[Dane]

I'm big on graphcis, animation, web designing, and anything else you can imagine with Photoshop, Flash, and 3D Studio Max. Now my question, like the subject, is the Mac G4 the way to go? I'm also interested in getting into Quicktime development, like trailors and things of that nature. Is it worth getting?

[Cipher13]

Absolutely.
The G4 is THE platform to work with such things as those on your list.
You'll wonder how you ever got along without one...

[- - e r i k - -]

I'm surprised you haven't switched yet...

[Dane]

Thanks. I'm gonna look into it more, but can you give me any information on actually why its better? Does the software run better and things of that nature. I'm willing to switch, but I'm looking for actual reasons from others experiences. The opinions are convincing, but if you can help me out with a little more that'd be really great. Thanks.

[MacMerc.com]

Have a look at Apple’s article on the Duality Star Wars fan film. It doesn't answer all of your questions but it might fill in a few blanks.

-Rick

[jeffhot]

The G4 has a special little subset called the Velocity Engine. Some applications, like Photoshop, are specially designed to take advantage of this. Thereby they become faster. That's about as much as I know. I think Mac OS X is also built to take advantage of this, so any native OS X app will run faster on a G4.

[bluedog]

First, Max is not a Macintosh application. I don't think 3DStudio will ever make a Mac version.

Entry and smaller applications are available for 3D, Adobe has a product that may not get a new revision, but works nonetheless for simple 3d stuff (not like 3DStudioMax) called Adobe Dimensions.

Other software is Strata Studio Pro (I don't think it has the best renderer, but has a great price!). There is Carrara which is a recent entry from the former MetaCreations. I don't know who purchased the publishing and software rights for this one. Don't forget to check out Martin Hash's Animation Master, and Amorphium (an Electric Image Modeler). And I almost forgot Amapi.

For higher level 3d applications on the Macintosh, look for Cinema4D from Maxon (a German company) or Lightwave which is also available.

Electric Image has some great expensive software. Also, Maya will be coming soon (if you have used the high caliber film/special effects software before).

I don't believe that running Max in the PC emulation software is a viable option. I've tried it, and its not up to speed with a production style environ.

All the other software you mentioned is available for MacG4s. I own a dual 533 and it is a wonderful machine. If you are used to running the top-of-the-line PCs with the fastest processors, drives, and lots of RAM and fast video you won't be disappointed, but it might not be any 'faster' than you are accustomed to using.

The fastest PCs, and fastest Macs are quite comparable. The real advantage of the newest Macs is OSX. It is upbelievably flexible and at a level of other professional Unix workstations (IMO).

The advantage of onboard Firewire, great film compositing software that's actually affordable on affordable hardware, you get a lot of bang for your buck with a G4 that you often pay extra for with a PC. I've never bought a full PC but have built several, and enjoy using my macs much more.

It sounds like you are either trolling for mac users to spew about how great they are, or really excited about mac hardware. I'd be happiest if it were the latter. In any case, it seems like you have an open mind about getting into a Mac system. You shouldn't be disappointed with a new Mac purchase. (Just get additional RAM).

My current preference has been for Cinema3d which I think you'll find feature-full like 3DStudioMax on the PC is. There are plenty of effects and plugins, and their BodyPaint product is really cool.

A fun resource for 3D artists is: http://www.dvgarage.com/

[ 06-15-2001: Message edited by: bluedog ]

[ 06-15-2001: Message edited by: bluedog ]

[Dane]

Thanks everyone for the input! I really had no idea what to expect with Mac's so I thought I'd ask the actual Mac Users. Thanks again, I think I've made up my mind.

[- - e r i k - -]

Great! Welcome aboard!

I suggest you get Apple's Final Cut Pro, if you are doing any kind of 4D media (film, animation etc.). It's THE best package for film production (rates top in all tests of DV software).

As mentioned previously, Photoshop runs faster on a G4 (which is why Apple always has a Photoshop shoot-out with the fastest Pentium when they release a new G4 )

[Cipher13]

Welcome to Macintosh - you've entered a better world. You'll love it.

[Dane]

Thanks so much! I have a good feeling about this. Last question. I thought of this while using Windows (you'll understand why). With a combo of the G4 and OSX do you know the likely hood of it crashing or erroring a lot? Or should I direct that one to the OSX section on the BBS?

