[reemas]

I'm not to familiar in using macs so I'll ask here first:
I know the tech specs, but is it worth getting a G4 still? And how long does a chip last with Apple? In other words, roughly, do they upgrade every 3 years or what?

thanks.

[Eug Wanker]

Originally posted by reemas:
I'm not to familiar in using macs so I'll ask here first:
I know the tech specs, but is it worth getting a G4 still?

For what purpose?

If you're not urgently in need of a Power Mac right now, then I'd wait a few weeks. Rumour has it that a new version will be announced soon.

All things being equal (and if you don't need to BOOT OS 9), then I'd just get the latest and greatest G5. The performance advantage over the G4 is humungous. (BTW, OS X still has OS 9 Classic mode, which most OS 9 software runs fine under.)

[Langdon]

Originally posted by reemas:

I know the tech specs, but is it worth getting a G4 still?

I still use one, I will just be getting a faster processor in a couple months for my computer as an upgrade. I looked over your posts and if your iBook was enough for you before then a G4 faster than 867 should feel very speedy for you.

And how long does a chip last with Apple? In other words, roughly, do they upgrade every 3 years or what?

thanks.

the G3 came out in 97 and was last used a few months ago in ibooks

the G4 came out in 99 and is sitll being used in new machines.

[SouthPaW1227]

If you're into gaming, video/audio editing, of professional graphics work, a G5 is a *must*. If not, and you're just using it for word processing/email/general use, a G4 would definitly suffice, however the G4 PowerMac's days are numbered. It's almost rediculous to get a G4, though, when you can get a refurb. 1.6Ghz G5 for $1,399 from Apple, and when the G5's get speed-bumped in a few weeks, that price could/will drop even further.

In all seriousness, the G5 will last much longer, has much more room for improvment, and will yeild more value when you wanna sell it. With refurb. G5s going as cheap as $1,399, there's no reason not to go ahead and get a G5.

[OreoCookie]

In most benchmarks, the 1.6 GHz G5 beats a Dual G4 1.42. As long as you don't need native OS 9 apps (i. e. not in classic), then the G5 is the way to go. Period.

(I haven't heard of a major app that's not on OS X yet.)

[Lateralus]

Originally posted by OreoCookie:
In most benchmarks, the 1.6 GHz G5 beats a Dual G4 1.42

Funny because that is the exact opposite of what I have seen. Most benchmarks I have read show the Dual 1.42 in a dead heat with even the single 1.8 G5, and the Dual 1.25 besting the 1.6 G5 in just about everything..

[Big Mac]

The benchmarks are mixed. Macworld found the 1.6 to be faster than the 1.42, but other benchmarks, such as the ones found at Mac Speed Zone support PowerMacMan's conclusions. MacAddict writes that a DP G4 loaded with RAM will outperform a 1.6.

It's definitely prudent to wait for the speed bumps and then decide at that point. I personally don't feel single processor G5s are a good value. The G4 is definitely on the way out, but a DP G4 isn't necessarily a bad value. If you're a student, the DP 1.25 is a fine deal after you strip it of all the extras.

[Commodus]

I would go with a G5, once the updated models come out. Even in the current situation there's just not much reason to get a G4 other than cost or needing to boot natively into OS 9.

Remember that the G5 is essentially Apple's future, where the G4 is not. Future apps will be built with the G5 in mind, though they probably won't require one for awhile longer than that.

If predictions are anywhere near accurate, the separation between G4 and G5 performance will be absolute by the end of winter at the latest.

[reemas]

for the most part its what figured. the g4 is good still, but it's on it's way out.
esp with level 1 cache going from 32 to 64 and the FS bus being 800 mhz. thats a HUGE change. am i right?

[CIA]

I would go with a G5, once the updated models come out. Even in the current situation there's just not much reason to get a G4 other than cost or needing to boot natively into OS 9.

Remember that the G5 is essentially Apple's future, where the G4 is not. Future apps will be built with the G5 in mind, though they probably won't require one for awhile longer than that.

If predictions are anywhere near accurate, the separation between G4 and G5 performance will be absolute by the end of winter at the latest.

Actually, we were stuck with Motorola's slow ass development for so long that we have all forgotten what real progress is like. Technically, the PowerMac G5's will probably have a very short lifespan in pro machines, I expect G6's by late '04 early '05. Actually, a better way of phrasing it would be I expect the PPC980 based PowerMacs to be called the G6. It's starting to look like these PPC980 based machines will offer leaps in performance over PPC970 (aka G5's) similar to what we saw when we went from G4 to G5.

[Cadaver]

If you can afford the G5-class of machines, I'd go this way. The G5 is "where its at" as they say, and the G4 has pretty much hit an archetectual ceiling in terms of speed/features.

While rumor has it there will be a speed bump in the near future, as always with computers it's a 'buy what you need now' kind of a deal. There will always be something faster down the road.

It's pretty clear that Apple is going to use the G4 chip in their laptops only (and only for as long as necessary); I suspect Apple would love to kill off the G4 desktop machine they offer as soon as possible. The only reason its still around is for those people who must run OS 9 natively.

[Ganesha]

The only reason to get a G4 Powermac IMO is if you have to boot into OS 9. If you are new to macs its likely you won't have any legacy hardware that requires OS 9 booting.

[JRobinson]

Another reason to get a G4 is because they can run the current version of Virtual PC (v. 6.x) and the G5 can't. That will change in a few months, though.

[Commodus]

Originally posted by CIA:
Actually, we were stuck with Motorola's slow ass development for so long that we have all forgotten what real progress is like. Technically, the PowerMac G5's will probably have a very short lifespan in pro machines, I expect G6's by late '04 early '05. Actually, a better way of phrasing it would be I expect the PPC980 based PowerMacs to be called the G6. It's starting to look like these PPC980 based machines will offer leaps in performance over PPC970 (aka G5's) similar to what we saw when we went from G4 to G5.

You're right about Motorola's progress, but I doubt that any PPC980 chip (if that's what IBM calls it) will be called the G6 unless there's a truly dramatic change, such as dual cores. A PPC970 with SMT (simultaneous multithreading, similar to Intel's Hyperthreading) and extra cache or integer/FPU/Altivec units does not a new architecture make. The G4 was labelled what it was because the nature of the chip itself was different.

Not to mention that it would be more than a bit of bragging to claim that they were TWO generations ahead of Intel.

[The Placid Casual]

I can see no reason to buy a Powermac G4 these days, unless you need OS 9 compatability...

A worse processor than the G5 that really should be killed off. Awful FSB. Limited graphics expansion (no 8xAGP).

The only thing it has going for it is the explansion option in therms of HDDs and Optical drives, but in all honesty the difference is huge.

You would be throwing good money after bad, as resale prices are in freefall territory, and will continue to be as more G5s become available second hand.

The sooner the G4 and Motorola are a thing of the past the better...

Peace.