New G4
Yes like the title says I just bought a new G4 ibook from macmall. I know you might say why when the macbooks are out. Well after comparing I came to one conclusion that the only reason why macbooks even came about so apple could further disgrace windows by making their machines run windows flawlessly. I don't need windows and you might say what about front row? Well you can run front row on newer g4 and when leopard comes out it will still run flawlessly on g4's so why need for a macbook? I couldn't come up with a reason.
Comments
Yes like the title says I just bought a new G4 ibook from macmall. I know you might say why when the macbooks are out. Well after comparing I came to one conclusion that the only reason why macbooks even came about so apple could further disgrace windows by making their machines run windows flawlessly. I don't need windows and you might say what about front row? Well you can run front row on newer g4 and when leopard comes out it will still run flawlessly on g4's so why need for a macbook? I couldn't come up with a reason.
How about that they are 4 times faster (system bus is 667MHz vs 133MHz in the G4 and the CPU is dual 1.83GHz minimum vs single 1.5GHz), they have magnetic power cords and latches and you can right-click using the trackpad.
The reason for the switch was because the G4s are very old chips and were long overdue an update but IBM couldn't deliver cool enough chips to put into a laptop with processing performance on the level of a G5. Intel could.
Now, if you are comfortable with the G4 i.e don't need the much faster performance and it was significantly cheaper than the Macbook, I can see why you might go for it. Powerbooks are cheaper than Macbooks too though and are much more stylish IMO.
Hopefully you got a smoking deal...
how much did you pay?
you should have considered a refurb MacBook, no joke. they are just like new (apple does a GREAT refurb job) and they are pretty cheap. they are MUCH faster and just better all around.
some things that may make you feel better:
- if it is a relatively short term solution, then it should be fine (about 1-3 years until i think PPC will be for the most part dropped)
- it doesnt get that much hotter
- battery life isnt that much worse
- could have gotten a larger screen
no matter how you spin it, the benefits outway the pros. please consider a return and getting an intel mac! iBooks are good machines though i guess...
The screen quality alone on the MacBook vs. the dim, blah screen of the iBook is definitely worth it... however it's the original poster's decision, we're just trying to tell them they might be happier with the new model.
exactly. it is really in your best interest bud.
I was not implying that existing G4 owners throw them away and buy Intel Macs, but to buy a G4 now seems illogical.
I never understood the startup time of an application being any indication of the app's performance...
I was not implying that existing G4 owners throw them away and buy Intel Macs, but to buy a G4 now seems illogical.
You are correct it is not but 90% of what people do on their systems is surf the web, play music, and write letters. None of those things takes huge amounts of resources so start up speed is about the most meaningful measurement. We could argue that the new Macbooks can display iphoto collections a half a second quicker than my systems truthfully so what. Yes I have used the new systems at work we have about 400 Macs and I have worked on a good portion personally.
Regardless... what sense is there in spending the nearly the same on an iBook than you would for a MacBook?
Some people just prefer the PowerPC architecture regardless of price. If he is happy with it what is wrong with it? No money out of your pocket.
The reason for the switch was because the G4s are very old chips and were long overdue an update but IBM couldn't deliver cool enough chips to put into a laptop with processing performance on the level of a G5. Intel could.
Don't worry, that's why new machines haven't really come out this year. At WWDC this year the Powerbook G5 will debut. It's finally time to experience the glory.
thank you if the g4 can handle all the things i need it to then why get a newer macbook.
Because a newer Macbook is 100 dollars more.
Because a newer Macbook is 100 dollars more.
no try 300 more than the ibook i got brand new from macmall and if you found it for a 100 more than 699 than shame to me, but for peace of mind don't tell me cause i will feel like shit.
BUT I advise you strongly to get some kind of warranty package (AppleCare). Those iBooks are a PITA to repair and one single repair will cost you more than the warranty package would have! (I know from experience...).
Anyone would have to admit that that ibook g4 will out perform most windows based pc's this year and years to come.
This, my friend, is not true at all and I don't know where you got that from. Compare apples to apples and not oranges to melons. Don't compare the G4 iBook to Core2 Duo equipped tower or notebook PCs. Don't even compare them to the 300 USD PCs with Sempron or Celeron processors, because even those "el-cheapo" PCs will be a lot faster than the G4.
The big discussion, however, is whether Mac OS X or Windows becomes slower over the time because of all that crappy applications you install over time. Even the most simple anti-virus program can bring Windows down to a crawl. OS X doesn't have that, so from a subjective point of view when actually using the computer, you might be right. But again, the statement you made above is not true.
Computer technology is evolving so fast nowadays. With the introduction of the MacBook Pros /iMacs in january 2006, it was clear that the G4 would be obsolete very soon. Then came the MacBooks and the Mac mini etc. In a few month's time, all the G4 machines were replaced with models far more modern and far more powerful. Which is why the G4 officially is obsolete technology. It is not used in new products any more. This has nothing to do with Apple (or any other computer manufacturer) selling some of their old inventory machines (which they obviously couldn't get rid of completely) through the Refurb store. Those are not the "actual" models but the obsolete ones.
Well, and as I wrote in my last answer, the iBook you bought will certainly serve you well for the years to come and from what I know now, your decision was not a bad one - if you want to have a look at what Macs are like. And your friend is indeed right about the "felt" speed of using applications on a Mac vs. in Windows, there will normally be no noticeable slowdown after using the computer for a few months (compared to Windows).
I'm sure you'll enjoy the iBook and won't want to go back to the Windows world. I also hope we can still have you around here despite the harsh answers you sometimes get on AI. Don't take them too personally, OK?