DecisionalReview.info

Overall Rating

Goodbye to Mickey and Intel
After 15 years of PCs, I got a Powerbook last year and fell deeply in love with it. Then decided to get the dual G5. At work, we had just bought all the software developers PCs 8 months before and the bloody HELL we went through when we had to take them from 1GB to 2 of RAM was insane. Since getting my G5, I’ve gone up to 3 GBs of RAM. Having the room to go to 8 is wonderful. I have NOTHING bad to say about this machine, it’s the best setup I’ve ever used, and I have a database loaded on it, doing Java development, and using Final Cut Express and iTunes, etc. I would like to make a few points though.Price: I see NO reason to believe that the price point on this is high at all. I would have paid the same price for a PC but it would have been in the trash in 18 months. With the memory capacity on this machine, I should be able to keep this at least 2x as long if not more. Also, Apple machines hold their value. Go look on eBay for old Powerbooks. It’s insane, they are selling for a couple hundred less than new ones.The quietness of this machine is a HUGE bene. For years, I have sat by as my PCs got louder and louder, and the suppliers struggled with more and more fans. Major points for the job done there.Connectivity is superb. And Panther is a joy, no question the best OS I’ve ever used.Apple’s ad campaign about switching is kind of comical. Would be like showing Cool Hand Luke eating a steak dinner and saying he switched from raw eggs. This is the best ticket to a Mickeysoft jailbreak on the planet. Amazing how many developers seem to be hopping aboard. There’s a reason this was picked tops for technical excellence by PC Mag.

Overall Rating

Clear and full understanding
To complain about prices or chosen base graphics card is ridiculous. If you want to compare this product with a custom made computer… CUSTOM ADD SOME STUFF TO IT! The price of PC3200 memory is exactly the same for this as for a P4 system. Find 512MB sticks for 115 bucks each and then pop 8 in. Presto, 4 gigs for 900 bucks (AN ABSOLUTE BARGAIN!)It would cost more than twice that on a Dell (Dell=gag!).I actually appreciate the barebones nature of this machine, it allowed me to save money by pricewatching my memory instead of paying the out of box price. Try maxing out a Sony PC, or even a Dell out of the box, its way more money than if you just pop in some yourself. Compare this beauty to a Sony desktop, its every bit as slick and its actually usefully slick instead of just shiny to get you to pay more money. And seriosly, PC gamers are ruining the whole idea of computers as powerful tools, and Microsoft is doing a glorios job at promoting this. Win XP is THE video game platform for all the twenty somethings that should really just grow up. Big video graphics cards aren’t even used by Windows except in games, OS X panther uses video hardware every chance it gets and enhances productivity. This machine is for work for Pete’s sake, look at the price tag. If you’re using this primarily for games, you simply have no respect for your dollar. Plain and simple.About OS X, I would pay 200-400 dollars extra just for this operating system. It is actually worth money to me, VS Win XP which is a dime a dozen. If the speed were the same or slower i would still want Panther, it is quite simply DESIRABLE. It makes me want to work, and it definitely promotes creativity. My PC is like creating inside a prison cell. Panther is like a summer cabin. Compare this to any similarly priced PC out of the box and you would see that there is little comparison. Compare this to a custom made PC, and you would have to admit that the case and cooling alone would have a market value of 400 bucks. Buy it barebones and add stuff if you’re concerned about the bang for your buck. It’s simply right for professionals to be open about these machines, Apple doesn’t reverse engineer like Microsoft does… it actually comes up with things, and makes using a computer interesting again.