAM, 160Gb HD, bluetooth, = $4435.20
sell my PC and monitor approx -$1200 if i'm lucky

G5 1.6GHz w/ 1Gb RAM, 160Gb HD, bluetooth, Radeon 9600 Pro = $3839
sell my PC approx -900
keep 17" LG monitor...

or

G5 Dual 1.8GHz w/ 1Gb RAM, bluetooth, Radeon 9600 pro = $4523.20

so yer decisions decisions...

i am thinking of late jan, early feb so still have a while to decide...

[WizOSX]

I'm in a similar situation to you. I currently have a G3/700 combo drive iBook. It is a nice machine and I like it a lot. I had a Dual 867 MDD that I sold while waiting for the right G5 price/performance for me. Probably will get an EOL 1.6 G5 in a month or so when the prices come down a little. So here are my comments to you--

1) Do not think in terms of Virtual PC for actual work. On my Dual 867 it was too slow and unpredictable for every day use. Things would work one way one day, differently another. It seems to me that VPC has two main values--for people who access one small piece of software occasionally (like some sort of networking software) just to check settings or formatting OR for people with notebooks, and are entirely Mac people, but who have that one piece of software that they need on the road for light duty use. VPC is a great product for those specific uses. Your Pentium 300 will be far more satisfying, reliable and functional than VPC. I have Windows XP Pro running on a 233 Pentium (not even a PII), 128mb RAM, and it is preferable to VPC in OSX on a Dual 867. Running VPC in OS9 is about the same as Windows on that 233mhz machine--but definitely slower than on my 366mhz PII Gateway notebook.

2) At this point I wouldn't buy the iMac. You'll likely be happier with the G5. But if you're waiting till Feb. you'll likely get the 1.6 machine for a fair bit less if you shop carefully.

[hyteckit]

Dimoss,

Keep your PC. Do what I do. Forget VirtualPC. Control your PC from your iBook. Get Microsoft's Remote Desktop or Get VNC.

[Arkham_c]

VPC is a dog. I don't know how well it will run on a G5, but I wouldn't hold your breath. It completely sucks on a Dual-1GHz G4 with 1GB of RAM.

I have a dual G5, so I may try it when it comes out, but I have a P3/750 that I got for cheap, and I use that if I need a real PC.

The G5 is a great machine. If you're looking to develop Windows apps on the Mac, consider RealBasic, which can produce Windows, Linux, and Mac binaries from the same source.

[bimmerphile]

Really?

VPC was way friggin fast on my Dual 1.30GHz G4 with 1GB RAM. I accessed the BMW ETK daily.