Hi Len,

I've bought a lot of equipment (compared to usual) in recent months, and
should probably chime in.

Mac or PC?  I don't have any substantial experience on a PC but have been
happy enough with the macs I've owned to not be overly curious.  The
apparent need to jump through hoops and tread lightly on the PC to avoid
viruses has kept me satisfied with the mac side of things.

Last fall I bought a refurbished Power PC G5 1.6 and am very happy with it.
It came with the full Apple warranty and I saved a couple hundred bucks or
so, which helped pay for the memory I added.  More recently I helped a
friend buy a refurbished iMac G5 1.8 with a 20" monitor - what a sweet
little machine!  I was going to buy one of the new iMacs myself except Apple
said I wouldn't be able to extend the desktop with a second monitor only
mirror it.  Anyway, I just wanted to mentione Apple's refurbished deals.  If
you're interested just go to

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa

and do a search for "refurbished".  All the available product will be shown.
Sometimes the selection might not be that great but it doesn't seem to take
long for more items to appear, so check back often.  Also, you should be
aware that product does tend to sell quickly off that page.

I don't think anyone has talked about printers yet.  A few weeks back I was
looking for a new printer that would handle up to ledger size paper and
determined (with help from folks on the list) that:

    1) Hewlett Packard models with that feature, especially the 5100 models,
    seem to be the most popular choices (I was also researching the Rico
    600n and Darcy Argue's report on his machine swayed me against it).
    2) a refurbished printer might not be a bad idea.  Karen
    ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) offered this:

>I haven't shopped around for the 5100 printers but if you are willing
>to buy used, I can suggest the 5000n (the "n" is the one with the
>ethernet card already in it.)  The 5000n is a great printer (it is
>the newer version of the 4MV)   The company I am currently working
>for uses them on the scoring stage.

>Here is a link below where you can buy a used 5000n.  I bought my 4MV
>from this company 4 years ago and it has worked perfectly.  They buy
>off lease products with low mileage and refurb them.  They will give
>you a 90 day parts and labor guarantee.

>If you go with this company, make sure that you ask her for a printer
>with a low page count and don't buy their recharged toner cartridge.
>It's best to buy factory toner cartridges new in my opinion.

><http://www.cheaphpprinters.com/item.jhtml?UCIDs=588560%7C1141320&PRID=1289165>

I actually placed my order for a 5000n from this outfit but cancelled it
later that morning.  I was calling the place where I've always bought toner
cartridges to check on their prices for 5000n cartridges and the salesman
there asked me to let him see what printers he had available.  Turned out he
found me a 5100 with a network card for basically the same money I was going
to pay for the 5000n, only it was a newer model, had been leased to one
client and serviced by them, and had a low, low page count.  I just drove
over and picked it up from a company I knew.

I'm sure this company (Laser Plus, Nashville, TN) would sell to folks out of
town but that would put shipping, which could be significant, back in the
equation.  It seems like it might be more productive to find a similar deal
from a company like this one in your own area.

I really apologize to everyone for the length of this, but I have one more
suggestion concerning printers handling paper sizes up to legal.  For
certain models I found considerably better prices at my local Staples store
than I did online at sites like Pricegrabber.  It's probably at least worth
the trip over to the local office supply chain store before you buy online,
or, I guess you could check out their websites as well.

I hope this helps, and good luck!

Don Hart



on 1/28/05 12:57 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

> I always move too slowly when it comes to new tech equipment.
> I'm on a Mac G3 - OS 9.2 I have OSX. using Fin03.
> Memory if almost full - and I like what I've heard from 05 play back,
> at least for my needs.
> I've ordered Fin 05.
> Those of you that have made an up grade to a new computer -
> I can now finally able afford to purchase a new one.
> To Mac or not to Mac? If so - which G5?
> Or is a PC a better choice?
> I haven't followed discussions on this topic -
> like a lot of composers music sells in spurts.
> So I thought I was still more than a year or so away from a new computer.
> Printer suggestions will be welcome also.
> I have an Epson color 900. Only marginally satisfied with it.
> Thanks - it great to have so many experts to help us old newbies!
> Len
> 
> My web site: www.littlebearmusic.com
> _______________________________________________
> Finale mailing list
> [email protected]
> http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale

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