Which one...

foneroot

Hi,

At first when I said I was going to get a Mac I thought for sure I was going to get a New iMac, but then I started to look at the PowerMacs a little and I looked at the 733mhz sense if I were going to get a PowerMac I would want a Cinema Display and that would be a 15 in. because that is all I can afford. And with the PowerMac and Cinema Display it would come out around the New iMac price (I'm not sure if it comes with a keyboard, mouse, or speakers) So what would be better a New iMac G4 800mhz or a 733mhz PowerMac? Sorry this is probably a real stupid question but I just want reassurance. Thanks.



[ 03-24-2002: Message edited by: foneroot ]</p>

c5j

Hey.

I was in your precise position and decided to go for the PowerMac733. Beacause: Much more upgrade options (screen, graphics-card, HD, s-drive and more) and faster bus. But: It's much louder than iMac (not as noisy a normal PC though), not as cool design (but a lot better than any PC) and no speakers (but mouse and keybord). So far I'm very pleased even though I have a (compared to apple-LCD) big and ugly LG-crt and will have to buy a 4-button mouse. If you have the money go for the g4-tower800 with L3-cache and s-drive instead of a LCD.

foneroot

Thanks for the response. I probably should have included that I really don't upgrade my machines much, as long as I can add more memory I'm fine. I'm new to apple and don't know how much you would really have to upgrade. I have had my PC for two years and only upgraded the RAM on it. The 733mhz and Cinema Display plus speakers comes out a little under the 1899 iMac. The iMac just seems like a whole better deal because you get the LCD, superdrive, mouse, keyboard, speakers, and everything. And it looks better But then again I hear the performance on the PowerMac?s are much better then iMacs. I?m only an average user so I don?t need that much performance I guess. The biggest program I use is PhotoShop. Should I wait until after MWNY and see what comes out of there and then decide?

seb

If you're into games, the tower has a better upgrade path. Although the iMac should play games just fine the way it is.



If you want to do iMovies and make DVDs, the iMac is better.



Both are fine for Photoshop and everything else.



The iMac takes up less space, if that is a concern.



You can hook up another monitor to the tower (if you get another card) for a multi-monitor display. Can't do that with the iMac.



You can position the iMac screen for better ergonomics, if that is a concern.



Will you get a warranty w/ the 733 tower? Is it used?



Something will probably be upgraded at MWNY, but no one really knows what, for sure.



I'm afraid I'm not much help, am I?

foneroot

Yes, your a help, seb The things I do on my PC right now are using the Web, I'm on the internet ALL the time, chat, Web Designing/Programming, Reports etc. for school. That is all I really do, I don't play games, and if I do it is a rare occasion. When I get a Mac I may buy a game or so though. So I may do very light gaming. Like I said I use PhotoShop too. I plan on buying an iPod for the Mac and hope to get a digital camera too. If I were to get a PowerMac I would want an Cinema LCD. I don't want to get a big old beige monitor. Space isn't a concern, this desk has plenty of room. Also like I said I really don?t think I would upgrade either, just the memory. But maybe I will need in the future? I?m not totally sure. Right now I'm pretty sure I will be purchasing after MWNY, around the end of July. What do you think would be better for me? A PowerMac or iMac?



[ 03-24-2002: Message edited by: foneroot ]</p>

macworld

with what i know of what you want, i say you should go for the iMac. The reasons were all explained from other persons.

eman

The iMac sounds like it's perfect for you.



Also, I saw you said Cinema Display... you mean Studio Display since you mentioned the 15".

mac's girl

[quote]Originally posted by seb:

<strong>

You can hook up another monitor to the tower (if you get another card) for a multi-monitor display. Can't do that with the iMac.

</strong><hr></blockquote>



sorry to interject, but i have always wondered...

what on earth does anyone do with multiple displays connected to one computer????

satchmo

I was in the same boat....and I went with the iMac 700 combo unit (found a dealer still selling it for original price).



The tower will be quicker and more expanadable which is good. However, I have a tower at work and in the 3 years I've had it, I've yet to put anything but extra memory in it.



If you're the type that just wants to be productive with your Mac and not too concerned about all the innards and slots, then get the iMac. It's also so much quieter (from what I hear) than that jet engine in the towers.



Can't wait. My iMac arrives next Thursday.

foneroot

Thank you everyone, you all have been a great help. I plan on getting the SuperDrive iMac after MWNY. I hope there will be a speed bump or a price cut though.

josephg

originally posted by mac's girl

[quote] sorry to interject, but i have always wondered...

what on earth does anyone do with multiple displays connected to one computer???? <hr></blockquote>



Increasing screen real estate is especially useful for graphics and video work when there are a lot of palettes or multiple windows. Common setup is to attach one big main monitor and a smaller palettes monitor, though some people go with 2 big ones.



On a side note--this is one reason I got a TiBook: monitor spanning support straight out of the box.

torifile

[quote]Originally posted by mac's girl:

<strong>



sorry to interject, but i have always wondered...

what on earth does anyone do with multiple displays connected to one computer????</strong><hr></blockquote>



Ahh, you haven't seen the wonders of the extended desktop It's a great thing. If you use a program with a lot of palette, like Flash or photoshop, you can have them all out of the way on one monitor and your work on another w/o having to sacrifice the zoom setting to make it all fit. Also, for a powerbook, having your notes on one screen (the LCD) and your powerpoint presentation on the projector, is wonderful (just don't get them mixed up and have your notes on the projector and the slides on the LCD. Not nearly as slick ). It's a nice convenience more than anything else.

reynard

fone,



This sounds so similar to a topic I had posted about a month ago. And I had come to the same conclusion; that for someone who places light demands on a computer, the iMac was more logical. However, since the delay was so great for getting the base iMac, I got impatient and went with the 733 Power Mac after all. And I really went all out (for me) and got the 17" LCD studio display. I am content with my purchase. And I think I would have been happy with the iMac also. Of course, now that I have the extra real estate of the 17" vs the 15" LCD I would probably find it hard to give up. I am a teacher and the education price has even dropped since my purchase. The 733 with the 17" display is $1817. The iMacs, meanwhile, have gone up. Still, you dont get any DVD capabilities for the low end G4 tower.

