iMac G-5 or Windows machine... Convince me

[southpaw]

Hi, all.

I am a longtime Windows/PC user in the market for a new computer. I have a few criteria for my new machine:

*Made by a BLUE company
*Low-profile, but fast and powerful
*Dependable (no freezing/crashing)
*Upgradeable


A friend suggested that I consider an Apple, if I was serious about avoiding buying from a republican-supporting company. Only problem, I've never used an Apple machine. Are there still major compatibility issues for Apple users? I don't want to be overly limited in my choices of software or peripheral hardware.

I have looked at the Apple website and am curious about the iMac G-5 (the 20" model)

I know there are some Mac enthusiasts in here. Sell me an Apple.

[BigMcLargehuge]

1. the only think the iMac doesn't do on your list

is give you many upgrade options. I think you can add RAM, and that's it. But if you can cope with that, they are good machines.

There are also Powermacs (towers) that are upgradable, some in the special deals section of the Apple Store will be comparable in price to the iMac.

[southpaw]

3. Yeah... not much room for upgrades with the iMac

Still, the 'Low Profile' requirement kinda trumps the upgrades. If I can beef up the RAM, that should be all I need.

My main concern, I suppose, lies with the compatibility issue.

[kick-ass-bob]

2. I have more compatibility problems across PCs than I do

from Mac to PC.

My computers don't freeze or crash (old iMac G3, iBook G3, iBook G4) and all have the 2nd latest OS that is out (I'm too poor to get the latest - plus, I really don't need it).

I run MS Office, NeoOffice (Mac's Open Office program), Firefox, Opera and never have problems reading files.

Upgradable how? If you want to tinker with processors, the new Macs may not be your best thing - I don't think they are as easily done as prior Macs (not 100% sure). All have USB and Firewire, so it's easy to add peripherals. Adding memory is a cinch. I haven't done anything with video cards with the "newer line" so I know nothing about upgrading that way.

And you can't get any more low profile than the new iMacs.

[southpaw]

5. Upgrades...

Now that I think about it, the upgrading would apply mostly to RAM. Anything I wanted to add could likely be done via the Firewire or USB ports.

I wouldn't likely need to change processors. I just need to get comfortable with the idea of a computer with only one drive slot.

[northzax]

4. well, compatability is a problem

Macs are a whole nother universe. not every peripheral or software will work. that said.

*Made by a BLUE company. Apple is a blue company

*Low-profile, but fast and powerful Apple has the best designers, so the machines are simply cooler, and as powerful, if not more so than an equvalent windows machine.
*Dependable (no freezing/crashing) My iBook has now been running for seven weeks straight, I put it to sleep, wake it up and use it. the last time I rebooted was installing new software. it simply doesn't crash.
*Upgradeable no real need to upgrade, it'll keep you for a couple years, at which time you'll need more processing power anyway. but you can certainly upgrade memory.

there is a danger though, once you go Mac, you'll never go back. the interface was actually designed for humans to use, the software is intuitive, everyone's happy.

[southpaw]

6. Thanks... sounds great.

Having been a bit of a PC advocate for years, the thought of switching to a Mac is actually kind of exciting.

[AlabamaYankee]

7. No compatibility problems here

I have put MS Office documents on a diskette or CD and memory stick from my office Windows machine, read them on my Mac at home, made corrections, and opened them again at work with no noticeable problems.

The other major benefit to the Mac is that you are out of the Windows virus universe.

[southpaw]

8. Hadn't thought about that...

The virus thing, that is...

but it's certainly something to consider.

Glad to hear that compatibility is less a factor than in the past.

[RebelOne]

9. If you can use a PC, a Mac will be a piece of cake.

I use an eMac at the office and a PC at home. I prefer the Mac, though. especially the eMac. It's really compact. No CPU tower. The monitor and CPU are all in one.

[LoZoccolo]

10. I switched to Mac a year and a half ago...

...and really, I don't see what the big deal is about Macs now that I've had time to use one. Notice people usually can't really tell you what's better about a Mac in a major way besides the ambiguous references to the "user interface". There was some stuff I needed to run on a PC and my hard drive crashed on my old one so I bought a new PC after all this. Plus Macs are expensive; I like the cheapness of a new PC. I'm pretty much switching back now. If you decide to stick with Windows, you might want to wait until Windows Vista comes out if you can.

Also sucky about Macs is that they come out with these point releases of OS X and CHARGE YOU over $100 for them.

[kick-ass-bob]

11. score one for Oasis.

[LoZoccolo]

13. Exactly.

Oasis' record label would probably never repeatedly try to sue a computer company for trademark issues.

The Sosumi sound that comes with the Mac is a reference to this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sosumi

[graywarrior]

12. Built myself a ShuttleX. Very small, extremely powerful.

[DainBramaged]

16. I built one of those beauties for my kidlette

AMD 2600, just fine for her homework.

