I'm A-switchin'

Mkay. A while ago I thought about building my own PC. I planned everything out. It was going to be a bang-up-to date system. Then I started looking at Apples range of products a little more closely. I must admit, I think Windows XP is OK - it get the job done for me, most of the time. But with the release of Panther and the new iMacs, Apple seemed to have everything I wanted. Fast hardware, a superb OS and GUI. No annoying "Help" messages, or having to update every day to "fix" bugs. It's all good!

So, instead of getting my rather nice custom build PC, I've decided I'm going to get an Mac instead. Either way, each option is still a long way off. I'm only 14, and have very little money. But I am detirmined. I've promised myself that I will not spend large amounts of money. Most of my friends say that I'll never get the money, but that just makes me even more detirmined. I will save up the money

Anyway, enough of my ramble. I've decided that a iMac 17" 1.25GHz PowerPC G4/Superdrive/80GB Harddrive/512MB RAM with Bluetooth Module is what I need. I am bearing in mind that by the time I have the money for all this, this will probably be the entry-level model. So I'll probably just get the equivilant model to this, then. This model seems to have everything I need for what I'm doing ( email, chatting, web, some gaming and programs such as Dreamweaver and Fireworks ) I may get some extras later, like an iSight, and an iPod, and maybe one of those Logitech Mice.

Anyway, do you think this is the best Mac to go for? Your opinions are always appreciated. :woot:

#69158

I accidently reported that to apple as a bug on safari :own:

right on dude -

If i ever get a pc again, it would be to kill LUNA GUI. :police:

#69165

well..lack of games (on PC i play: Bf1942, CS :bow: , HL2eventually,...) and being a 14 yrold w/o $ have kept ME from switching

and your chioce is the best desktop to go for, since you cant spend less than like

$2,700 on a G5 w/LCD monitor

#69170

Originally posted by @Oct 25 2003, 12:09 PM

well..lack of games (on PC i play: Bf1942, CS :bow: , HL2eventually,...) and being a 14 yrold w/o $ have kept ME from switching

and your chioce is the best desktop to go for, since you cant spend less than like

$2,700 on a G5 w/LCD monitor

there are games for the mac.

Unfortunatly macs dont rule the market, which is a shame, and that is why the selection is really low. The good thing is, copying software on the mac isnt as wide spreaded like on windows machines, so it could be good to make it for the mac (2 cents).

#69177

Good luck on saving the money - I bought my first PC (or rather, one that wasn't my parents') under similar conditions - I was 14, poor, and kept getting told that I'd never have the money...

6 months later, all the naysayers were begging for a go on my (then) godbox PII-350

#69182

Thanks guys. Hehehe, a PII350

#69402

Simon,

I really respect your determination. I'm fairly young myself (20), and I know that I work really hard for everything I wanna buy. I've bought my own car, own computer (PC, sadly, a year and a half ago), etc.

I have to tell you...you might be discouraged later and want to give up working so hard for a computer. Really, it's like an endurance race. I have to tell you, when I've bought my major stuff (like I said, computer, car), I have felt *so* much incredible satisfaction. Buying something that you have always wanted really bad is awesome...

And you'll enjoy it and appreciate it *so* much more...

Work hard, stay smart, and good luck in your endeavor.

#69501

That is one beautiful and solid advise Paradox. One that we all can live by. Bravo!

#69553

My first PC - I was so young at that time - was a real IBM PC XT 1OMb HD + 1 floppy !

Very nice machine.

Panther... ? ok... just a nice XP-style system, without softwares to play with.

I'm reading a lot of Mac magazines these days, just for the visual pleasure of screenshots, and, let me tell you, these guys - Mac addicts - are wonderful : when they get a "new feature" in a software (something that any Win32 soft was doing for AGES) they seem to be so happy ! :-)

It proves only one thing : Mac users love their machine.

That's good news.

now there is something that I never understood.

