Bought a Powermac G4 a year and a half ago, and ideally I'd like to keep it another 2 years, if not longer. My requirments turned out to be a lot more modest than I originally thought, so even a 400mhz G4 is enough for what I use it for. I've already replaced the stock dvd drive with a combo, the original Rage 128 with a Radeon, and upgraded the hard drive and RAM.
Other planned upgrades are OS 10.2 as soon as its released, and am willing to consider a processor upgrade, if a reasonably priced dual proc card becomes available. I'd also like to replace my CRT with a 17" LCD when the prices come down (Apple or Formac).
Still, I'm REALLY tempted to sell everything and use the money to buy and upgrade a Cube, but with Cube prices still high, I think I'd lose a lot on the trade up.
<strong>I try to every 2 years, but when you're 15 and you're parents have to say ok it's hard.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I just had to laugh.
It's gonna be even harder when you're 30 and you have to say OK yourself! Even when you have more than enough cash, hopefully you'll find you just want to spend it on other things.
At work I have a desktop and a laptop and I get to take the laptop home. They supposedly upgrade each of these every 3 years. I keep those out of synch so that I get new hardware every year or 2.
I also have a personal desktop and laptop but since they don't get as much use I only end up upgrading them every 5 or 6 years.
i'm content with my current computer situation, but if i won a small lotto jackpot, i'd defn get a TiBook or two.
i've had the imac/superdrive since february, but my first mac -- a powerbook 233mz-- is still in use after 3.5 years as a backup computer for checking email and word processing. i expect the imac to go for at least 3 years.
My first mac, the iBook 500Mhz, is going to have to last me through college. So I'd say about 3 more years. It doesn't have enough power to play games and just gets by on browsing the net, so I'll stick with it. Maybe I'll get lucky and persuade my parents to get me a eMac, iMac or even a Powermac in the future or whenever there is a MAJOR revision to the Mac OS and Mac processor.
How can you say that? Apple might get laughed at when it comes to desktops, but it is and always has been the champion of the laptop ranks. The powerbook blows eveything else away. I have had a Wallstreet 233 since 99 and plan to use it for a while still. Man, Apple laptops are the ultimate!!! I won't buy anything but one next time.
LCII in 1992 upgraded with a Extrem system32 MHz 030, Hellcats was silky smooth and Marathon sort of playable
7200/90 1995. Afer adding a 512k L2 anc a second VRAM a very nice computer <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
G4/400 AGP 2000. Just added a ATI 8500
Had my wife not needed the 7200 I would have keept it longer (adding a 7600 MB from ebay a G3 etc) and not bought the G4.
Next year I plan to get a G4 upgrade in the 1.2 to 1.6 GHz range and keep the computer will into 2004 or so.
My rule of thumb is that a upgrade or replacement should be 4 times as fast as the previous one and that minor upgrades (less then 2 times is pointless) ie If a G4/400 is to slow a G4/600 will also be to slow
How can you say that? Apple might get laughed at when it comes to desktops, but it is and always has been the champion of the laptop ranks. The powerbook blows eveything else away. I have had a Wallstreet 233 since 99 and plan to use it for a while still. Man, Apple laptops are the ultimate!!! I won't buy anything but one next time.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I fully agree, Apple PB G3s were the absolute best laptop computers ever made. The new G4s may be faster, but they can't stand up to the versatility of the G3s. PB G3 owners can upgrade instead of replacing their laptop.
Since the cost of s decently specced pmac is so huge, I replace my macs when the spec of a new mac represents a gain in power and functionality that justifies the cost compared to the old one. I haven't bought one since my G4 400 agp. Nothing apple has brought out since really justifies 3.5k worth of advantage over my current one. Most of my old macs I keep around (i just can't seem to part with 'em!), so I've still got a 9500 and a IIsi knocking around!
<strong>I'm still using a Mac IIci after 11 years (to which I added some stuff inside, like a 040 accelerator, ram, HD, video card).
I'll probably buy the new Dual 1 GHz in two weeks. I guess I'll see no differences <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
My trusty 400 Mhz G4 "Yikes!" turns 3 in September, and I'm really surprised by how well it's hanging in there. With its Gb of RAM, 32 Mb Radeon, 100 Gb HD, it runs OS X and my graphics apps at a tolerable rate. Warcraft III runs a great deal better than I expected. iMovie could be better....
One more upgrade is in store for it, a Powerlogix Powerforce Zif G4 550, to keep it going for another few more years. I'll buy a PowerBook whenever the next enclosure is released, hopefully something akin to the iBook's legendary ruggedness. The current PowerBook is simply too flimsy for me.
I have 2 that update every 3 years 18 months apart from one another (I buy a new system every 18 months to replace my oldest one). Then I have a 3rd one that I just upgrade as I feel the need. Coming up on 2.5 years for that one right now.
I dont work on mine so whenever a compelling model hits me. It was the LC575 in '94 that first did it for me (first computer I bought new all myself). A used 7500 about 3 years ago And then the icebook back in the spring here. The icebook is a little sluggish when you get iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, explorer, etc all open at once but it suffices.
I am on a savings/selling plan to get one of the new iMacs since I crave a little more power. Hard to give up the portability and connectivity of the iBook though. but widescreen, mmmmmm.
