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.

[prrcomm]

I've been following this thread for some time now, and others like it in other forums (fori?). I'd like to add a few comments of my own. Let me preface them by saying that I'm not breaking anyone else's balls regarding their opinions. That being said...

I'm not a big proponent of having the latest, greatest software or hardware. What matters is what comes out of the speakers. Doesn't matter how you made it. I worked in radio for over 30 years with the crappiest equipment you could imagine (cart machines, turntables, old RCA boards, EV 635A mics, etc.), and turned out award-winning productions. I'm not suggesting that you shouldn't have the best you can afford, but if you CAN'T afford the best, you can be very happy with something lesser. Remember, that the software and hardware companies are in business to make money; so you know there's built-in obsolescence and marketing strategies involved in upgrades. Look at the latest fiasco with Logic. Think that wasn't planned? You don't have to have the latest and best to make a great product.

I have a voice-over and advertising studio, and do some small demos, too. I bought a used B&W G3/400 from Penn State for $100, maxed out the memory, added a couple of 120 gb ATA drives, and use Pro Tools LE 5.1.3 with an mBox using OS 9.2...and it works great! I have it networked with a desktop beige G3 which I use for internet, graphics, etc., and for burning CDs, since my burner is SCSI. I have a friend who owns a studio in West Virginia, who is doing prjects for ABC and CBS, among others. He has a big Pro Tools rig, and uses DP...with a G4 using OS 9.2. Another friend, a professional musician who travels all over the world, has a G3 like mine, and turns out remarkable productions in DP4 using OS 9.2.

So, as you can see, it's not what you have, it's what you make. Think about that next time someone asks you to pay a coupla hundred bucks to update something you just paid a grand for three months ago.

Just my 2 cents worth.