Machinery upgrade time ,the best view??.

311

Hello ,I've been looking at various options lately ,with upgrading and software.
I keep coming back to the same issue ,best monitor? ,best machine?.
Apple keeps coming to mind for both.

Can anyone suggest a reason to not buy an apple ? ,I was thinking primarily of the 24" version for €2K.

I know this was done before ,but I don't want to delve into VISTA ,if I'm getting an apple.

preilly79

as a pretty recent switcher to the mac platform i say go for it. the screen on the 24' imac is stunning. do consider however the switch to LED backlight screens which apple has said will begin towards the end of the year.

i'm never one to hold out for the next big thing though, i say do it!

minikin

on an old powermac here, have a 20" imac beside me (great piece of kit but the dvdr drive is dead & I've heard bad things about the display dying shortly after warranty expires...) It's a lot of money to spend on something that could potentially be screwed because of some 'expensive to replace' components.

Spend a bit extra - get a powermac and a samsung syncmaster (used in mac displays) ... a lot easier to upgrade... less chance of it dying - better cooling etc.

311

The backlit option looks like it will be available soon ,maybe
http://www.gadgetell.com/2007/04/samsung-24-inch-led-backlit-lcd-coming-this-year/

Does the powermac resemble a pc ,in it's construction and set up. I would have thought the magic of apple is it's simplicity.

minikin

well it resembles a pc in that it's a seperate box containing harddrive, mainboard, ram, cogs, spinners, flywheels a little hamster to power it all... the beauty of mac is not only the product design but the operating system. It's just better - I own and work with both pc and macs. It's a lie to say macs don't have problems, they do but not as many as wintel boxes.

What I dislike about macs: you're buying a commodity with an engineered lifespan - they don't want you to upgrade imacs, they want you to buy a whole new one. Same with their OS, you can't upgrade. You have to buy the new OS at the full price.

Get a powermac if you're looking for a workhorse, get an imac if you only use it a little bit and want something that's prettier!

Roen

I use both mac and pc, one is as bad or as good as the other as far as Im concerned. The only reason Id suggest not to get one is that you run the risk of becoming smug and pompous. As youll no doubt find in short order when this debate really kicks off.

Deliverance

I use both I love my PC because I am used to it and it has rarely let me down, and was a breeze to upgrade with parts rather than buying a new system.

Downside, video editing conversion and production is a bitch, fails every time with regards to compatibility with standard dvd players and the error msgs given if any are unintelligable you need a bloody degree in IT to work them out.
The Mac on the otherhand handles vid prod and editing and output smoothly, my little sister could do it. Software and equipment is damned expensive though.

A hybrid system would be the ultimate, one system which could swap between the two on one desktop, what a dream that would be.

Fionn

i'd like a big mac (not the eating kind) but they're so so expensive aren't they?

anyway the windoze machines i have will have to do for the time being!!

oh BTW this youtube thing is hilarious
there's lots of other vids there too all very funny

Borderfox

From what I know macs look lovely and everybody who gets one raves about it. Nuff said

311

Thanks for the replies ,it sounds like the usual warzone of choice for poor 'ole me:(

The LED backlit monitor is a big factor now ,it might make the pc worthwhile.
I appreciate the info and keep my eyes out for the backlit unit

JMcL

_Brian_ wrote:

The LED backlit monitor is a big factor now ,it might make the pc worthwhile.
I appreciate the info and keep my eyes out for the backlit unit

The monitor's very important, and they're not all built the same as I found out when upgrading mine at Christmas! The key is the panel type used to build them, S-IPS is best when it comes to good colour at wide viewing angles, and after than S-PVA. It's not always easy to fine out what's being used though.

The Apple displays are lovely, so if you go for a big Mac you'll be fine. Down the PC road, I avoided Dell displays as at the time there were reports about quality issues, and swicthing of panel types, a few others on here have however got Dells and are very happy with them, so these may have been sorted

rymus

get the mac

PaulieC

_Brian_ wrote:

Can anyone suggest a reason to not buy an apple ? ,I was thinking primarily of the 24" version for €2K.

I would have thought that was enough reason not to buy one...

bigred

If you're thinking about a 24" imac, then hold on for a month or two.. Rumours are Apple is releasing the next generation imac pretty soon. As is usual with Apple, this will be much improved on the current crop. I've had my couple of grand set aside for a while now in anticipation. I'm on a Powerbook G4 right now, but even this can manage my 1Ds Mkii raw files in lightroom.

Dont forget, you can install windows and run that too as a native OS on your new mac! Build quality is a cut above the rest - just compare a Macbook etc. to anything Dell etc. have to offer.

If you're the sort of person that spends all day on Komplett and loves to pimp their pc, then stay with windows. If all you'll ever do is plug in some ram, then go mac. (I'm not anti-windows, still use it, but prefer mac in every way)

311

Thanks for more info ,I will have to keep an open mind on it.
I don't really like the whole ,20 Fans in a box set up. Thinking of upgrading is like voting ,only comes around about 10 times in your life.

I've had three so far ,I'd like to get a good one this time:)