[DainBramaged]

14. It's personal choice, but the god Intel has spoken to Saint Mac

But VERY soon, MAC's will use Intel Processors since IBM couldn't make enough money making their processors.

Now it becomes a choice between operating systems.

[nickgutierrez]

15. If you're not a gamer...

...there's no reason not to have a Mac, except maybe for the upgradability factor. There is next to nothing, aside from games, that the PC platform has that the Mac does not.

[LoZoccolo]

17. ActiveX controls from web sites

That's another thing you can't have on a Mac. There's a stock charting one I use on Daily Graphs Online.

[no name no slogan]

18. Which ain't all bad, really

ActiveX controls are often used by hackers to cause havoc. MS's lack of security on this issue is well-known, and another reason why I don't use IE except for work.

Besides, anything you can do in ActiveX can probably be done just as well with a Java applet.

[slybacon9]

19. I am an art director of a company that works with all macs...

I have three myself, ranging from Laptop to iMac to G5.

OUr whole company uses them and we have many people that are new to them and learn them within days.

I have converted nearly everyone i know and have never had anyone that has complained, in fact EVERY SINGLE ONE I KNOW has said to me something along the lines of, I dunno why i wasted all that time. (oh, and more than half of them are not in creative fields)

I will tell you this:

(since Mac introduced OSX) I've NEVER had a crash or a freeze. That is 5 years now i think. Not one crash or freeze, and not on any machine in my building or anyone i know. I can run Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Word, Motion, Final Cut, iMovie, iPhoto, and about 5 more programs, listen to music, browse DU and burn a DVD.... ALL AT ONCE... and not only never freeze, but not skip a beat!!!!

The G5 is fast as all hell. We are talking mind blowing fast.

The apple support is absolutely amazing. Online, on the phone, in the store... if you have any question, it is usually answered within minutes.

The price is higher but you will never think once about it after you start using it. And besides, i think the things we use everyday i where we should spend our money, no?

If you get a G5 iMac, you are not looking at too much upgradeability... however... that processor will last you the next 5 years before it shows any sign of being near outdated.

Mac updates its operating system regularly, always making life easier and letting you feel like your computer is fresh. Meanwhile my Windows friends are still stuck in 1998.

There are NO compatibility issues for Mac Users. Well, if you are a gamer, you might have issues from what i understand, but that is it. I have to send every kind of file to PC users and work on every kind of file on any program from Xcel to Powerpoint to MSWord to whatever other shitty program Bill Gates spews out, and ALL of them work just fine.

And finally, and i really mean this, Mac is not just a computer but a way of living. When you get that thing in your house and you see how nice it looks, how clean and fresh, and you start using it and it is full of Zenny goodness... you're world just feels better... lighter. It's a personal paradigm shift, I promise you.

After all this is said and done, go into a Mac store and geek out a bit on things... talk to the annoyingly eager but not working on commission staff, you will be sold... I promise.

I hope that helps. I get excited about it because i watch all the time how much this one stupid little transition helps people. Often it seems PCs are like some kind of burden that people feel they need to keep carrying around because it was a decision they made a long time ago and they never want to admit they were wrong. LIKE BEING A REPUBLICAN!!! lol

Yes there are plenty of geeks out there that love their PC and i FULLY respect them. To me those people are like those guys that just love their junker/classic car. They love to work on it day and night and its their baby... most of them built it from scratch even. I would have no clue where to even begin that process so to them i have praise. But for the average soccer mom or dad that doesn't know jack... no bueno. Get a mac, live happy.

[RebelOne]

24. I am using an eMac with OS X 10.3.4.

And I am constantly having freeze-ups and crashes.

[LSK]

20. go old school

[AntiCoup2K4]

21. Hell, I've still got my DOS 5.0 & Windows 3.1 floppies.

Might just dig out the Pentium 150 that's collecting dust somewhere and make it look like a "really fast" machine, just for the Hell of it.

[AlCzervik]

22. i am totally biased here

my husband works for Apple and that is his product, i wish i had one but i'm always the last one to get any new apple stuff--pout.

[khashka]

23. Go with a Mac

They are intuitive, easy to use and the OS is much more user friendly. You can also run PC programs on them with the right software (I don't think you can do the reverse as easily, but I could be wrong)

The major drawback is the expense. But it's worth it.

(True, their website and phone tech support still suck, but if you have a problem so bad you need live support they are amazing. I got my CD drive clogged with cat hair and it was replaced (and upgraded) at no cost even though the warranty was expired. I accidentally caught my lover's keyboard on fire (long story, dont ask) and they replaced it immediately at no charge even though I offered to pay.)

Go with a Mac.

Khash.