Let me give you a simple example :

As you know, there is a small button near the Start button on the XP bar, that allows you to reduce all the active windows and see the workspace.

NEVER did Micro$oft made any buzz around that... ok, logical, it's JUST a feature.

NOW, this year, after the Apple fair in Paris, I had lunch with some friends.

These guys were talking about the EXTRAORDINARY CREATIVE MINDS at Apple,

and the example they gave me - they were sooooooooo amazed - was the arrival of that SAME button with the approx. same function, on the OSX dock...

Can I laugh ?

#70013

what button would that be on the dock?

#70023

Originally posted by Mandrake@Oct 27 2003, 09:36 PM

My first PC - I was so young at that time - was a real IBM PC XT 1OMb HD + 1 floppy !

Very nice machine.

Panther... ? ok... just a nice XP-style system, without softwares to play with.

I'm reading a lot of Mac magazines these days, just for the visual pleasure of screenshots, and, let me tell you, these guys - Mac addicts - are wonderful : when they get a "new feature" in a software (something that any Win32 soft was doing for AGES) they seem to be so happy ! :-)

It proves only one thing : Mac users love their machine.

That's good news.

now there is something that I never understood.

Let me give you a simple example :

As you know, there is a small button near the Start button on the XP bar, that allows you to reduce all the active windows and see the workspace.

NEVER did Micro$oft made any buzz around that... ok, logical, it's JUST a feature.

NOW, this year, after the Apple fair in Paris, I had lunch with some friends.

These guys were talking about the EXTRAORDINARY CREATIVE MINDS at Apple,

and the example they gave me - they were sooooooooo amazed - was the arrival of that SAME button with the approx. same function, on the OSX dock...

Can I laugh ?

i dont know if you can laugh... but im pretty sure you can get ready to be beaten up

MAC ADDICTS.... ATTACK!!!!

#70025

Originally posted by Paradox@Oct 26 2003, 04:48 PM

Simon,

I really respect your determination.  I'm fairly young myself (20), and I know that I work really hard for everything I wanna buy.  I've bought my own car, own computer (PC, sadly, a year and a half ago), etc.

I have to tell you...you might be discouraged later and want to give up working so hard for a computer.  Really, it's like an endurance race.  I have to tell you, when I've bought my major stuff (like I said, computer, car), I have felt *so* much incredible satisfaction.  Buying something that you have always wanted really bad is awesome...

And you'll enjoy it and appreciate it *so* much more...

Work hard, stay smart, and good luck in your endeavor. 

Wow, well said. My parents aren't going to get this for me, so I know the only way I'm going to be getting this is by saving up myself. But, as you said, I know I'll get a lot more satisfaction out of getting it this way

#71711

Originally posted by Taha@Oct 27 2003, 02:16 PM

what button would that be on the dock?

so.. yeah?

#71724

Originally posted by Simon@Oct 25 2003, 09:51 PM

Apple seemed to have everything I wanted. Fast hardware, a superb OS and GUI.

ever thought about the software you'll need? all the macromedia stuff, the adobe stuff, the office stuff, all those games, it is very hard to get it on a macintosh for such little money as on a pc, let's say for, hmm.... free... hmm... let me think again. no, not for free, you have to pay the internet connection to get it, so all in all it will cost you something, but not much. you know what I mean? and for the mods: I'm just talking about possibilities, this is NOT a call to do so!

#71753

Originally posted by schaggo@Oct 31 2003, 07:59 PM

ever thought about the software you'll need? all the macromedia stuff, the adobe stuff, the office stuff, all those games, it is very hard to get it on a macintosh for such little money as on a pc, let's say for, hmm.... free... hmm... let me think again. no, not for free, you have to pay the internet connection to get it, so all in all it will cost you something, but not much. you know what I mean? and for the mods: I'm just talking about possibilities, this is NOT a call to do so!

