[shabbasuraj]

So who is gonna order one?

$1349 with edu discount, looks mighty tempting...

(i.e., What market is this thing geared to?)

I am thinking about one to complement my 12" PB...

[siMac]

As far as I can tell the new G5 spec exactly matches that of the midrange iMac G5, only it costs £50 more and you don't get a 17 inch flatscreen with it.

Hmm.

Sure it's more upgradeable, but £50 more for a flatscreen less? I dunno...

[videian28]

this is the headless iMac lol

[dav]

Originally posted by siMac:
Sure it's more upgradeable, but £50 more for a flatscreen less? I dunno...

upgradeable is important for many (heck, just the upgradeable graphics would make many happy), but it also has a 8x superdrive, firewire 800, optical audio in.

i'd buy it over an imac, but i just ordered a refurb powermac last week.

[PBG4 User]

Originally posted by siMac:
As far as I can tell the new G5 spec exactly matches that of the midrange iMac G5, only it costs £50 more and you don't get a 17 inch flatscreen with it.

Hmm.

Sure it's more upgradeable, but £50 more for a flatscreen less? I dunno...

While you don't get a screen with the new low-end PowerMac, you do get up to 4GB of RAM, instead of the 2GB max on the iMac. Also, you get firewire 800, the ability to have 2 HDs as well.

If this was released at the same time the new iMacs were released, I'd really have a tough choice even though these don't come with screens (probably would've bought an LCD monitor to share between my PowerBook and this). Oh well, I'm still digging my new 20" iMac.

Just yesterday I rendered a test scene with Blender/Yafray and the 1.8GHz G5 with 600MHz buss totally blew away my 1.25GHz G4 with 166(200?)MHz buss. I mean, the iMac was finished at least a solid minute faster than my PowerBook on a sub-5 minute render.

[siMac]

Originally posted by PBG4 User:
Just yesterday I rendered a test scene with Blender/Yafray and the 1.8GHz G5 with 600MHz buss totally blew away my 1.25GHz G4 with 166(200?)MHz buss. I mean, the iMac was finished at least a solid minute faster than my PowerBook on a sub-5 minute render.

[shabbasuraj]

Originally posted by videian28:
this is the headless iMac lol

[Mafia]

Originally posted by PBG4 User:
Just yesterday I rendered a test scene with Blender/Yafray and the 1.8GHz G5 with 600MHz buss totally blew away my 1.25GHz G4 with 166(200?)MHz buss. I mean, the iMac was finished at least a solid minute faster than my PowerBook on a sub-5 minute render.

good to hear.
i think the low end is targeting semi-professional users. like students that want a machine that has the power and expandibility to handle their projects. i'm sure some will buy just on the fact that its so upgradable.

[Sparkletron]

Spending $500 to go from a single 1.8 to a dual 1.8 seems more compelling than spending $500 to go from a dual 1.8 to a dual 2.0. My point is that since this only has a single, they should have made it a *nice* single like a 2 or even (gasp!) a 2.5. Either that or lower the price a bit.

[eddiecatflap]

i agree 100%

os-x is made for dualies

if yer gonna blow that much money , go the whole hog and get the dual 1.8 . its the best vfm pmac

[NemesisEG]

I'm very very tempted.

I'm running a new 20" display off the Powerbook at the mo, would love to get the G5 system, up the video to the 9600 and Airport and drop in 1GB RAM from the PC.

Still, will have to work out my money first. I can cope with the G4 for now, but I could do with something a bit quicker for CoD etc to run better on the 20" display.

[Mafia]

Originally posted by NemesisEG:
CoD

Call of Duty? game is awesome. it runs like a dream on my dual 1.8 with the 9600. heh all my friends with pc come and are like in awe on how much better it ru ns on a MAC!!!! hah

[mitchell_pgh]

Tons of differences:
- Dual Monitor Support
- Multiple Hard Drive Support
- Gig. Ethernet
- More RAM
- Firewire 800
- Digital Audio
- Upgradable Graphics Card*
- The tower will prove to be faster then the iMac
- The drive is mounted horizontally (faster)
- Upgradable, upgradable, upgradable...

You need to remember that some of us are rather opposed to the all in one concept, yet don't have $1800 for just the cpu. This is targeted at people that need power, but more so, expandability.

