[No One]

Decided on going with the dual 2.0 G5, and would like to know:

1. Is a formac 20" better than the 20" Apple Studio? Does the formac have to have some type of adapter? This may sound dumb, but will the screen be 'stretched out' with a wide screen like this? Or does it just expand the viewing area.....I'm sure it doesn't widen pictures and images.....right? Any word on when or if Apple will be redesigning some metal/matching to G5 displays?

2. What would be the recommended amount of Memory? I was thinking 4GB - anyone know how much more $$ this adds on Apple's store - it goes out of the drop down box and I cant read it.

3. What exactly is the Fibre channel card and or Xserve RAID?

4. Should I spring for the Klipsch or Logitech (only $43 more I believe) speakers they offer in the apple store or are there others that match everything and/or sound better?

5. Applecare - yes/no ? will I really need it?


Thanks for any info - I'm looking forward to choosing all the right components the first time so the system lasts as long as possible.

[MikeyMoves]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by No One:
[B]Decided on going with the dual 2.0 G5, and would like to know:

1. Is a formac 20" better than the 20" Apple Studio? Does the formac have to have some type of adapter? This may sound dumb, but will the screen be 'stretched out' with a wide screen like this? Or does it just expand the viewing area.....I'm sure it doesn't widen pictures and images.....right? Any word on when or if Apple will be redesigning some metal/matching to G5 displays?

I have heard that the formac is better than the 1st generation Flat screens ( 17,22,23), but the 20" is better. There will be no stretching to worry about. It will give you more screen real estate.

2. What would be the recommended amount of Memory? I was thinking 4GB - anyone know how much more $$ this adds on Apple's store - it goes out of the drop down box and I cant read it.

Depends on what you do. Most applications can only address 2GB ram currently, so unless you plan to serioulsy mutitask, then 4 will be PLENTY


3. What exactly is the Fibre channel card and or Xserve RAID?

A Fibre channel card is a pci card that you use to connect your mac to a system like the the xserve raid. The Xserve raid is a fibre channel raid array which houses multiple ata drives. You get increased performance and throughput this way.


4. Should I spring for the Klipsch or Logitech (only $43 more I believe) speakers they offer in the apple store or are there others that match everything and/or sound better?

I personally liked the logitech.


5. Applecare - yes/no ? will I really need it?

Applecare extends the warranty. GET IT. I know it is costly, but it provides you with the comfort of knowing that your parts are covered beyond a year. Also, it helps possible re-sale value.

Hope that helps...

[Lateralus]

Originally posted by No One:
Decided on going with the dual 2.0 G5, and would like to know:

1. Is a formac 20" better than the 20" Apple Studio? Does the formac have to have some type of adapter? This may sound dumb, but will the screen be 'stretched out' with a wide screen like this? Or does it just expand the viewing area.....I'm sure it doesn't widen pictures and images.....right? Any word on when or if Apple will be redesigning some metal/matching to G5 displays?

2. What would be the recommended amount of Memory? I was thinking 4GB - anyone know how much more $$ this adds on Apple's store - it goes out of the drop down box and I cant read it.

3. What exactly is the Fibre channel card and or Xserve RAID?

4. Should I spring for the Klipsch or Logitech (only $43 more I believe) speakers they offer in the apple store or are there others that match everything and/or sound better?

5. Applecare - yes/no ? will I really need it?


Thanks for any info - I'm looking forward to choosing all the right components the first time so the system lasts as long as possible.

1) I've heard negative things about Formac, the company. I'd personally go with an Apple display if finances permit, for sake of conformity... and awesomeness.

2) I recommend at least 1GB per processor, so 2GBs in total. But it depends on what you are going to do. I just think 1GB per processor is sufficient for optimum over all system performance.

Also, do yourself a favor and buy from Crucial. Their quality is top-notch, their prices are competitive, and Apple uses Crucial as a RAM supplier so you know for sure that your G5 wont have any problem with the RAM if you buy it from Crucial.

3) *Shurgs*

4) I would go for the Logitechs. Klipsh was more noteworthy before Logitech burst onto the scene.

5) Don't get it at first. Ride your machine for a few months and then decide if it is something you want to pay for. Remember that you have until the end of your initial 12 month warranty to purchase Apple Care, so don't feel like you have to buy it up front.

[No One]

Apple is having the $500 off sale if I buy a 23"HD Cinema display and a G5........guess that would make it only $200 more than the 20".....

[superfula]

As far as the warranty goes, there's no reason to buy it within the first 11 months, since Apple's original warranty is for one year. If you buy the 3 year warranty right away, you basically have double coverage that first year of ownership, then only get 2 years from the money you spent. Personally, I've never got Applecare on a powermac, and will NEVER get it for a powermac. Now if I'm buying anything with an lcd screen, or an ipod, applecare is a given.

[Maflynn]

I hear conflicting information about the warranty. I latest explanation is that it extends the standard warrenty to three years, so if you wait 11 months and then purchase it your no better off then if you bought it with the computer. I would read the fine print to see how it clearly defines the warranty period.

3. What exactly is the Fibre channel card and or Xserve RAID?

A fiber card is just that, it uses fiber optics to transmit information instead of electricty. You typically need a special patch panel to convert the fiber to electricty. Great for large networks, a waste of money for small businesses and home use. As for the RAID, I assume its just another flavor of RAID perhaps specifically designed for the Xserve as opposed to the Powermac.

Mike

[Londor]

Applecare is a 3 year warranty from the day you bought your computer. The advantage of getting it within the first 90 days of your computer purchase is that you will get telephone support for the 3 years. After the first 90 days you won't get telephone support unless you get Applecare.

[No One]

Well I went through with it, and I'm very excited. Dual 2GHz, 2GB RAM, Bluetooth, Radeon 9600 (standard w/dual 2G), 23" HD Cinema, and Applecare

Thanks for all the advice - It helped me out alot

I may or may not be keeping my PC, but if I do is there a way for me to hook up to the Apple display? What kind of adapter would I need?

[Evan_11]

Originally posted by No One:
Well I went through with it, and I'm very excited. Dual 2GHz, 2GB RAM, Bluetooth, Radeon 9600 (standard w/dual 2G), 23" HD Cinema, and Applecare

Thanks for all the advice - It helped me out alot

I may or may not be keeping my PC, but if I do is there a way for me to hook up to the Apple display? What kind of adapter would I need?

Congrats. I just purchased a refurb dual 2.0 friday. Hopefully it will arrive soon. The $1500 23" HD is an excellent deal but I was left out because I bought a refurb. Regardless my desk is not big enough for it. I do video production and need a crt monitor also to critically judge content. The two just won't fit. I'm guessing with the next revision we'll see a thinner bezel which would help a lot in my case.

[Link]

Since the Cinema Displays all use ADC, which is DVI + power + USB, you'll need a video card with DVI output, and a DVI to ADC adapter.

The adapter runs $100, while most PC video cards do have DVI out. You might also need a DVI video switch, but that's up to you.

[No One]

Originally posted by Link:
Since the Cinema Displays all use ADC, which is DVI + power + USB, you'll need a video card with DVI output, and a DVI to ADC adapter.

The adapter runs $100, while most PC video cards do have DVI out. You might also need a DVI video switch, but that's up to you.

What kind of video switch would you suggest? I'd like to be able to switch from mac to pc on the same display