Hello: I am in digest mode, so I've read six items already. Luca Rescigno <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wants advice for college machines. I like the idea of a G4 400 or similiar desktop instead of a G3, expecially since you favor using OS X. You would spend quite a bit upgrading a beige G3 and still not enjoy what you have unless you become a hobbyist and spend more to max out the G3.
Also, with a good desktop machine, your laptop configuration becomes less important. I assume its main job is to take notes in class lectures, not heavy duty! Why bother upgrade your PowerBook G3/233? It already has a Firewire PC card, right? So here is a chance to put money somewhere else, like a desktop. And think about backing up your files. If the college allows you to upload your critical files to a server for safe keeping, fine. But if not, you could reserve some space on your iPod for this. With Firewire on a G4, and Firewire on your existing laptop, you could backup both your G4 and your G3. But, personally I would recommend a separate, external Firewire hard drive; this is bound to be more robust and dependable than an iPod that gets knocked about the campus and neighborhood. Do your backups frequently, especially when you are half way or almost all the way done with a project. Then if one Mac suffers a casualty, your other one can at least access your files. This assumes you can afford both to buy a G4 and keep your PB G3/233. If the decision becomes a choice between the G4 with that PB 520 trade on the one hand, and a G3 desktop with keeping your PB G3/233 on the other hand, I recommend the G4/PB 520 combination. And you should still get that Firewire hard drive for backup; you can always carry it to another Mac in an emergency. Best of luck, -- Al Poulin Anger, hate, and revenge are for the devil, forgiveness is for God, proactive self-defense is for the rest of us. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I think if you are selling your power book and lets say getting a G3 beige > 266 or 300, you will in the end spend about the same money on firewire/USB, > videocard, prossesor upgrade, things really start to cook in X when you hav= > e > a G4 with altivec as you would if you would be getting a G4 400. And you > will bee stuck with the 66Mhz system buz and a other limitations. > > I say don=92t get a beige now to spend money on, go for aG4 if you can afford > it . That will do nicely for quite a few years > > S=E6var=20 > Beige owner > >> Either way, I will end up with a desktop system that is more powerful >> than my laptop. A beige G3 may not be the best way to go, since I'd need >> lots of upgrades in order to bring it up to spec, and even then it >> wouldn't be that great (certainly not as great as, say, a used >> Sawtooth). Again, I don't need lots of power but a significant jump >> would be nice. Something that'll keep me able to do basic things for a >> few years. I'm afraid that a beige G3, as adequate as it looks now, may >> just not cut it even for basic work a few years down the line. > >> =20 > > > ------------------------------ -- G-List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- We have Apple Refurbished Monitors in stock! | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-List list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml> Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Macintosh? Get free email and more at Applelinks! <http://www.applelinks.com>
