My upgrade strategy - I am starting to have seconds thoughts? Looking for opinions.

the pie man

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>

torifile

For everything you do but the VPC testing, the ibook would be more than adequate. VPC is a resource hog and is slow on most computers, especially g3 based ones. If you use it too much you'll regret it (unless you're a masochist, in which case you'll be in heaven).

der kopf

If I were you, and if I knew what I know, I'd go for the minibook (or even try to get hold of a refurbished 800 MHz tibook). Of course, this is, in my case, more emotional than anything else, for I did not take the time out, like you obviously did, to make a balanced plan (with benchmark checks and all). 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. I'm aching to upgrade to something G4. Of course, my iBook is already lagging 200 MHz behind the one you want. Yet, the spanning hack: are you sure it works well? Does it reduce your system's performance?



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).

roduk

Although the iBook is a nice computer, I think its fair to say its never pretended to be anything other than a consumer laptop for relatively light weight tasks.



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>

the pie man

Some good points here.. I almost jumped right when I saw torifiles response. torifile - do you have/use an iBook? Do you do real work on it or use it more for fun?



[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.

spiffster

I'm not so sure about your G4 losing alot of value after the 970's release. The 970's wont be able to boot 9. Some people might pay a pretty penny for a decent machine to run 9 on. I'm not sure about selling your Cinema dispay though. You really wont gain that much by splurging on a 23" HD. If I were you I'd go for the new 20, it has more pixels than your current monitor and is much cheaper than the 23.



EDIT- by, buy dod gamn homonyms. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />



[ 02-02-2003: Message edited by: Spiffster ]</p>

serrano

Fire Sale. Then buy a minibook.

the pie man

Well shit.



I have been reading and thinking. Going mini. Wish me luck.

der kopf

Good luck

eman

Good Luck