[Big Slick]

Greetings from the arctic nation of Canada!

New to the forum and having a quick look around I have a couple of questions for some of you wise ones.

1. I'm looking to buy a 20/24" imac, but after visiting Think Secret, they say a new model is coming out in mid August. I'm looking at the following specs: 2.33 process, 2GB ram, 256MB video card update (ATI or Nvidea?), wireless key/mouse, and AppleCare (is it worth it?). These specs are for the current models. Should I wait or buy one now?

2. My other question revolves around music. (Dunno if this should go under software or what?) As a semi-professional musician, how is the imac for music stuff. I have an old Roland keybrd with midi outs (those round 9-pin cables) and can it be plugged in with some usb/fire wire thingy? Also, Garageband seems pretty cool but is more gimmick or is there some quality meat there?

Thanks for yer help!

[Jacke]

I'd say wait if you can.

You'll need to get either a USB-to-MIDI adapter (cheap) or an audio interface with MIDI (not so cheap). I've heard good things about the Presonus Firebox, which also has two preamps for mic/instruments.

Garageband is nice, but if you're not a beginner I suspect you'll come to its limits quickly. It has no track automation except for volume and panning, and it only records in 16bit 44.1Khz. The Garageband files can be opened in Logic Express/Pro, which makes it a good "doodling" environment for later beefing up a track.

[Big Slick]

Thanks for the informative input, Jacke.

It sucks to have to wait. :-( It's like buying an early Christmas present in October and then waiting until Dec. to open it up!!

I went to a music store this weekend and saw the Midi/USB adapter $45.00CDN and saw they had some other mac type stuff like iMic adapters and others stuff.

thanks,
Big Slick

[roller]

I'd have to agree with Jacke. Mactatic.com tracks the probable release of new models and suggests waiting for your purchase. Everything on the sites seems to suggest waiting would be to your long-term advantage...

[Big Slick]

Well I finally did it!!! Thanks to all the great info on this site I'm buying my Imac in the 24" 2.8GHZ variety. The wireless kbrd delays a purchase 3-5 weeks!!! but the guy I spoke with is putting the wireless kybrd on a separate order so that it won't delay my shipping.
I AM SO EXCITED - THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP GUYS(AND GIRLS)!

[peeb]

Did you get the new aluminum ones?

[analogika]

No - he had a friendly guy on Apple's eBay shop stick a 2.8 GHz processor into a 24" white iMac. Funny about the Apple Store bank account being in Nigeria, but that's globalization for you.

[analogika]

Originally Posted by Big Slick 

Well I finally did it!!! Thanks to all the great info on this site I'm buying my Imac in the 24" 2.8GHZ variety. The wireless kbrd delays a purchase 3-5 weeks!!! but the guy I spoke with is putting the wireless kybrd on a separate order so that it won't delay my shipping.
I AM SO EXCITED - THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP GUYS(AND GIRLS)!

Congrats man. You're getting a KICK-ASS machine, and you will be MORE than pleased with GarageBand - especially the new version.

[Big Slick]

In addition to my Mac (is it a G6 then?) I picked up a couple of games (probably a little over-priced coming from the Apple Store) but what the hell. Im kinda glad I just started my 2wks of holidays otherwise Id be missing quite a bit of sleep showing up at work. ;-)
"Sorry boss...<cough, cough> I'm still sick...another few days in bed maybe"

[analogika]

Not a "G6".

The "G" architecture was PowerPC-based - a completely different chip design, requiring a completely different code set (which is why some - older - applications will run in "emulation" on your machine, taking a speed hit, while others are "Universal"). The PowerPC alliance was a cooperation between Apple, IBM, and Motorola.

Your machine is based on Intel's Core architecture, running an Intel Core 2 Duo Extreme.