G4 Powerbooks and Quartz Ex
Hi Guys I need a little help
I may be able to get a good deal on a second hand G4 Powerbook.
I already have a PowerBook G3 (FireWire) which I love, the only real reason to go for the Ti would be to get the Quartz Ex graphics.
Am I right in thinking not all the G4 Powerbooks can deliver it, if so which models will not so i can check if it is that model
thanks
j.
I may be able to get a good deal on a second hand G4 Powerbook.
I already have a PowerBook G3 (FireWire) which I love, the only real reason to go for the Ti would be to get the Quartz Ex graphics.
Am I right in thinking not all the G4 Powerbooks can deliver it, if so which models will not so i can check if it is that model
thanks
j.
Comments
The real sweet spot for the PowerBook G4, though, is in the DVI models. Starting with the 667 and 800 MHz DVI ones released in April of 2002, all PowerBooks have had high resolution screens (1280x854 instead of 1152x768), combo drives (only some models previously had combo drives, others had DVD-ROM and occasionally a CD-RW), DVI output (for powering an external digital monitor), and 32 MB of VRAM or more which is optimal for Quartz Extreme. I'd suggest getting either a DVI PowerBook G4 or a new iBook if you want something cheaper... if you get an earlier PowerBook, you'll generally pay a lot for worse performance. Sure, you'll have a G4, but it'll be a slow G4, and it'll have a worse graphics card than the current iBooks, as well as a screen that barely provides any extra space compared to the iBooks.
<a href="http://www.macopinion.com/columns/roadwarrior/02/12/10/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.macopinion.com/columns/roadwarrior/02/12/10/index.html</a>
I too upgraded from a pismo500 to a used TiG4-800mhzDVI machine and TOTALLY recommend it.
Good hunting.
You have all been very helpfull. Armed with my new found knowledge I'm off to see it today.
thanks again
j.
i think what you do with your machine determines the amount of benefit taht QE provies.
If you play multiple quicktime movies at once and minimize, resize, etc often then QE will help
but if u don't use a lot of transparent windows, etc etc you won't see a differance
After QE: Resizing windows on OSX still sucks
<strong>Before QE: Resizing windows on OSX sucks.
After QE: Resizing windows on OSX still sucks</strong><hr></blockquote>
Live resizing is up to the application, not Quartz. If the app can't do it gracefully or quickly, all the graphics acceleration in the world won't help.
I noticed a lot of things become much smoother with QE on my Cube w/RADEON. In particular, the Genie effect was jittery in 10.1 if I had a lot going on. It's silk-smooth now.
It's important to remember that QE is not so much acceleration as added capability - some of which is acceleration. What it does is hugely increase the capabilities of the compositing layer. If you aren't using its capabilities much, you won't notice much difference.
It appears as if the QE acceleration is perceived as significant by some users and only marginal by others.
In my opinion, definately buy a QE capable machine.
[QB]Has anyone really noticed ANY difference with "Quartz Extreme"? I mean really I have not noticed a damn thing...I think this is the best Marketing smoke screen Jobs has ever pulled.
A few things are a little smoother with QE, I think. But overall, you are right.
I have been debating heavily between that, or the new 12"...but it came down to the wicked deal I got for the DVI-machine. (mint condition, warranty still good to sept2003...some girl bought it, and didnt like the design, so she bought an ibook800 instead.) I paid 200,000yen/$1500US for it. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
Observations (compared to pismo500)...this thing is quite, fast, beautiful bright/sharp display, and I dont notice the heat. Most of the heat is on the bottom of the machine, not the top/keyboard area. When the fan on the Pismo came on it sounded like a siren compared to this beauty! From what I hear about the new 12" there is a lot of heat under the left wrist...not so on the Ti800.
Too bad this badass Titanium is not a pocketable as the 12"...oh well can't have everything... <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[oyvey]" />