[bluedog]

As with most software, its only as strong as the code it was written with (which is programmed by a fallible human). There are always small errors in coding that can lead to instability.

The advantage of OSX, at its core is a 15+ or more completely stable kernel. BSD variants of Unix are known for stability and security. Then the top level OpenStep has had at least 15 years (originally NextStep). While it may seem these would be 'old' technologies, they actually are state-of-the-art and were really quite ahead of any 'business or consumer' PC by at least as many years.

The recent additions Apple has been making are pushing these technologies out into the future.

I've had a few glitches with the initial release of OSX, but they are polishing it quite nicely. The initial release of Win95, I don't even want to remember it. OSX has a few edges that will be honed to a fine point in no time.

I expect the next major release to be in the next MacWorld and to push OSX into the state where it can be widely used and accepted. Until recently, only the early birds and adopters of technology have really embraced OSX. Once you use it and can appreciate the design, it draws you in. "Look into the light."

[KidRed]

Dane- Yes, get a G4!!!

As for using OSX, while OSX rocks, you would be better served waiting for approvements from classic (9.0+) which is used to run photoshop and some other non-OSX apps as of now. In 9.0+ the G4 will simply fly with most apps, especially photoshop so I would recommend using that for now.

Welcome aboard

[gorgonzola]

Mac OS X will be an extremely powerful and robust production environment in about a year. Right now, no matter what anyone tells you, it's really an early adopter release. No, it's not a beta, but it is a 1.0 release, and very few 1.0 releases are good enough for a production house. Running the OS X forums gives me a good glimpse into the user base, and the people that are the happiest with OS X right now are the developers. The reason? Greatest app availability. I don't want to get off topic, of course, but the point is that they have a huge spread of UNIX development tools as well as Mac OS developer tools available (Grand Unified Debugger to InterfaceBuilder and beyond).

Graphics and video people aren't happy with OS X, and this is to be expected. The interface needs refinement, the CoreOS needs refinement, and the only major graphics apps that run on it right now are Lightwave and Freehand. I don't know about Lightwave, but I've heard from a number of people that Freehand needs some polishing in OS X ... it runs well in OS 9.

Ultimately, your purchase is truly an investment for the future. I would strongly recommend you stick with Mac OS 9.x until every single application you need is fully ported, and then you can reevaluate the situation. I think Mac OS X will be ready in a years' time; maybe sooner, but not too much sooner. Once you upgrade, however, your machine will scream because Mac OS X offers true multiprocessor support as well as other features that will really push the hardware to the limits. It's not ready yet, and in the great words of Bungie, it'll be ready when it's done, and done right.

As for the dual G4, you've made the right decision. It really is the tool of choice due to the AltiVec unit (special unit that can accelerate graphics/video applications if they're written for it; FCP2 is 60% faster on a G4 than a G3, for example).

HTH
-gzl.

[I'mDaMac]

The G4 is a good all around machine for users in the creative industry. In a nutshell the Mac excels for print design, is about even with the PC in web design and behind the PC in 3D animation.

If you want to get into print design the Mac has no equal. Color management is second to none and most service bureaus are mac-based which means no problems with file types and fonts.

Web publishing is pretty much a wash (but I like to give the Mac a slight edge). Since 90% of users browse the internet on a PC it just makes sense that most web design companies want to use PC's in a sites development. The Mac has kept pace though since much of the present day web designers are those who have switched from print and prefer the Mac.

Where the Mac falls behind though is 3D animation (the section of the industry I'm looking into transitioning towards). There are many more options as far as software on the PC than there is for Mac (this includes 3D packages as well as third-party plugins). A couple of high-end packages that will probably never see a Mac port are 3D Studio Max and Softimage; Discreet and Avid have shown no interest in porting to Mac OS X either. Also, the lack of true high-end video cards for the Mac (no, the GeForce 3 is not a high-end 3D card) is a HUGE disadvantage for our beloved platform. Not all is bleak however, the Mac platform still has industry heavyweights such as Electric Image and LightWave 3D in it's stable, with Maya forthcoming. After using LightWave 6.5b under OS X I am very optimistic of the Mac as a viable 3D animation platform.

So to answer your question, "How good is the G4 for graphics and animation?" I'd have to say excellent as far as general graphic design and "not-great-but-getting-there" as far as animation is concerned.

[opallaser]

Don't forget Cinema 4D XL on the Mac which also has an OS X version. It's a fantastic product.