Budding Switcher/Film Maker needs advice.
I have a budget of around $4500-$5000(Austarlian) to start my switch over to the Macintosh way of life but am in a quandry in regards to what I purchase. Since switching my wife(guinea-pig) 2 months ago with the purchase of her new iBook(640Mb ram) everything seems to be going peachy. EXCEPT...
I'm stuck with wanting too many things all at once and need help clarifying my priorities!
I'll give you a run down of what i'm upgrading from so let the laughter commence:
Pentium II 400/128/6.4Gb and a Sony Trinitron Multiscan 20se 20" Monitor
Now i'll list wants and uses, I won't call them needs as they would all make my list:
1. Ability to create TV quality ads and home movies(Australia)
2. An iPod!!!
3. A screen that does not feel like its burning my eyes out
4. Airport Base station +Airport card equiped system +1 card for my wife
5. Elegant speakers that look and sound pleasing
6. Video Camera that I could use to do want #1
7. Software that I could use to do want #1
8. Scanner/Printer combination that would compliment my wifes passion for photos
9. Digital Camera for my wife, maybe combine with #6
10. Allow me to run the occassional RPG
11. Read AI/Macsurfer/eBay and check email nightly
Now I don't expect all of this to fit in my initial budget, I do have the option to slowly add more funds as time goes by. I have had a friend mention that I may wish to use an older PowerMac as the basis of what I want initially to save on funds but am undecided. Video work is something I would really like to start with as this will most likely be my #1 hobby followed by making a MAME cabinet with the old PC. Kicked myself recently as I saw an auction for a DP 1.25 with a 23" Cinema Display on ebay which only went for like AUS$5100. Have even considered using a dumbed down eMac for the mean-time to get more of my options up initially. Also noticed that for production work people use more than 1 display, maybe that 20" might come in handy???
Any feedback you could give would be most appreciated. I do understand that with the imminant intro of the G5 machines that Apple may be in for a shake-up in terms of either performance and price(or both), it may make the choice of buying now or waiting difficult, but any product or goal reccomendations would be fantastic.
P.S. Always wanted a 17" iMac but current price/performance in my mind is a joke. Also forgot to mention that I have 2 people at Uni(wifey and friend) available to get me edu discounts should the need arise, although have notice many importers buying directly from the US and selling on at a cheaper price than even Apple Australia's edu pricing.
Cheers
I'm stuck with wanting too many things all at once and need help clarifying my priorities!
I'll give you a run down of what i'm upgrading from so let the laughter commence:
Pentium II 400/128/6.4Gb and a Sony Trinitron Multiscan 20se 20" Monitor
Now i'll list wants and uses, I won't call them needs as they would all make my list:
1. Ability to create TV quality ads and home movies(Australia)
2. An iPod!!!
3. A screen that does not feel like its burning my eyes out
4. Airport Base station +Airport card equiped system +1 card for my wife
5. Elegant speakers that look and sound pleasing
6. Video Camera that I could use to do want #1
7. Software that I could use to do want #1
8. Scanner/Printer combination that would compliment my wifes passion for photos
9. Digital Camera for my wife, maybe combine with #6
10. Allow me to run the occassional RPG
11. Read AI/Macsurfer/eBay and check email nightly
Now I don't expect all of this to fit in my initial budget, I do have the option to slowly add more funds as time goes by. I have had a friend mention that I may wish to use an older PowerMac as the basis of what I want initially to save on funds but am undecided. Video work is something I would really like to start with as this will most likely be my #1 hobby followed by making a MAME cabinet with the old PC. Kicked myself recently as I saw an auction for a DP 1.25 with a 23" Cinema Display on ebay which only went for like AUS$5100. Have even considered using a dumbed down eMac for the mean-time to get more of my options up initially. Also noticed that for production work people use more than 1 display, maybe that 20" might come in handy???
Any feedback you could give would be most appreciated. I do understand that with the imminant intro of the G5 machines that Apple may be in for a shake-up in terms of either performance and price(or both), it may make the choice of buying now or waiting difficult, but any product or goal reccomendations would be fantastic.
P.S. Always wanted a 17" iMac but current price/performance in my mind is a joke. Also forgot to mention that I have 2 people at Uni(wifey and friend) available to get me edu discounts should the need arise, although have notice many importers buying directly from the US and selling on at a cheaper price than even Apple Australia's edu pricing.
Cheers
Comments
PowerBook G4 12" 867MHz (AP) Z07B
7-10 days A$_3,698.00
Keyboard/Mac OS/iDVD X065-4124
SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW) 065-3660
256MB SDRAM DDR266 [128MB built-in + 128MB] 065-3649
AirPort Extreme Card X065-3662
867MHz PowerPC G4 065-3653
40GB Ultra ATA drive 065-3656
Final Cut Express - Promotion Bundle B7781Z/A
1-2 days A$_215.00
AirPort Card M7600FE/E
1-2 days A$_155.00
AirPort Extreme Base w/o Modem (AU) M8930X/A
1-2 days A$_399.00
Canon S820 Color Inkjet Photo Printer T4527Z/A
4-6 days A$_399.00
JBL Creature 2.1 Speakers - White T5111Z/A
1-3 days A$_259.00
Canon LIDE30 USB Scanner T5167Z/A
3-5 days A$_209.00
Canon MV600i Mini-DV Digital Camcorder T6298Z/A
3-5 days A$_999.00
Canon PowerShot A60 2 Megapixel Digital Still Camera T6564Z/A
3-5 days A$_595.00
--------------
Subtotal A$_6,298.18
S/H A$_0.00
Subtotal A$_6,298.18
GST A$_629.82
--------------
Order Total A$_6,928.00
I'm assuming that your monitor is a VGA monitor, so you could hook it up to the PowerBook and have a 20" instead of 12" monitor.
Or you could go with a G4, while they are stilll availible. If you add a SupreDrive to a 1.25 G4, and then all the other stuff you want, you should be able to pull it off.
Also, if you get a desktop, don't get an Airport card for it. Just plug it directly into the ABS. That is, if you can put them next to each other. Also, you could get a different brand of WAP, and still use the Airport card inside the iBook. This would probably save you a good chunk of money(maybe $100 if you were in the US).