[lpetschauer]

I'd been planning on getting a next revision iMac, but am now going to get the low end G5. Planning to sign up for the ADC Student membership to get the hardware discount...that cuts the price way down.

This, to me, is a better choice than the iMac because of the easy upgradability. Example: I plan to not order a model with a SuperDrive - I'd rather purchase (and put in) a dual layer DVD writer. And, of course, the GPU issues.

Additionally, I have more faith in the longevity of a PowerMac. Look at the number of 3rd party upgrades that are still being released for the G4 (and G3) towers. Awesome ^_^

I'm pumped!

[Bookie]

I'd start with the education price, downgrade the optical drive to a combo drive and save $90 more, drop the modem for $26, upgrade the 5200 to a 9600 w/128 mb ram for $46, and bam, you have a decent gaming computer for $1278. To me, this is a more compelling option than the iMac, although I'll reserve final judgement until I see some benches.

[NemesisEG]

CoD. Call of Duty, aye.

I think this entry-level machine is going to do very well indeed. As mentioned above, drop a couple of items, add in the 9600 and you've got a VERY nice machine.

[WOPR]

Originally posted by NemesisEG:
I'm very very tempted.

I'm running a new 20" display off the Powerbook at the mo, would love to get the G5 system, up the video to the 9600 and Airport and drop in 1GB RAM from the PC.

Still, will have to work out my money first. I can cope with the G4 for now, but I could do with something a bit quicker for CoD etc to run better on the 20" display.

Hello mate! Junior member eh? Heh.

[thunderous_funker]

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
Tons of differences:
- Dual Monitor Support
- Multiple Hard Drive Support
- Gig. Ethernet
- More RAM
- Firewire 800
- Digital Audio
- Upgradable Graphics Card*
- The tower will prove to be faster then the iMac
- The drive is mounted horizontally (faster)
- Upgradable, upgradable, upgradable...

You need to remember that some of us are rather opposed to the all in one concept, yet don't have $1800 for just the cpu. This is targeted at people that need power, but more so, expandability.

Bingo!

I've been extremely vocal in criticizing Apple for not having exactly this machine.

Now they have it. I am stoked. I will be buying it. Thank you Apple for finally listening.

[booboo]

New single 1.8?

Thoroughly underwhelmed.

[Superchicken]

This is 2166 CND, with an edu discount. I think perhaps in my fourth year (not next year but the one after) I may very well get one of these. Or perhaps at the end of next summer though I doubt that. Anyway probably once they get up to 2.5 or something (IE when the high end is much higher) It'd be nice to accompany my 12 incher with a nice 1.8Ghz though.

[NemesisEG]

Originally posted by WOPR:
Hello mate! Junior member eh? Heh.

*shakes fist*

Git.

[UnixMac]

This is great! A REAL entry level PM G5... I can't believe they can make money on it.. hell, the tower case and, power supply and fans alone have to go for close to a grand!

Good work Apple... Where were you before I got a real job??

[Mafia]

Originally posted by UnixMac:
This is great! A REAL entry level PM G5... I can't believe they can make money on it.. hell, the tower case and, power supply and fans alone have to go for close to a grand!

Good work Apple... Where were you before I got a real job??

agreed. i think it would have been nice to see a 2.0 single instead of a 1.8. but still a nice maching.

[Zubir]

Originally posted by UnixMac:
This is great! A REAL entry level PM G5... I can't believe they can make money on it.. hell, the tower case and, power supply and fans alone have to go for close to a grand!

Good work Apple... Where were you before I got a real job??

Um, you're being sarcastic about the case and power supply/fans costing Apple $1000.00, right? More like $300.00, if that much.

[UnixMac]

Originally posted by Zubir:
Um, you're being sarcastic about the case and power supply/fans costing Apple $1000.00, right? More like $300.00, if that much.

yeah... it depends on how you "cost" them... in Managerial Accounting & Cost Accounting they have a science to "costing" a product... for me to say $1000, I'm talking end buyer cost really, and not Apple's cost... as I'm sure Apple's cost on a PM G5 Dual 2.5 is about $1000 in materials and labor or less. But then there is the marketing, liability, R&D, Overhead, etc... that adds up to basically 90-95% of the retail cost of a machine with respect to their bottom line income.

