[deermatt]

ok, im trading my ibook g4 1.42ghz for a desktop cause its what i really need more. here are the 2 setups, and then base your decision..

1.
20" widescreen with 1680 x 1050 resolution (awesome quality!)
1.25 GHz PowerPC G4
OS X Version 10.4.2 (yes, that is the new Tiger operating system!)
512 mb DDR SDRAM
80 GB hard drive
Superdrive DVD-RW
Includes AppleCare Protection Plan that is good through February 1, 2007.
Microsoft Office Suite for Mac (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Entourage)
iPhoto & iTunes
Airport Extreme wireless card installed

still has like a year of apple care on it .

ORRR....

2.
2GHz PowerPC G5
1 gig DDR400
160GB Serial ATA hard drive
Slot-load 8x SuperDrive double-layer
ATI Radeon 9600 128MB
56K modem

Now, heres what ill be doing with it to help you judge.. It will be my only computer. I like to watch dvds/movies , im big into music and have many gigs of music , your daily use like aim and internet , but also, im a part time photographer. I use photoshop to edit my pictures, some say 512mb isnt enough for this , but before this ibook, i owned a 20in imac g5 , and it had 512mb ram, and i didnt really notice it being sluggish, but i may have been wrong ?

complaints with the 2 :
-imac g5 17in- screen is 3 inches smaller than the g4. not sure if it has applecare . The speakers on the imac g5s suck since they are small, and dont get real loud.

-imac g4 20in-It is slower, half the hd space and half the ram.

likes about the 2:
-imac g5 17in - well, faster processor, double the hd space, double the ram, its newer. I think (?) it has airport and bluetooth standard. I can mount it on the wall for more desk space

-imac g4 20in - i think the 20in screen would be really nice to watch movies and edit pictures on , where the 17im might limit me ? The external speakers on the g4's are really nice and get loud.

So , I think i listed everything , now id like to see peoples decisions

[sworthy]

I would go for the G5. HD space, bluetooth, dual-layered dvd burning (faster as well), more ram, MUCH better video card, and NEW!

Speakers wouldn't set you back too much, and the G5 has the additional benefit of having the optical out.

Does the G4 include an actual full copy of office, or is it just pre-installed?

Performance wise you should know for the most part what you're dealing with seeing that you've already had an iMac and your ibook is probably roughly the same as the G4 iMac would be. By the way, why have you been changing machines so often?

[deermatt]

i had a pc, someone offered to sell me a imac g3 for like 150 bucks, i thought it was cool so i bought it .. i got really tired of it casue it was lame , so i went all out and bought a 20in imac g5 . It put me 2grand in debt, bad decision. I sold it to pay off some debt, but i still wanted a mac, i thought my best bet would be to try out a ibook from a family friend. I love the thing, but it has limitations that i cant have right now. Hd too small, screen to small, and i cant edit on here, and so on.. Id like to keep just one computer and stick with it !

[Randman]

G5. Better specs and more ram.

[deermatt]

randman - does the 3in in screen size make any difference to you?

[Randman]

For the three inches, I'd take the extra specs of the G5. For the G4, you'd be better off, imo, getting a mini or a laptop and an external monitor.

[deermatt]

yeah , well ibooks dont have dvi out, so it would be pointless for a external monitor , and mac minis are overpriced for what they are imo, so its still a toss up, but im leaning towards the 17in g5

[experimental]

G4 issues
Get a nice little FW drive for 80 bucks and your storage issues are solved.
I stream radio from my iMac through my hi-fi and wouldnt have it any other way, or theres always a good set of cans to consider (audio technica is a good quality sound for price).
For movie buffs, I have to go for the bigger screen, no questions the 20 inch screen is far superior.
If you got the G4 you will need to pump up the ram.
G5 on the other hand.....
The burner is much much faster
Video card is superior for faster refresh rates in photoshop etc.
It looks cool on you desk and will blast through Tiger no probs.
Its likely to last you longer.
my 2 bits at a glance

[deermatt]

experimental- what would you choose? your answer is a little unclear

[deermatt]

58 views but only 8 responses.. speak up other 50 people !

[deermatt]

now 80 views, 8 responses, are people shy?

[OogaBooga]

I would get the iMac G5, just because it's newer. Anyone can survive with photoshop on a 17" widescreen.

[andreas_g4]

I don't understand the question.








(G5)

[zign]

Definitely iMac. The screen isn't that bad, but it's much better in terms of everything else. By the way, you’ll be surprised with the speakers.

[discotronic]

The G5 iMac is a POS. Bottom line. My PowerMac 1.8GHz SP is the same. A POS. After owning two lemons in a row I would go for the G4 iMac in a heartbeat. I owned a 17" 1.25GHz and it was one of the, if not the, best Macs that I ever owned. Quiet, reliable, cool looking, and a decent performer. The only bad thing is the difficulty in upgrading the HD and RAM.

The G5 iMac has too many issues. Apple even admits it with the extended repair whatever program that they have going. The "recall" applies to both the original G5 and the Rev. version.

That's just my opinion.

[jaydon34]

Id go G5 although that seems obvious unless its a price issue. As far as quality Ive heard complaints and seen several people bring there G5 imac into the apple store to get serviced while I was shopping

[deermatt]

yeah before i had this ibook, i had a rev A 20in imac g5, and the logic board fried on me

[jaydon34]

wish i had a G5 but Im gonna get a nice desktop after the switch is made.

[as2]

G5 every time.

[Fonzie]

i'm not quite sure what to pick. If it's because of noise then the G4 is definately the choice because it's quiet. The G5 can be a bit noisy. I had my logic board in my G5 frie on me once before. But for the performance I would choose a G5.

The specs are most definately higher on the G5 so it might be the better choice. Here's to hoping you wont get a lemon iMac with all the problems that follow. The G4 is cool looking though. I'm quite lost as of this moment.

[experimental]

Originally Posted by deermatt

experimental- what would you choose? your answer is a little unclear

Honestly, I couldnt choose because I have a 20 inch screen, and its fabulous, on the other hand I prefer the G5 processor and better graphics for photoshop etc. If you can find a 20 inch G5 at a reasonable price.... they have them at the applestore under the sale section. Summary, save a little longer and get your perfect machine. All the best

[sworthy]

how about a 2GHz 20 incher for $1499 refurbed from apple's website? The best of both worlds!

[ghporter]

G5! G5! G5!

The G5's specs beat the 20" G4's pretty thoroughly, and I've been using 17" displays for a long time and find them more than adequate. In fact, I love 'em. I do not watch a lot of movies on my computers, but it still works fine for them-you can share a movie on a 17" monitor with about one close friend, but I prefer my TV for movies anyway.