My upgrade strategy - I am starting to have seconds thoughts? Looking for opinions.
Like the title says, I am starting to have some second thoughts about what I had originally thought was a stroke of brilliance.
First to preface - I am a contract web designer/developer - I mostly do design, grunt-work (HTML), flash, PHP + MySQL but some other web related stuff. I also use my machine for gaming + other hobby type stuff (digital photography for one).
My computers are getting a bit long in the tooth, and I have been anxiously awaiting a 970 based machine (or something similar). In the meantime I came up with what seemed like a good upgrade strategy and I would like any thoughts.
I currently have these machines:
My main work comp:
Dual 500
1+ Gig RAM
1 X 20 Gig HD (system) + 2 X 80 Gig HD (docs)
22" Cinema Display
Other various additions - you can see
<a href="http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=10&t=003781" target="_blank">here</a>
I have an older web, email, dns server which is a 333Mhz beige G3 with 3 HDs, 384 MB RAM, etc. Low ball machine but works fine for what it does.
Last year I also started using my wife's old 266 Wallstreet powerbook. I do coding, any server stuff, and general surfing in bed types of things with this. I love the portability and the fact I can get away from my "office" (I have a wireless network).
So, my theory starts with the foundation that my equipment is worth more now than it will be at any time in the future. I would imagine once the fabled G5s come out, all my resale values will plummet.
I figured I should start to make my move now to maximize my return. In the end I want to upgrade both the laptop and the tower (I think it would be stupid to upgrade the server considering it holds up just fine now). I also one day would like to get a 23" HD Cinema Display, so would like to get rid of this 22" one while it is still worth something also.
So my plan:
Sell EVERYTHING except the server. So sell the cinema display (~$1100), the tower (~ $1000 - $1400) and the powerbook (~$ 400). That gets me say $2750.
I buy a refurbished 800Mhz iBook (12in) from Apple ($1150) + 512 RAM (OWC probably) & Airport = $1300. I then buy a Samsung 19" 900NF for $300 (and do the monitor spanning hack to use this as the main monitor not just a mirror). I would archive everything I could to CD, and just buy a firelite 30Gb firewire drive to use for backups (if you are going portable, then freakin go portable no?) for $300 (these are tiny and super-portable - worth the money to me). That is then $1900 + tax.
I would then limp along using the iBook as my main work machine until my desktop savior was introduced (Say in a year). Looking at XBench I am hoping the iBook is only approx. 20% slower than my current machine for most things - and I am willing to slow down just a bit for now to have the added sanity from being able to untether and work anywhere (albeit not on graphics stuff unless I am on the big monitor because of the screen real estate).
When a real tower is introduced I would have a nice down-payment already in hand (it would just be laying around that whole time )
Problem is I am more and more concerned that I am fooling myself in the performance of the iBook. I would say I put a pretty heavy strain on my machine usually. It isn't unusual for me to have Mail, iTunes streaming, 2 browsers, Fireworks, Dreamweaver, the terminal, + 3 or 4 other apps open and all working at the same time. I use MS Office (because my clients haven't left me much choice - come on GoBe Appleworks!). I use VPC to test websites.
Am I going to kick myself if I do this? At my last job I was working on a 350MHz B/W tower with 384 MB RAM- it was pretty painful. XBench shows the iBook averaging low 50s and a 350 B/W averaging low 30s. Not really encouraging (my current machine gets low 60s). Is AltiVec on my current machine + 2 processors gonna show these benchmarks up (iBook is actually a lot slower than 80% of this machine)?
I should also say I want the smallest laptop possible. Once it turns into my light work / late nite surfing machine that is what I am looking forward to most. Also the iBook durability is a huge selling point for me (my wife has a TiBook and I always feel like if I grab it wrong I might hurt it). I keep looking at that tiny PowerBook, but I really don't want to spend that extra money.
Does anyone have any thoughts? If I am going to do this I think I need to do it pretty fast - not sure how long those refurbs are going to be on Apple's site.
Thanks for any help!
Edit: typos
[ 02-01-2003: Message edited by: The Pie Man ]</p>
First to preface - I am a contract web designer/developer - I mostly do design, grunt-work (HTML), flash, PHP + MySQL but some other web related stuff. I also use my machine for gaming + other hobby type stuff (digital photography for one).
My computers are getting a bit long in the tooth, and I have been anxiously awaiting a 970 based machine (or something similar). In the meantime I came up with what seemed like a good upgrade strategy and I would like any thoughts.
I currently have these machines:
My main work comp:
Dual 500
1+ Gig RAM
1 X 20 Gig HD (system) + 2 X 80 Gig HD (docs)
22" Cinema Display
Other various additions - you can see
<a href="http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=10&t=003781" target="_blank">here</a>
I have an older web, email, dns server which is a 333Mhz beige G3 with 3 HDs, 384 MB RAM, etc. Low ball machine but works fine for what it does.
Last year I also started using my wife's old 266 Wallstreet powerbook. I do coding, any server stuff, and general surfing in bed types of things with this. I love the portability and the fact I can get away from my "office" (I have a wireless network).
So, my theory starts with the foundation that my equipment is worth more now than it will be at any time in the future. I would imagine once the fabled G5s come out, all my resale values will plummet.
