[parousialock@ma]

So now that Tiger is out, and 64 bit enabled pieces of software are becoming available with Apple supposedly making Tiger excel on 64bit computers what upgrade path do you think I should take?

I mean the mac mini is a great machine but 64bit it is not.

The entry lvl iMacs are 64bit and the Powermacs of course...

So if you had to buy a computer today with limited funds, lets say from the entry lvl Imac and down @ $1599 ... which most consumers would be paying for a wintel machine, what would you buy?

This is currently my conundrum.

Parousia

[Big Mac]

64-bit sounds good and makes it easier to market chips and OSs, but it makes little if any difference to most end users at the end of the day. That point is not in dispute - everyone who knows about computing will say the same thing. If you're an entry level user who does not do a lot of processor intense tasks, then an entry level Mac will suit your needs well.

[parousialock@ma]

So for the future buying a computer with a G5 for Tiger and other OS releases as well as software is not going to make a significant impact?

Currently I use my machine for Photography, using iPhoto which is a Dog on my eMac.

Will a G5 speed things up, or just a faster G4?

Parousia

[Eug Wanker]

If you have to ask what 64-bit will give you, then you don't need it.

Still, in your shoes I'd probably get an iMac refurb. Not because it's a 64-bit chip, but because it's a faster desktop, and still reasonably priced.

[Chuckit]

There are other advantages to the G5 than just 64-bitness. Its faster bus alone could make the G4 go crying to its mommy.

For what it's worth, though, iPhoto's performance seems fine on my 1.5 GHz PowerBook. But you could try playing around at an Apple Store or somewhere to see for yourself.