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holderlin · Dec 29, 2003, 11:23 AM

I'm currently using a G4/400 with OS 10.3.2. It satisfies most of my needs. However, it is slow in Photoshop and InDesign.

I'm considering buying a dual 1.8 G5 before the end of the year so I can take advantage of the 1 year depreciation tax deduction for businesses.

Rumor has it that 1.8 will get a price drop and its current price point will be replaced by dual 2.2. I can save between $600-$800 with the deduction. Will the only difference between the 1.8 and 2.2 be processor speed? If so, how much difference do you think I'll notice? What other changes might there be? Do you think January is a reasonable estimate of release date for new G5s?

Sorry for the basic question but I'm having a hard time deciding. (I have looked in previous threads but it has raised as many questions as its answered.)

Thanks,
Bob

sodamnregistered2 · Dec 29, 2003, 11:51 AM

I think it will be late spring, early summer before you ACTUALLY get your hands on any new machines.

I don't think they will announce at Macworld. So, say they anounce February 1. It will prolly be like 1-2 months after that before you can get one. A little longer for whatever the new top dog is.

That's just been Apple's history the last few years.

If you need it and you have a tax reason. I'd buy now. I'm hard on Apple, and for the most part, my dual 2.0 is a fast solid machine.

-Q- · Dec 29, 2003, 11:55 AM

If you need the machine now, and can realize a tax-savings by doing so, I'd get it now. The above poster is right: even if they would announce the new G5s at Macworld, I don't think you'd see them for a few months after the announcement.

Buy it when you need it.

Eriamjh · Dec 29, 2003, 12:27 PM

Buy it now if you absolutely need it now, otherwise wait until AFTER MWSF. You can always buy the same model at a lower price.

bimmerphile · Dec 29, 2003, 12:58 PM

****, wait, and then take advantage of the dual 1.8 price drop.

NYCFarmboy · Dec 29, 2003, 01:48 PM

For tax reasons probably best to go now.

the dual 1.8 is a sweet machine.

I was in your boat, with a G4 400 on photoshop up until last Feb. But finally a DVD project came along and pushed me into getting a dual 1.42 G4 tower.

I'm so happy with my 1.42 G4..you will LOVE your 1.8 G5 dual. My old G4 was just fine for email/web etc, but for photoshop it was just too slow.

My "speculation" will be that the January show for Macworld will be all about G5 powerbooks which will see a different form (wider/lower screens). The G5 towers will be updated and I'm sure the price on the 1.8's will drop substantially, but you have to figure out what the tax benefits of depreciation are. (as I understand it you can write off 45% on purchases this year which is substantial)...but..I'm not sure about that...just something I read somewhere and I don't know that for a fact at all.

sktrdie · Dec 29, 2003, 04:07 PM

the same

WizOSX · Dec 29, 2003, 09:55 PM

I would assume that the tax saving for one year would probably be in the $300-$400 range. Does that sound about right? If it were my money, I would say it was a very close call.

willab · Dec 29, 2003, 10:01 PM

Originally posted by sktrdie:
the same

Change your sig.

Images may be no larger than 140 pixels wide and 40 pixels tall.
Images are required to also be under 10KB, not animated, and non-offensive.

Eriamjh · Dec 31, 2003, 09:54 AM

Wait. By God, wait. You'll never regret waiting.

Arkham_c · Dec 31, 2003, 11:00 AM

Originally posted by willab:
Change your sig.

Man, this place is overrun by sig nazis.

Personally, I'd wait, being this close to MWSF.

holderlin · Jan 7, 2004, 11:51 AM

Just to put completion to this thread. My impatience won out and I bought a dual 1.8 G5 before the end of 2003.

For what I use (InDesign, Photoshop, Word processor, spreadsheet, some audio editing) the computer seems more than up to the task. I should get between a $3-400 tax break, so I decided to take the plunge.

I haven't pushed it to its limits by any means. And I love it! Unlike the G4/400 it can really do multi-tasking. Before, if I was running two background programs (one being a download) the program I was working on would be really slow.

Thanks for all your advise (pro and con). It was very helpful in making my decision.

Bob

sodamnregistered2 · Jan 7, 2004, 04:14 PM

Yeah, that's the good buy for now. I would have bought a dual 1.8 if it was available when I bought.

Until the machines hit dual 3 GHz I wound not even sweat any new machines that come out, and even then, if your dual 1.8 is still up to the task. Let it ride.

I had a dual G4/800. Skipped on dual 1 GHz, 1.25GHz and 1.42GHz. When the dual 2 GHz was available, it was an easy decision.