But if you want more RAM, it was much more expensive to bring the RAM up to 512 for the iMac than the G4--like $180 more. So if you want that much RAM, you might want to figure that into your equation.

I hope I didnt cloud the picture again for you. Just wanted to clarify the $ comparisons. Like I said, after soliciting advice from the forum, I had decided the iMac was for me. And if one had been available I would have purchased it and am sure that I would have not regretted it.

reynard

fone,



This sounds so similar to a topic I had posted about a month ago. And I had come to the same conclusion; that for someone who places light demands on a computer, the iMac was more logical. However, since the delay was so great for getting the base iMac, I got impatient and went with the 733 Power Mac after all. And I really went all out (for me) and got the 17" LCD studio display. I am content with my purchase. And I think I would have been happy with the iMac also. Of course, now that I have the extra real estate of the 17" vs the 15" LCD I would probably find it hard to give up. I am a teacher and the education price has even dropped since my purchase. The 733 with the 17" display is $1817. The iMacs, meanwhile, have gone up. Still, you dont get any DVD capabilities for the low end G4 tower.

But if you want more RAM, it was much more expensive to bring the RAM up to 512 for the iMac than the G4--like $180 more. So if you want that much RAM, you might want to figure that into your equation.

I hope I didnt cloud the picture again for you. Just wanted to clarify the $ comparisons. Like I said, after soliciting advice from the forum, I had decided the iMac was for me. And if one had been available I would have purchased it and am sure that I would have not regretted it.

foneroot

reynard,



Thank you for your post. That is interesting, when I figured the price with the 15 in. studio display it was about $1758 with speakers. How did you get the $1817 price? Was it with an education discount? Because I'm just a high school student and doubt that I can get that. If you could include your figures that would be great. Thanks



[ 03-27-2002: Message edited by: foneroot ]</p>

ender

[quote]Originally posted by mac's girl:

<strong>



sorry to interject, but i have always wondered...

what on earth does anyone do with multiple displays connected to one computer????</strong><hr></blockquote>



I have dual 17" Apple CRTs on my G4/500 DP. I will never go back to one, it is so useful. Actually, right now I'm thinking about getting a 22" or 23" flatpanel and moving to 3 monitors. I still feel a bit cramped when do my development work (I code database-driven websites in Tango--similar to lasso, PHP, etc.). I need more space to show all the different documents I need to access simultaneously, plus a dedicated monitor to hold the browser windows and FTP program.



-Ender

reynard

fone,



First, my figures were using the educators discount. I am a teachers. Perhaps the discounts are not available to students. Go to the Apple site and click under education and follow the prompts to see if you qualify.



Second, the prices I quoted are gone! They are back up to what I had paid about a month ago. I swear, two or three days ago the 733 was $1199 and the 17" studio display was about $619. But after I posted yesterday I checked and the 733 is $1202 (only $3 more) but the monitor was back up to $659--$40 more. I've seen this before where, without any announcement, the education prices take a temporary dip. It almost makes one question his sanity because it disappears so quickly but I know what I saw!!

The G4 733s are not available from Apple except under the educator discount. I dont want to deter you from getting the iMac but if you want to consider the 733 still Ive seen them listed by the Mac vendors for nearly the price of the educator discount.

BTW, there is another thread here on the noise of the 733s and, I guess, all the newer towers, about the noise of the fan. The iMac will be quieter. My 733 doesnt really bother me, except when the house is very quiet and I have the sound off on the computer. Its there though, so if you think that would bother you, then go with the iMac. Decisions, decisions. Again, Im happy with mine, but I sometimes wonder how that cool iMac would look, too!

foneroot

Thank you again, reynard. It doesn't look like a qualify for the educators discount, so I couldn't get a deal like that, and anyways if I go for the iMac I'm going to get better deal, the Superdrive is what makes a difference. I really would like a DVD-Drive and overall etc... I think the iMac is going to be better for me. And also I've got until after MWNY so you never know what will happen, so I will just plan on the iMac and if the PowerMac's/Studio Displays come out with a better deal I will jump on it. Thanks



[ 03-28-2002: Message edited by: foneroot ]</p>

cubit

[quote] mac's girl

Â*Â* Â* Â* Â* Â*Â*

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quote:

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Originally posted by seb:

You can hook up another monitor to the tower (if you get another card) for a multi-monitor display. Can't do that with the iMac.

------------------------------------------------------------------------



sorry to interject, but i have always wondered...

what on earth does anyone do with multiple displays connected to one computer????

------------------------------------------------------------------------

<hr></blockquote>



Mac's Girl, you're pretty savvy. The answer is very clear to those who have such set-ups. SPACE, Space, space for editing, space for running the web, email and a couple of different versions of a manuscript under MS Word, with a PowerPoint in the background. Actually, I bought my new imac when I ran out of space on my Cinema display on the big Cube. I might have ordered a Ti board PowerMac if I didn't already have a fortune invested in Cubes. <img src="graemlins/embarrassed.gif" border="0" alt="[Embarrassed]" />



By the by, what is the deal with those boards anyway? Does Apple actually have a delivery date?