Normally I would be content with what I have but Apple had to come up with Widescreen in the consumer models rool:
takes something new to get me to buy...the quadra lasted a long time...wanted an iMac when they came out, but waited for DV model....then was waiting for a flat panal iMac...bought that the day it was announced....now i'm kinda set for a while...both machines work great and should last awhile...
next will likely be iBooks for the kids--one or two years from now when they are in high school...the iMacs should last that long or longer...might buy a tower around the same time (2 years) and move the iMac 800 to the kids room and the iMac DV to the garage with the quadra (or to the grandma...though that opens a separate nightmares of me constantly trying to find out how she managed to crash the system while only opening email...i have no idea what she does, but she can crash a system just by walking near it...she's like a gyspy or a witch or something)...towers last like forever, which is nice..but now that i'm older, i can actually buy new toys more often....g
Comments
Dobby
Other planned upgrades are OS 10.2 as soon as its released, and am willing to consider a processor upgrade, if a reasonably priced dual proc card becomes available. I'd also like to replace my CRT with a 17" LCD when the prices come down (Apple or Formac).
Still, I'm REALLY tempted to sell everything and use the money to buy and upgrade a Cube, but with Cube prices still high, I think I'd lose a lot on the trade up.
<strong>I try to every 2 years, but when you're 15 and you're parents have to say ok it's hard.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I just had to laugh.
It's gonna be even harder when you're 30 and you have to say OK yourself! Even when you have more than enough cash, hopefully you'll find you just want to spend it on other things.
I also have a personal desktop and laptop but since they don't get as much use I only end up upgrading them every 5 or 6 years.
i've had the imac/superdrive since february, but my first mac -- a powerbook 233mz-- is still in use after 3.5 years as a backup computer for checking email and word processing. i expect the imac to go for at least 3 years.
<strong>.
laptops suck.</strong><hr></blockquote>
How can you say that? Apple might get laughed at when it comes to desktops, but it is and always has been the champion of the laptop ranks. The powerbook blows eveything else away. I have had a Wallstreet 233 since 99 and plan to use it for a while still. Man, Apple laptops are the ultimate!!! I won't buy anything but one next time.
7200/90 1995. Afer adding a 512k L2 anc a second VRAM a very nice computer <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
G4/400 AGP 2000. Just added a ATI 8500
Had my wife not needed the 7200 I would have keept it longer (adding a 7600 MB from ebay a G3 etc) and not bought the G4.
Next year I plan to get a G4 upgrade in the 1.2 to 1.6 GHz range and keep the computer will into 2004 or so.
My rule of thumb is that a upgrade or replacement should be 4 times as fast as the previous one and that minor upgrades (less then 2 times is pointless) ie If a G4/400 is to slow a G4/600 will also be to slow
<strong>
How can you say that? Apple might get laughed at when it comes to desktops, but it is and always has been the champion of the laptop ranks. The powerbook blows eveything else away. I have had a Wallstreet 233 since 99 and plan to use it for a while still. Man, Apple laptops are the ultimate!!! I won't buy anything but one next time.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I fully agree, Apple PB G3s were the absolute best laptop computers ever made. The new G4s may be faster, but they can't stand up to the versatility of the G3s. PB G3 owners can upgrade instead of replacing their laptop.
Typing on my 500 Mhz upgraded Mainstreet. :cool:
I'll probably buy the new Dual 1 GHz in two weeks. I guess I'll see no differences <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
<strong>I'm still using a Mac IIci after 11 years (to which I added some stuff inside, like a 040 accelerator, ram, HD, video card).
I'll probably buy the new Dual 1 GHz in two weeks. I guess I'll see no differences <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
Wow! What OS are you running?
Strictly a money issue not a want issue.
things like a car payments, new roof, couch, clothing and food have to come first.
eventhough I work on my omputer, the margins are not that big.
With my new G4 933, I may not buy a new desktop in several years.
One more upgrade is in store for it, a Powerlogix Powerforce Zif G4 550, to keep it going for another few more years. I'll buy a PowerBook whenever the next enclosure is released, hopefully something akin to the iBook's legendary ruggedness. The current PowerBook is simply too flimsy for me.
1998: PowerBook G3/233 Wallstreet
1999: PowerBook G3/333 Lombard
2001: iBook G3/500 dual USB
2002: PowerBook G4/800 DVI
I will keep this machine until at least 2004.
1997-2000 - 9500/180
2000 - no mac <img src="graemlins/embarrassed.gif" border="0" alt="[Embarrassed]" />
2001- 9600/G3-500
2001- Pismo Powerbook G3/400
2002- Cube 450/512/60gig
2003- 1 Gig of ram, 1Ghz powerlogix upgrade, GF3 graphics, Fan, Racing tyres!!
I am on a savings/selling plan to get one of the new iMacs since I crave a little more power. Hard to give up the portability and connectivity of the iBook though. but widescreen, mmmmmm.
Normally I would be content with what I have but Apple had to come up with Widescreen in the consumer models
1999 iMac DV 400 (in kids room)
2002 iMac 800 lcd (in computer room)
takes something new to get me to buy...the quadra lasted a long time...wanted an iMac when they came out, but waited for DV model....then was waiting for a flat panal iMac...bought that the day it was announced....now i'm kinda set for a while...both machines work great and should last awhile...
next will likely be iBooks for the kids--one or two years from now when they are in high school...the iMacs should last that long or longer...might buy a tower around the same time (2 years) and move the iMac 800 to the kids room and the iMac DV to the garage with the quadra (or to the grandma...though that opens a separate nightmares of me constantly trying to find out how she managed to crash the system while only opening email...i have no idea what she does, but she can crash a system just by walking near it...she's like a gyspy or a witch or something)...towers last like forever, which is nice..but now that i'm older, i can actually buy new toys more often....g
[ 08-16-2002: Message edited by: thegelding ]</p>