I figured I should start to make my move now to maximize my return. In the end I want to upgrade both the laptop and the tower (I think it would be stupid to upgrade the server considering it holds up just fine now). I also one day would like to get a 23" HD Cinema Display, so would like to get rid of this 22" one while it is still worth something also.
So my plan:
Sell EVERYTHING except the server. So sell the cinema display (~$1100), the tower (~ $1000 - $1400) and the powerbook (~$ 400). That gets me say $2750.
I buy a refurbished 800Mhz iBook (12in) from Apple ($1150) + 512 RAM (OWC probably) & Airport = $1300. I then buy a Samsung 19" 900NF for $300 (and do the monitor spanning hack to use this as the main monitor not just a mirror). I would archive everything I could to CD, and just buy a firelite 30Gb firewire drive to use for backups (if you are going portable, then freakin go portable no?) for $300 (these are tiny and super-portable - worth the money to me). That is then $1900 + tax.
I would then limp along using the iBook as my main work machine until my desktop savior was introduced (Say in a year). Looking at XBench I am hoping the iBook is only approx. 20% slower than my current machine for most things - and I am willing to slow down just a bit for now to have the added sanity from being able to untether and work anywhere (albeit not on graphics stuff unless I am on the big monitor because of the screen real estate).
When a real tower is introduced I would have a nice down-payment already in hand (it would just be laying around that whole time )
Problem is I am more and more concerned that I am fooling myself in the performance of the iBook. I would say I put a pretty heavy strain on my machine usually. It isn't unusual for me to have Mail, iTunes streaming, 2 browsers, Fireworks, Dreamweaver, the terminal, + 3 or 4 other apps open and all working at the same time. I use MS Office (because my clients haven't left me much choice - come on GoBe Appleworks!). I use VPC to test websites.
Am I going to kick myself if I do this? At my last job I was working on a 350MHz B/W tower with 384 MB RAM- it was pretty painful. XBench shows the iBook averaging low 50s and a 350 B/W averaging low 30s. Not really encouraging (my current machine gets low 60s). Is AltiVec on my current machine + 2 processors gonna show these benchmarks up (iBook is actually a lot slower than 80% of this machine)?
I should also say I want the smallest laptop possible. Once it turns into my light work / late nite surfing machine that is what I am looking forward to most. Also the iBook durability is a huge selling point for me (my wife has a TiBook and I always feel like if I grab it wrong I might hurt it). I keep looking at that tiny PowerBook, but I really don't want to spend that extra money.
Does anyone have any thoughts? If I am going to do this I think I need to do it pretty fast - not sure how long those refurbs are going to be on Apple's site.
Thanks for any help!
Edit: typos
[ 02-01-2003: Message edited by: The Pie Man ]</p>
Comments
So you say you don't like the TiBook. Go for the little powerbook then. Also, I have the impression that PowerBooks retain their value better than iBooks, but that might be, again, my impression.
I think the main issue here is the fact that you're looking to replace two computers by one. And then, a dual 500 G4 by a single 800 MHz G3. Of course, you have to make your own decision, and you might be able to survive on a G3 until the towers come (if they come, though I do believe they will). What I'm saying: I'd go for the minibook. You'll have a more than decent laptop that'll still be a decent machine two, three years from now (as opposed to this here less than one year old ibook I have).
Given you make a living using your machine and there's no firm release date for the 970 or firm idea of how much it will cost, I think you're right to be having second thoughts.
[ 02-02-2003: Message edited by: RodUK ]</p>
[quote]I just now that I am on an iBook that is now almost one year old, and it is sometimes painful. I do largely what you do (oftentimes have the same apps running, or some different apps). The spinning wheel when switching between apps... sluggishness overall.<hr></blockquote>
This is scary. I keep vascillating between thinking a little hit in speed for the greater good is acceptable since this will turn into my "play" machine - hopefully within the year. But it really sucks to work on a sluggish machine.
[quote]Yet, the spanning hack: are you sure it works well? Does it reduce your system's performance?<hr></blockquote> No, actually I am not sure about it at all (just found a couple references to it on ars). And not sure about a performance hit either.
[quote]I'd go for the minibook. You'll have a more than decent laptop that'll still be a decent machine two, three years from now (as opposed to this here less than one year old ibook I have). <hr></blockquote>Yep good point there. I doubt I upgrade the new laptop in the next 3 years if not longer.
[quote]I think its fair to say its never pretended to be anything other than a consumer laptop for relatively light weight tasks.<hr></blockquote> That is true. Linux geeks like them, but the CLI isn't exactly a resource intensive app
[quote]Given you make a living using your machine and there's no firm release date for the 970 or firm idea of how much it will cost<hr></blockquote> Yep. Good point.
I actually think the 15" powerbook is a great computer - my wife uses an 800. It is faster than my current machine (might be the better graphics card fooling me though) - the only thing I don't like about it is how fragile it feels - and I really like the idea of a TINY super portable machine. The 15" is definitely portable - but I think a 12" would be awesome (knowing I can hook it up to a real monitor and get all the screen real estate I need).
Damn. This is tough.
EDIT- by, buy dod gamn homonyms. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
[ 02-02-2003: Message edited by: Spiffster ]</p>
I have been reading and thinking. Going mini. Wish me luck.