So, short answer.. yes I was exaggerating a bit.

[buffalolee]

Originally posted by Bookie:
I'd start with the education price, downgrade the optical drive to a combo drive and save $90 more, drop the modem for $26, upgrade the 5200 to a 9600 w/128 mb ram for $46, and bam, you have a decent gaming computer for $1278. To me, this is a more compelling option than the iMac, although I'll reserve final judgement until I see some benches.

Keep the modem for $26. You never know when you might need it in your lifetime. You could probably do it for faxing and such. I haven't used mine on my Powerbook, but at least I know it's there for faxing stuff and Internet.

[discotronic]

Originally posted by buffalolee:
Keep the modem for $26. You never know when you might need it in your lifetime. You could probably do it for faxing and such. I haven't used mine on my Powerbook, but at least I know it's there for faxing stuff and Internet.

The $26 dollars spent now could help with resell time comes around also.

[GoGoReggieXPowars]

Originally posted by Superchicken:
This is 2166 CND, with an edu discount. I think perhaps in my fourth year (not next year but the one after) I may very well get one of these. Or perhaps at the end of next summer though I doubt that.

So you're going to buy a 2 year old computer at its list price?

[Crusoe]

Nice move by Apple no doubt. As noted it pushed the 1.6 refurb to $1199. Though rare a few Rev A SP 1.8s go up there. They used to be $1499 and may maintain that price with PCI-X and the faster bus.

Tough time to have taken the fall off and deciding to move half way around the world, lots of hasty purchases to resist.

[Daragon]

I was gonna buy the 1.8 GHz iMac, but now I'm having a hard time deciding between the iMac and the PM 1.8 .

Both is about the same price, except that the iMac comes with a screen.
I don't have the money to buy one of Apple's nice monitors (they should have a new model for 17" or even 15" ...), but I guess there are other nice brands which sell cheap/good monitors.

Either way, they will beat my current 700MHz eMac .

[UnixMac]

Originally posted by Daragon:
I was gonna buy the 1.8 GHz iMac, but now I'm having a hard time deciding between the iMac and the PM 1.8 .

Both is about the same price, except that the iMac comes with a screen.
I don't have the money to buy one of Apple's nice monitors (they should have a new model for 17" or even 15" ...), but I guess there are other nice brands which sell cheap/good monitors.

Either way, they will beat my current 700MHz eMac .

get a new MP G5, and then get the 17" Apple Display that has been discontinued... it's gonna go for a song now.

[Evan_11]

Maybe it's just me but why not splurge on the dual 1.8? It's a $500 difference but you reasonably double the life of your system. Also resale will be better on a dual. Maybe I'm just speaking to a bunch of people who don't have a lot of money.

[power142]

As an entry-level machine for those who won't notice the second processor in their usage pattern, the $500 is probably better spent on a (non-Apple, obviously) DVI-equipped LCD screen

[Mafia]

Originally posted by power142:
As an entry-level machine for those who won't notice the second processor in their usage pattern, the $500 is probably better spent on a (non-Apple, obviously) DVI-equipped LCD screen

true

[iDaver]

Originally posted by power142:
As an entry-level machine for those who won't notice the second processor in their usage pattern, the $500 is probably better spent on a (non-Apple, obviously) DVI-equipped LCD screen

Or more memory, since the Power Mac comes with such a paltry amount.

[MrForgetable]

• 256MB DDR400 SDRAM (PC3200) - 2x128
• 160GB Serial ATA - 7200rpm
• ATI Radeon 9600 XT w/128MB DDR SDRAM
• Apple Cinema Display (20" flat panel)
• AirPort Extreme Card
• Bluetooth Module
• 56k V.92 modem.
• 8x Super Drive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
• Apple Keyboard & Apple Mouse - U.S. English
• Mac OS X - U.S. English



Subtotal $2,769.00

a quality powermac (only needs a bit of RAM) + cinema display somewhat within reach now! (somewhat as in hmm.. close, but no.)

