On Nov 26, 2005, at 10:24 AM, Kathy Kotomaimoce wrote:
Just looking for some friendly advice regarding a (hopefully soon)
purchase. I'm feeling the need to upgrade. I currently use a G4
Quicksilver 733mhz/40g/640 ram running OS 10.3.9. This machine is
used for graphic design/illustration, internet/email, and storing
digital photos that never get printed. The graphics apps I use the
most are Freehand 9, Quark 4, Photoshop 6, and GoLive 6 - some of
which are still running in Classic. I plan to upgrade my software
to Adobe CS2, Freehand and possibly Quark. I don't do any heavy
video, music or animation work, and I'm not a gamer (although I'd
really like to try that new star wars lego game). I'd like to be
rid of the beige behomoth CRT monitor, and I'd like to avoid some
of the noticible slowdowns in Freehand.
I tend to think that the iMac G5 20" would be a good way for me to
upgrade both the cpu and monitor on a budget. I won't need to
upgrade my older printer and scanner right away - I've found 3rd
party software/drivers for those to work in OS X - I think just an
adapter for the scanner and it'll work. Considering I've used this
G4 for 4 years, and it's a single processor, and so little ram -
wouldn't I be happy with a single processor iMac G5 for a few
years? Or do I really need a dual processor for the CS2 apps?
The G5 iMac will be fine. Of all the CS2 apps, only Photoshop really
gives a DP system a workout. Your main problem has probably been the
minimal (for your purposes) RAM in your machine, and to a lesser
extent, the CPU.
The main cons of a iMac G5 over a tower are(aside from cost): no dual
processors and no dual monitors, though the firmware hack that allows
it on iBooks also works on some iMacs. <http://tinyurl.com/376uj> The
pros are (aside from lower cost): much more desktop avail;able for
your use, and a faster system.
If you get a new system in 4 years (the lifespan of the current
system) you'll have gotten a better deal from it than you did the QS
because the iMac cost less to start, and it'll put you firmly into
the era of Intel-based Pro macs.
There's also the third route: upgrading your Quicksilver.
You can get a dual 1.2Ghz CPU for your system for $400, or a single
2Ghz for $360 from OWC, a 512 MB simm for $81 and 17-19" LCD monitors
are readily available for < $400. 20" ones are still more expensive,
but Tiger Direct has a Phillips 20" Widescreen one for $550.
So for over $700 less than a new iMac you could keep your current
system going for another three-four years; more money for upgrading
software, almost as much desk space gained, and no adapters needed
for your printer and scanner.
--
Bruce Johnson
"No matter where you go, there you are", B. Banzai
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