A response to readers who expressed concerns about my G4 PowerBook article...
Greetings, readers.
My "The G4 Aluminum PowerBook" article brought in a flood of email from readers who are considering PowerBook purchases but wanted to ask if it was a wise decision. One reader expressed it like this:
> I read your recent article about how much you
> love your new Powerbook, and then you listed all
> the disheartening features.
> Do you really love it?
First, let me say that I did not list all the disheartening features.
Next let me say: Yes I do love my new PowerBook. I'll address the points raising reader concern.
Having to handle it more carefully is just part of getting used to the new machine. I do love it and do not want to deprive anyone from the sheer joy of owning one. (Did you ever hear the term "joy" associated with PeeCees?)
Most of my complaints have to do more with OS X than with the computer ... but those problems are not insurmountable, and I'm slowly finding software "fixes" or work-arounds to solve those. (Virtual Look at the PowerBook)
Then another reader wrote:
> Which Apple computer to buy?
> I'm considering a new G5 imac for the holidays,
> but after reading the negative opinions on cnet.com
> I'm worried.
> I would love a Powerbook as my desktop, but I
> don't need a mobile computing.
> Your article said they get very hot and noisy.
The experts say "hot" is not an issue. So let it run hot. As I said in the article we won't know for sure until five years from now. It's a risk we all take when purchasing new technology. As long as it's raised off the table top surface so air can circulate it's much cooler and the fan runs less.
"Noisy" is relative. At 4:30 a.m. in the back-woods of Virginia, yes you CAN hear the fan cut in/out/in/out. Of course I can also hear the trucks on the Interstate two miles away.
However, in my office it's not noticeable at all. My desktop G3 is much more noisy. My G4 tower is ridiculously loud, and gets on my nerves so much I resist using it. (Sometimes, I'd rather use a quiet, smooth operating G3 than a noisy, problematic G4.)
Another comments:
> I am planning to switch from a PC Dell laptop
> to the Mac, but now I'm not so sure...should
> I get a G5 iMac, 17" Powerbook, or G5 desktop
> I have to do desktop publishing with Adobe CS package
> word processing and possibly a few games.
If you do not need mobility, and the computer stays in the same place 300 days out of the year, then you don't need a PowerBook.
I always advocate Laptops or PowerBooks to those of a mobile lifestyle, or those who are transient like College Students, or Business people who have to compute or connect away from their usual haunts.
I do most of my best writing and programming work at home. The office has just too many interruptions. So I'm carrying my computing work to and from via a collection of pocket flash drives. It's a real pain to keep up with syncing all the time. Thus the strategy to let the PowerBook be BOTH computers and have ALL the business, web sites, projects, etc. on ONE machine -- multiple locations.
If this is not what you need, then there's no use to put up with the idiosyncrasies of owning and maintaining a laptop -- any laptop.
I cannot answer to the G5 desktop from personal experience. Although I have played with them, I haven't done serious computing.
The G5 towers are totally awesome and should be the LAST computer anyone needs. My fellow JMU Professor, John Woody, just got a lab full of them for his audio/video production department and he's totally thrilled with them and the results the students are getting. They're seriously putting Hollywood to task. But they carry a rather stiff price tag for processing power 90% of the computing public really doesn't need. Consider the G5 tower only if you have huge Photoshop files, multiple page magazines or catalogs to produce, or are pursuing hign-end video/audio production where you really need the extra processing muscle. It's the only computer in the world capable of really handling such tasks. (G5 Virtual Tour)
Having said that...
I have three students in my JMU Digital Graphics classes who purchased them and are thrilled with them... my brother just got the G5 iMac (all-in-one) and swears it's the best thing since sliced bread -- by FAR the best computer Apple has ever made. Believe me, he's got a garage full of Macs! See his testimonial: "G5 Wows PC Business Users"
I believe the iMac is worth a look -- unless you need voluminous expansion and nose-bleed processing power. The iMac is an excellent computer for a thousand or so less than the G5 Desktop, and will run those programs you mention nicely.
So, if your computing requires a full time stationary computer, yet perhaps may need to be mobile a dozen or so days out of the year, the iMac is the one to consider. Since there's NO CPU, the computer is all in the monitor, you can carry it to another location fairly easily -- not airplanes, mind you. Get the 20-inch model with wireless mouse and keyboard and use it from the sofa.
What ever you do, which ever machine, buy the most memory, the largest (optional) hard drive it will hold and the DVD burner. Once you get into the multimedia and iLife features you'll be way too tempted to keep all your digital photos, music files, and full screen movies trailers, etc. on board and you'll need lots of storage for those.
Also reserve out about $500 because next you'll be wanting an iPod and all the neat toys that go along with it.
Until next time, happy mousing.
Fred Showker, Editor/Publisher UG Net News
Fred Showker is co-editor of "MUG Info Manager," the User Group Network News service, and a founding Apple User Group Advisory Board (UGAB) member. He was an original founder of the User Group Forum on AppleLink Personal Edition which became America Online in 1988 ... read more
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