[UnixMac]

Originally posted by MrForgetable:
• 256MB DDR400 SDRAM (PC3200) - 2x128
• 160GB Serial ATA - 7200rpm
• ATI Radeon 9600 XT w/128MB DDR SDRAM
• Apple Cinema Display (20" flat panel)
• AirPort Extreme Card
• Bluetooth Module
• 56k V.92 modem.
• 8x Super Drive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
• Apple Keyboard & Apple Mouse - U.S. English
• Mac OS X - U.S. English



Subtotal $2,769.00

a quality powermac with decent stuff + cinema display somewhat within reach now! (somewhat as in hmm.. close, but no.)

Less than 1/2 what I paid for my system.... and I assure you my system isn't twice as fast... not a bad deal if you ask me.

[Disgruntled Head of C-3PO]

For most people it would be much smarter to get an iMac.

[Bookie]

Originally posted by Disgruntled Head of C-3PO:
For most people it would be much smarter to get an iMac.

Unless. like me, you want a computer that will still be a viable gaming rig 2 years from now. I guess you're right though that gamers are in the minority.

[UnixMac]

Originally posted by Bookie:
Unless. like me, you want a computer that will still be a viable gaming rig 2 years from now. I guess you're right though that gamers are in the minority.

especially on the Mac, which is a shame cause if Game developers took the time to make good games that were optimized for the Mac, they'd be amazed at how many people would buy them. The problem is that most Mac games are ported over from PC code and the portability of that code is also the weakness of how it runs on a Mac.

[lpetschauer]

So is it true that the processor is soldered to the motherboard? That's what hardmac is saying.

[Mafia]

Originally posted by lpetschauer:
So is it true that the processor is soldered to the motherboard? That's what hardmac is saying.

i wonder why they'd do that? so they can replace whole mobo's on processor failure

[booboo]

Originally posted by power142:
As an entry-level machine for those who won't notice the second processor in their usage pattern, the $500 is probably better spent on a (non-Apple, obviously) DVI-equipped LCD screen

it's called an iMac G5, and the screen comes free.

Wasn't there an entry level G5 1.6GHz tower at this price 2 years ago - but with a faster system bus? 2 years is a long time to wait for a 200Mhx speed bump (and a bus speed drop . . .)

[jamil5454]

I think it was just a year and a few months ago.

[booboo]

Originally posted by jamil5454:
I think it was just a year and a few months ago.

You're correct. June 2003.

OK. I revise my earlier statement:

16 months is a long time to wait for a 200 MHz cpu hike and a system bus speed drop . . .

Plus if you can find an 'old' 1.8 SP you not only get PCI-X but twice the no. of RAM slots but a faster bus too.

Still thoroughly underwhelmed.

[PBG4 User]

Originally posted by booboo:
You're correct. June 2003.

OK. I revise my earlier statement:

16 months is a long time to wait for a 200 MHz cpu hike and a system bus speed drop . . .

Plus if you can find an 'old' 1.8 SP you not only get PCI-X but twice the no. of RAM slots but a faster bus too.

Still thoroughly underwhelmed.

I'm hoping that someone figures out how to change the buss multiplyer so all of us buying new iMacs & SP PMacs can up our buss speed to the best 1:2 ratio.

[booboo]

Originally posted by PBG4 User:
I'm hoping that someone figures out how to change the buss multiplyer so all of us buying new iMacs & SP PMacs can up our buss speed to the best 1:2 ratio.

This guy is usually first

http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/~t-imai/maine.html

[Cadaver]

I'd trade the 1.4GHz GigE G4 in my office for a "new" 1.8GHz G5 in a New York second! No PCI-X, 4 RAM slots and all.

[msuper69]

Originally posted by booboo:
You're correct. June 2003.

OK. I revise my earlier statement:

16 months is a long time to wait for a 200 MHz cpu hike and a system bus speed drop . . .

Plus if you can find an 'old' 1.8 SP you not only get PCI-X but twice the no. of RAM slots but a faster bus too.

Still thoroughly underwhelmed.

Lucky me. I got the 'old' 1.8 SP as a refurb at MicroCenter for $754. 160gb hd, 512mb RAM, SuperDrive.

[iDaver]

Originally posted by msuper69:
Lucky me. I got the 'old' 1.8 SP as a refurb at MicroCenter for $754. 160gb hd, 512mb RAM, SuperDrive.

I'll give you $850 for it.