Want to buy a Mac

eoineen

Right? (sharp intake of breath signifying me risking bringing down the wrath of regular mac users upon me)

I want to a buy a Mac. Have been a WinPC user all my computing life and am now going to trade up for Apple. I'm sick of the BSOD, the incompatibilities, the constant updates, smugness of Windows users, the error messages that mean nothing, the viruses etc etc. And, I am increasingly using Win at work and want a Mac for home. Used a PowerPC about 8 years ago at work and loved the OS.

Have been teasing myself on the Apple Store these last few weeks. But I have settled on the following config:

iMac G5 17-inch 2GHz
SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
1GB DDR400 SDRAM - 2 DIMMs
Wireless Keyboard & Mouse + Mac
160GB Serial ATA drive

Good config? Want to maximise the speed and value for money vis a vis the hard drive size. Have decided against a PowerBook as I think it is a nice piece of kit and not just a computer to tuck in the corner of a room.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for a first time (home) mac user? Should I go for another config? I have about 2k to play about with.

I use wireless broadband and minimal office apps, mostly editing of digital photos, using the web but want to burn more stuff and be able to copy disks etc without having to worry about BSODs etc . Also want to be able to use Mac as a entertainment centre for music and movies. Advice?

philologos

id say you could do all that easily on a mac, not sure if it can take some of the codecs that the PC can tho

meep

Here's a specialist forum where you'll find out all you need to know about using macs for entertainment;

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=115

Cheers

Peter

zAbbo

I've the 20" version of what you're looking for, If buying brand new, dont get the RAM from apple, i sourced 2x512mb from komplett(crucial) for around 130 delivered.

Copying CD/DVD's is very handy, using Toast/PopCorn/MacTheRipper.


I've a 12" powerbook as well, but it depends on what you want todo.

Mediawise you're sorted unless its some random obscure codec.

I use iTunes and VLC for music/movies. hmmmm 20" widescreen

formatman

I would keep you Old PC when you buy the MAC

Nothing close to Nero available yet for the MAC so CD copying of copyright protected discs not as good as a PC and also DVD shrink is not available for the MAC

Neo office for the MAC will do all the basic word and excel Stuff

Iphoto 5 will do basic photo editing , buy Photoshop elements if you want something a little more advanced

Upgrade the Hard drive or buy a LACIE external one

Wait for the next version of Airport for wireless streaming which should have a remote

Buy an IPOD

zAbbo

formatman, do you copy dvd's on a mac regularly?

I know i do, and MacTheRipper/Popcorn/Toast have copied everything so far

I've a 250gb internal, and a 250gb external (zynet polar case on a ide hdd)

formatman

haven't used POPCorn yet , but don't think it has the quality and control of DVD Shrink from what I've heard , Found deleting the DS store files in Toast various tedious with recodes done in other programs

Thats really the only reason I keep the PC ..for DVD shrink ! and some website compatibility checking

Whats sort of total (rip , encode and burn) times are you getting for say a 2hr movie with this combination ?

Can't justify the cost of popcorn and toast full version against €10 NEro and free Dvd shrink though

soph

Hi, I have got the 20" Imac G5, and it is absolutely amazing, I previously had an Emac which was a bitting of a pile of ****e. Since im a designer i needed higher specs so opted for the new Imac sicne i couldnt aford the powermac. It is a fantastic machine, so neat, specs are al you could need. mind you I defo reckon you shold hold off for the 20", as watchina movie on that screen is deadly!

ZENER

Although dearer (150 euro) in the short term I'd recommend the single 1.8GHz PowerMac G5. Better upgrade options for the future - internal Hard Disks, DVDRW, RAM, PCI slots etc.

My 2c

ZEN