Remember folks, NaplesX, is only saying that the web surfing, e-mail and such seems to be around 25% faster On a 3GHz P4 than his 700MHz G3 -- he is not talking about Photoshop, Cubase, or games. I'm not surprised at all by his findings. For programs like the ones he was using you would not see much of a difference between 1GHz and 3GHz P4.
It is only when you start using more demanding programs that you see a huge difference when using computer of varying speeds. I have not noticed much of a difference surfing the web with safari on my 800MHz G4, or my friends dual 1.24GHz G4 Tower. It is only when using more demanding programs like iMovie, Photoshop, Logic, or games that I see a big difference in speed.
Once you've reached sufficient processing power to handle the OS and GUI duties quickly, the speed of the computer you need is based on the programs you use. This is why some people are quite happy with older computers, while other (myself included) are always craving more power.
The user interface gives the overall feel to the computer experience. The dell that I did an FFR to, on a new system only felt approx. 25% faster to me than my iMac 700. As a matter of fact some things felt faster on one machine or the other. My figure was overall on daily tasks that a good majority of people use their computer for, including myself. I also included ease of setup since I have had extensive experience doing so. If you read I did not test on cpu intense software, because the customer did not use any. I would hope that a Dell running at 3GHZ would get faster results in such apps.
Let me point this out; every time I have upgraded my os (with the provided automatic updates, and a purchased major revision upgrade) I have seen a speed boost, however minor. So my machine has essentially gotten faster over the approx 1.5 yrs I have had it. Panther has been said to also do the same in a big way.
In my mind, I have to wonder, "If an OS can run at essentially the same performance level at lower cpu speeds, Isn't that better overall?"
I have complained for years that the OS and software in general has become huge and bloated. Just install an older/slimmer OS on a new machine and be absolutely blown away by the speed. Windows has been guilty of bloat for years. This has been well documented.
It seems to me that apple has for the most part kept this under control and has recently started trimming the OS to be lean and mean.
Let's say the perceived speed is more in the range of 30-35% faster on the dell. My machine is 1.5 years old now and is easily running arguably the most sophisticated OS on the planet. I would have that this speakss volumes to apple's performance. I have always voiced the opinion that an Apple CPU is roughly equal to an INTEL CPU roughly 2-3 times faster. My observations have proven this to me.
I think Panther combined with the new G5 will set the standard for both OS and hardware alike for years to come.
All of this is not coming from a guy that has never used a PC. In fact, I got my training on a PC way back in the DOS 3.0 days and remember the TRS80? In those days I was fooled into thinking the apple was just a toy. I actuall did not seriously look at a mac until 3-4 years ago and did not switch till I got this mac. I have had my hands on just about every consumer pc made. I have used at one time or the other just about every major software title. That is not to mention the countless smaller apps. In my short history with the macI have put it through it's paces. I have compared the many features, if not just to make sure I got my money's worth and make sure I made the right decision. The only segment of the PC world I have not ventured into is UNIX. That was up till OS X. I have no real agenda here except to help others by promoting product(s) that have made my life easier and saved me time and money.
Yes you could say I am biased. But bias based on real world experience. Not on blind wishful thinking. Is apple perfect in every way? No, but it's getting closer every day. Maybe I am wrong.
---END RANT--- Sorry.
Naples, sorry to drive you over the deep end!
I did not mean that. I was actually just responding to the comment made by one person - I agree with what you had specifically said several times in response to other people. It would take a big (and I mean big) speed difference to make me ever buy another windows machine again. At work, I often have to use windows machines and all I can say is yuck. After using OS X, windows is just an unpleasent experience. Using a mac makes me happy and makes me want to use the computer. Windows is like using a toaster. Sure you can use it, but it does nothing for me.
Comments
It is only when you start using more demanding programs that you see a huge difference when using computer of varying speeds. I have not noticed much of a difference surfing the web with safari on my 800MHz G4, or my friends dual 1.24GHz G4 Tower. It is only when using more demanding programs like iMovie, Photoshop, Logic, or games that I see a big difference in speed.
Once you've reached sufficient processing power to handle the OS and GUI duties quickly, the speed of the computer you need is based on the programs you use. This is why some people are quite happy with older computers, while other (myself included) are always craving more power.
Originally posted by NaplesX
Now here we go...
The user interface gives the overall feel to the computer experience. The dell that I did an FFR to, on a new system only felt approx. 25% faster to me than my iMac 700. As a matter of fact some things felt faster on one machine or the other. My figure was overall on daily tasks that a good majority of people use their computer for, including myself. I also included ease of setup since I have had extensive experience doing so. If you read I did not test on cpu intense software, because the customer did not use any. I would hope that a Dell running at 3GHZ would get faster results in such apps.
Let me point this out; every time I have upgraded my os (with the provided automatic updates, and a purchased major revision upgrade) I have seen a speed boost, however minor. So my machine has essentially gotten faster over the approx 1.5 yrs I have had it. Panther has been said to also do the same in a big way.
In my mind, I have to wonder, "If an OS can run at essentially the same performance level at lower cpu speeds, Isn't that better overall?"
I have complained for years that the OS and software in general has become huge and bloated. Just install an older/slimmer OS on a new machine and be absolutely blown away by the speed. Windows has been guilty of bloat for years. This has been well documented.
It seems to me that apple has for the most part kept this under control and has recently started trimming the OS to be lean and mean.
Let's say the perceived speed is more in the range of 30-35% faster on the dell. My machine is 1.5 years old now and is easily running arguably the most sophisticated OS on the planet. I would have that this speakss volumes to apple's performance. I have always voiced the opinion that an Apple CPU is roughly equal to an INTEL CPU roughly 2-3 times faster. My observations have proven this to me.
I think Panther combined with the new G5 will set the standard for both OS and hardware alike for years to come.
All of this is not coming from a guy that has never used a PC. In fact, I got my training on a PC way back in the DOS 3.0 days and remember the TRS80? In those days I was fooled into thinking the apple was just a toy. I actuall did not seriously look at a mac until 3-4 years ago and did not switch till I got this mac. I have had my hands on just about every consumer pc made. I have used at one time or the other just about every major software title. That is not to mention the countless smaller apps. In my short history with the macI have put it through it's paces. I have compared the many features, if not just to make sure I got my money's worth and make sure I made the right decision. The only segment of the PC world I have not ventured into is UNIX. That was up till OS X. I have no real agenda here except to help others by promoting product(s) that have made my life easier and saved me time and money.
Yes you could say I am biased. But bias based on real world experience. Not on blind wishful thinking. Is apple perfect in every way? No, but it's getting closer every day. Maybe I am wrong.
---END RANT--- Sorry.
Naples, sorry to drive you over the deep end!
I did not mean that. I was actually just responding to the comment made by one person - I agree with what you had specifically said several times in response to other people. It would take a big (and I mean big) speed difference to make me ever buy another windows machine again. At work, I often have to use windows machines and all I can say is yuck. After using OS X, windows is just an unpleasent experience. Using a mac makes me happy and makes me want to use the computer. Windows is like using a toaster. Sure you can use it, but it does nothing for me.