Opinions from the Apple crowd.

[Rob Wright]

My 17" Imac G5 Rev A has finally popped its first capacitor after 4.5 years of hard use. It has served me well but between the popped capacitor and now appearing hard drive issues (Yes everything is backed up daily and I removed all non-essential applications) it is time to upgrade. I am torn between two options.

Option 1: 24 inch Imac 2.8 Ghz model. I love the footprint and real estate size but I really really dislike the glossy screen. Would upgrade to wireless keyboard and mouse and I would upgrade the ram myself.

Option 2: 15 inch 2.4 Ghz Macbook Pro with a 20" Apple Cinema Display. I prefer a matte screen and I find that my computer usage is less desktop oriented but I still need the larger real estate enough to warrant the larger display. Downside is the issues experienced with the Nvidea 8600, though I can wait till the October announcement that is coming up to see what that brings.

Being a student again is a nice plus with my university having an authorized Apple reseller in its bookstore.


Any thoughts and questions are appreciated as I mull over my options.

Rob

[Howard Clark]

Next time I upgrade I think I am getting a laptop. I am using a 1.83 Ghtz Imac now, and it does everything I need to do and more.

I am not a high intensity computer user though. I do e-mail, surf with Safari, and do some Adobe CS stuff to deal with images and web site modifications. I need to build a whole new site but have not yet done so.

The laptop appeals because of the portability, obviously. It does have a much larger footprint though. And cost more.

[Jock Scot]

Err, just what are you chaps talking about?

[starbkjrus]

Err, just what are you chaps talking about?

It's the beginnings of a good Apple Computer Geek Speek conversation. We've not had one of those here since I think Freelander Sporrano bought his new iMac sometime back.

I'm not up on graphics cards these days as I just don't do anything that requires extreme video performance.

As far as the desktop vs. laptop discussion goes...

I've got a 1.6 ghz G5 Powermac at home and when I upgrade that in the next year or so I think it'll be for a MacBook Pro. We also have a Macbook and I have a laptop PC from work and just like to be able to take my computer with me. Even if it's out to the back yard.

Something to keep in mind though about wireless keyboards (and mice) is that with the MAC if you want to boot from a CD you have to boot while holding down the "C" key. A wireless keyboard however is not recognized by the system until AFTER this point in the boot process so you'd better have a wired keyboard around somewhere in case of emergency.

Happy Shopping. (I was just a our local Apple Store on Saturday kicking the tires so to speak.)

[george7]

The 8600 is sufficient for most anything you'd have to do for school, short of some more intense CAD... and then your school likely has a lab just for that. I won't buy another desktop unless I have an explicit need for a huge video processor. Availability trumps a few extra khz most of the time.

[Freelander Sporrano]

Option 2 . However the screen real estate of the 24" would be sweet

Have a look at Mac rumours there may be a Macbook pro update v.soon. So you could get a good deal on an old MBP

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

Lets hear how you get on

[Rex_Tremende]

Option 1: 24 inch Imac 2.8 Ghz model. I love the footprint and real estate size but I really really dislike the glossy screen. Would upgrade to wireless keyboard and mouse and I would upgrade the ram myself.

I moved from a Dell laptop (first my own, and, when that one died, then my office issue) to this one. Apart from some of the flexibility I was used to in navigating Windows, I really enjoy using this machine. So quiet! The remote back-up time machine makes more noise than this thing. And fast! I am so impatient now with my Windows laptop at the office. I don't really have a complaint about my iMac.

I have the glossy screen, but the matte was an option at the Apple store. I forgot to specify, so I got glossy. It was what I wanted anyway, because the colors are so rich. For the few hours of the day where I have strong glare from the windows over my shoulder, I simply tilt the screen down a few degrees, and I don't even notice the surface of the screen.

Now, about the mobility issue...

I thought a long time before buying this over a laptop version. But at the same time as I got this, I also consolidated telecom/internet services, going from a landline/DSL (Cincinnati Bell), mobile phone service (Sprint), and rabbit ears to an iPhone and AT&T service and Time Warner cable for the internet and TV (so many channels, so little content!). For what I use the internet for on the road (and in extended blackouts), the iPhone performs quite well.

The only thing I don't do now that I used to is to set up my computer in the kitchen to chat/surf/XMTS while I'm cooking or doing other chores.

So I gave up cooking and chores.

Regards,
Rex.

[Southern Breeze]

I'll stick with a PC. Apples get worms.

[Howard Clark]

Yeah, but they don't get the blue screen of death, nor any of the hundreds of thousands of viri out there for windoze. Besides, a worm in your apple is just extra protein.

[hospitaller]

Yeah, but they don't get the blue screen of death, nor any of the hundreds of thousands of viri out there for windoze. Besides, a worm in your apple is just extra protein.

I havent gotten a single blue screen since the mid 90s, and I certainly haven't had a virus since...what...early 2001 or so?

All you have to do is get your system to update regularly (or take the responsibility to do it yourself) and get a good antivirus (plenty of free ones ).

And yes, I used to own an Apple PC (yes, apples are also PCs as much as the x86 based ones)

cheers