Powerbook G4 Vs. Powermac G5, for hip-hop production Options

[Pig-Donkey]

I need some help with a looming purchase. I've been using a G4 Powerbook for about a year (800 MHZ), 15". The problem is that running some heavy audio programs causes the PB to be a bit sluggish at times. I am in season for a new computer and needed some assistance in deciding what I should do. Here are a few questions I have:

1) If I were to sell my current PB and by a newer 17" w/ 1.25 Ghz, would it be much faster? And does anyone have current experience using a faster PB and reccommend it for hip-hop production?

2) Let's say I decided to by a G5 Tower instead of a new PB, I would still keep my old PB and use it for portability. I love the idea of being able to transport my studio anywhere I want. Is it really worth spending around 2K more for the G5? If I didn't purchase the G5 I could spend more money on a hardware sampler like the MPC2000.

3) Can anyone give me some suggestions for a great production set up? I currently use GB and i'm ready to move to the bigger programs.

4) How much SDRAM would I want w/ a G5? Does it make much difference?

Thanks Much,
The Donk

[sgendler]

I can't give you much insight into performance comparisons between a new powerbook and a G5 tower, but since you already have a portable platform, it seems like the G5 is going to be the more powerful platform for our home studio. I just bought a 15" powerbook G4 (80GB, 512MB of RAM) and the price wasn't far off of the price for a dual 18Ghz G5 tower with 1 GB of RAM and no monitor (those digital fltscreens look great, but I have enough computer monitors around that I am not about to spend that kind of money on a flat screen).

You will have a ton more disk I/O throughput on the desktop (7200rpm disks on a serial ATA bus instead of the 5400rpm built in on the laptop or something external over firewire or USB 2.0), and more than double the processing power of the laptop with a much faster frontside bus for memory access, too. Since most of your development will be done in your home studio (I'm assuming), go for max power there, and use your laptop for the limited applications you may use when remote.

I just went to the Apple Store and a 2x1.8Ghz G5 tower with 1GB of RAM, a 160GB 7200rpm SATA hard drive, airport card, keyboard, and mouse is about $25 CHEAPER than a 1.25Ghz 15" G4 powerbook with 80GB 4200rpm hard drive and 512MB of RAM.

That is basically a no brainer. Get the G5 if you can afford to do so while still keeping your old laptop.

--sam

[casino versus ja...]

i am currently using a first generation (1ghz) 17" powerbook with 1gig RAM. when i first purchased this computer in march of 2003, i was told that it would be very difficult for me to max the cpu while working with most applications. however, as time progresses, and software developers take advantage of faster processors, i have already hit the ceiling with my current configuration. this is definitely the case with Logic Pro, Reaktor, Absynth, Live, Moog Mod, BFD, and CS-80V. however, Max MSP, Radial, Reason, and general iLife applications are still working well with my dated specs.
most importantly, though, is that Logic Pro gets pretty sluggish when using some cpu intensive softsynths and effects--- which is to be expected. i just didn't think it would happen so quickly.
anyway, i am now looking to buy a g5 tower at the end of the year, which will hopefully give apple enough time to announce the dual 3.0 ghz model. i would then use that as my dedicated Logic Pro studio computer, while continuing to use my old G4 laptop as a portable workstation.
(i guess in order to answer your question i needed to provide a little background on what i use.)
anyway, in terms of an 'ideal studio setup', i would have to agree with the previous post: invest in a G5 (but wait a few months--- new updated models are way overdue! consequently, new 1.5 ghz 15" and 17" powerbook updates will be announced in the next few days.). regardless, keep your G4 laptop for other less demanding tasks such as loop composition, editing, and simple recording. there is still so much stuff you will be able to do with your old G4! furthermore, if you have an airport card, this will make the integration of your laptop and your new G5 a seamless and amazing experience.
i had originally thought that a 17" G4 laptop could indeed serve as a viable desktop replacement. from experience, as well as intensive research regarding the performance of the G5, this has proved to be a bit of an impossibility. again, as noted in the previous reply, HD space and speed will go a long way in terms of giving you more bang for your buck. and many applications are now taking advantage of dual processors, which will ultimately give you more speed and power.
you mentioned that you were into hip-hop production. keep this in mind: on the horizon, Logic Pro 7.0 will offer "acidized" or appleloop file support, which will make working with loops a lot more intuitive. hopefully Logic Pro 7.0 will be released this summer (at about he same time as a major G5 update) and with all of the softsynths and effects LP is bundled with, it would make for an amazing DAW for your needs, IMHO.

[Pig-Donkey]

Much thanks to both of you. If I feel the need to purchase Logic Pro 6 right now, how much do you think the upgrade to Logic Pro 7 will be this summer?

[casino versus ja...]

if you are purchasing Logic Pro 6 w/o an upgrade path, it will run you about 999. the upgrade to 7.0 might be around 199 or so? i am guessing...
i cannot wait, tho!

[division2000]

new powerbooks? where, when, price?



d2k

[Pig-Donkey]

They just put them on Apple's website. www.apple.com - go to store - they have a feature on them - 1.5 GHZ

[division2000]

oh, tnx...few hrs not checking the site and bang...cool