G5 Imac?, How will it cope? Options

[bloodychoir]

Does anyone have any idea how the new imac might measure up speed and track capacity wise, using say Logic Express? Would it be a good or a bad decision to buy a g5 imac loaded up to the gills with ram and a 1.8, or a powermac g5? That's considering the fact you then have to buy display etc. with the PM.

[tunepoet]

I would simply offer this advice. Because it is advice I myself took, and have been very pleased. I would say, get the most powerful Mac you can afford, be is used, or 2 smaller Macs linked together.

Right now the lesser powerful Macs can get by, but software is getting more powerful by the month, and your next software upgrade may demand a more powerful computer than you currently have. Even the Panther OS is very processor hungry, and the Tiger promises to be more so. Getting just exactly what you need now may very well leave you wishing you had accounted for the future, and purchased a faster computer.

My first Mac was the eMac 700 chip. At the time is worked so so. But then all my favorite programs upgraded to a requirement that my eMac simply could not handle. And I finally realized I had a collection of tools that could no longer fit in my garage. And also, folks who have been making music on Macs for years, know all the tricks about reserving CPU, and are much more efficient in making a lesser powered Mac work for them. I, on the other hand, had very little computer music experience, and was not nearly as efficient as the long term pro’s.

So, getting a more powerful computer better guarantees that you will not be left out in the dust as your favorite programs upgrade to higher power requirements, and also helps the beginner to not get tangled up in the frustration of CPU moderation, when they should be and best be using that time to learn to make music.

I am a motorcycle nut, and I love my cheap Suzuki. And I am still rather beginner as a rider. But most beginner motorcycles come with really bad suspension that is rather unstable. Ideally, bikes for beginners should have THE VERY BEST suspension; cause great suspension equals a safer bike for a beginner. And that is the same logic I apply to a beginning computer music person. The pros can get away with using very slow systems, cause they are experienced, but the beginners really do better with a computer that lets the music come before the limitations of the computer.

And unfortunately, the difference between a really fast computer and a slower one is money. But I would really advise that one get as much power as he or she can afford, and then some. I decided that I would avoid any problems for the next 10 years. I bought a dual processor G5, 2.5. And I absolutely am so happy I did. And that may be more than many can afford, but buy what you can manage to swing.

Also, computer that cram lots of features into 1 small box, like the eMacs, tend to give you less power for the money, because making technology smaller is more expensive. You may get more computer for you money if you get an ungainly tower and a big ugly tube monitor, or something of that nature. Not as pretty, but more power for the dough.

In summation: Think ahead and don't leave yourself stuck with a system that cannot move with the software times.

God Bless,
Damon

<- this guy bought exactly what he needed today
<-- same guy 6 months later after finding he can't upgrade his great software to the new and improved versions

<--- this guy bought a computer that will work for years
<--- same guy 2 years later, very happy he planned ahead...

Ps.
Sorry for the silly visual aids. But that is what happens.