Yes, I am aware that some software will cost me money

I will get the software I want, as and when I need it. If it's something expensive, like Studio MX or something, then hell, I'll save up for it. I've already saved up for the Mac itself haven't I?

#71821

I recently started saving my pennies! I finally found a good use for the damn things!

I started off on computers with a Mac (Performa 550, LONG time ago) and switched to PC. Now I'm working my way back to Mac.

Best of luck to all the others in my shoes!

#71832

Studio MX is expensive, Studio MX2 will be too, Studio MX3 too, etc... Adobe Acrobat 7 is a MUST, Photoshop 8 costs a hell, dunno how you would get so much money at the age of 14 resp. 15...

#71836

First of all the button referred to is called simply Show Desktop.Now I would like to share with you all my Apple story,,,,I ordered a brand new G5 on October 28.I also paid for overnight shipping.After looking at my order status over the past few days it has not changed.After looking closely at the Apple store web site I notice that Jaguar is listed as the OS for the G5.I called them and after being on hold for 30 minutes I wad told I could upgrade my brand new,and yet to be shipped computer to Panther for a price.This was totally unacceptable to me.I told them that if the computer arrives someday with Jaguar installed I would be shipping it back.They didn't seem to care as if they had been dealing with this issue for sometime with other people.I am simply astounded that a cutting edge system bought on the 28th would not have the latest and greatest Apple has to offer.

I could not believe my ears so I spent the next 3 hours calling different Apple numbers trying to get to the bottom of this.Now,by my last count I have 3 Apple employees telling me I am out of luck and should have studied their site more closely and 2 who claim I am in the clear and covered with Panther.I simply do not know what to make of this although I can assure you I will not settle for anything less than Panther.

It is also troubling to me to have such mis-informed people answering calls and questions where a 3k computer is involved.I can not tell how disappointed I am.I am really no longer looking forward to the day I received my brand new OUTDATED Apple machine.So far my experience with Apple has been a scam.

#71840

i don't care what the small print said, that's just stupid company policy.

good luck brazil.

#71865

All I can tell you is to make sure you use a Credit Card to do business with Apple.Also make sure you are in good standing with your CC company.I have already called mine to tell them about this and they told me if I was not satisfied with the computer they would fully back me even if it means they,the CC company,pick up the bill.Again,I am horribly disappointed.

#71874

Errm..best of luck.

#72038

Brazil, it's your own fault for not reading the website properly. If it stated that 10.2 is what ships with your G5 then you get 10.2. If you are going to order an expensive machine then you should take more care over the ordering process. I'll be very impressed if you can get panther for free. Let us know if you do.

#72056

If you need Studio MX find someone who qualifies for the Educational discount, because instead of it costing $900, it only costs (hold your breath now) under $200. Which is rather a big saving.

And 10.3 now ships with G5s from a few days ago (if you haven't ordered yet).

#72060

PC machines may have to undergo constant upgrades and patch installation, but at least its completely free. When i was shopping for laptops i was considering a powerbook, but its discouraging knowing that i would have to fork over a big chunk of money everytime id want an OS X "service pack".

About the G5's. I thought they all shipped with a pre release of OS that was something like a highbred 32 bit/64 bit, i think it was os 10.2.7 or something and it just had some 64 bit stuff thrown in.... And 10.3 isnt even capable of taking advantage of the full potential of a 64bit processor yet either. I've read that it will be a 32 bit OS with some 64bit capabilities. G5's are too expensive to not even be completely supported software wise by the company that manufactures them. It is kind of a rip that you're not getting panther with your $2000 and some machine. It'd be like getting windows ME on a brand new p4 machine...

#72119

You don't pay for a "service pack" on a Mac. They are available during updates for free... and so are the updates to many of the iLife apps.

Paying for Mac "upgrades" is almost similar to getting Windows "upgrades". Let me put it in the following way:

Windows NT4 = OS 10.0

Windows 2000= OS 10.1

Windows XP = OS 10.2

Windows Longhorn = OS 10.3

#72138