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So if I do buy an Apple ...
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No kidding. How many people here use the 2 button + scroll wheel mouse that comes with the Dell machines? Or do they upgrade to something like MS Intellimouse Explorer?
At work I use the crappy 2 button ones because I don't feel like paying for extras out of my own pocket. At home, I use the best I can buy.
I'd so love to try out a powerbook. But my main use of computers these days (outside of work) is gaming. Right now, BF1942. And we all know the story of gaming and Mac's. And since work is pretty much a MS shop (Windows, Visual Studio, Outlook, etc...) I have no choice there.
But damnit, I so want to get one. Just can't justify it (and that is pretty much ignoring the price).
But damnit, I so want to get one. Just can't justify it (and that is pretty much ignoring the price).
iamwiz82
Lifer
Thanks for posting that. 🙂 Still the problem with the anti-aliasing remains. I did a side by side comparison with and without the anti-aliasing. I still have to go to compusa to check out the 12" XP notebook to see if cleartype suffers from a similar flaw at smaller screen sizes though.
LethalWolfe
Diamond Member
In a word, "no."
Lethal
I've been using a PC desktops for over 10 years now, and i recently got the 12" ibook about a month ago (i'm using it right now, as a matter of fact). Obviously in terms of performance a top-notch desktop under any OS will beat out pretty much every laptop out there, regardless of PC or Mac OS.
You can always debate about the gaming, performance, freeware and pirated softare availablity, but to be honest, Apple laptops are hands down the best laptops out there, especially with the OS X 10.2 Jaguar. The Powerbook has been rated the best laptop by many business and computing magazines, when it came out 2 years ago. and I don't know of any other PC company that can make a 12" laptop that's about an inch thick, and about 9in. x 11in. overall size, complete with stereo speakers, internal wirelessLAN card (Airport), and CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive. Oh and through a student discount i got my ibook for a little under $1,200 😀
You can always debate about the gaming, performance, freeware and pirated softare availablity, but to be honest, Apple laptops are hands down the best laptops out there, especially with the OS X 10.2 Jaguar. The Powerbook has been rated the best laptop by many business and computing magazines, when it came out 2 years ago. and I don't know of any other PC company that can make a 12" laptop that's about an inch thick, and about 9in. x 11in. overall size, complete with stereo speakers, internal wirelessLAN card (Airport), and CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive. Oh and through a student discount i got my ibook for a little under $1,200 😀
Mani
Diamond Member
Got a few questions. Note that these are not pointed questions - I am just curious if the hardware is as open as you say.
1. Can you easily replace the mobo on Macs? Are there any alternate motherboards/chipsets available?
2. Can you easily replace the PS?
3. You have said you can replace the vid card on desktops - I have heard iMacs have fixed Vid cards that can't be upgraded. Are you only referring to the Power G4s? Is there anything on an iMac that can be upgraded other than memory and HD?
4. Is it easy to upgrade the processors on Macs?
5. Are there any 3rd party cases made for Macs?
No, but there really is no need. You can find some on e-bay and some other companies are starting to develop PPC motherboards.
Yes, in fact Apple is replacing a few right now.
I am referring to PowerMacs, although there are replacement video cards for the Apple Cubes. The iMacs have onboard components.
I havent tried it, but it doesnt look too hard.
Yes, there have been a couple of companies that have made Macs. Well, basically rebadges PowerMacs. The one Im thinking of did 1U rackmounts before the Xserve came around.
Mani
Diamond Member
For any number of reasons.
Some people may want to have windows in the side of their cases.
Maybe some cooling freaks would want cases with better circulation.
Maybe you don't like the fact that PowerPC cases are glued together in many places.
Maybe you aren't satified with the available colors of the cases.
And so on...
1. you are correct with that, you are stuck with what you have unless you E-Bay.
2. Yep, go to a good mac store and they will provide... in some cases even a cheaper generic brand and not apple OEM - just gotta know where to go.
3. Can you upgrade the integrated Intel or VIA graphics of a small case, highly integrated PC system? Not really, especially when some only have 1 half height PCI slot. So that doesn't really count. The G4s all have AGP and and so do later G3s older ones at least still have PCI. Note though that you need a Apple version of the card yoiu want or have to flash a PC version with a mac BIOS which is risky. GF4 cards for mac exist but are hideously expensive and the drivers aren't too good. ATI cards are OK pricewise and have the better Mac drivers. Old 3DFX cards are easyest to modify their BIOS for apple use but no OS-X drivers available to my knowledge.
4. Yes there are several CPU upgrades for G3 and G4 macs (The cpus are mounted on modules basically like the slot P2/3 & Athlon CPU cards that the PC had a while ago, but they are expensive (Motorola isn't dealing with Intel/AMD economys of scale here)
5. Why would you want to do that 😕
Mani
Diamond Member
There are several small-case PC systems that have full-height AGP and PC slots, the small Shuttle offerings are a great example - and they look pretty cool too. Maybe not as original as an iMac, but looks are subjective - some people don't like their computers looking like potted plants. 🙂 (for the record, I don't mind the way iMacs look)
So is it a fair statement to say that while it is technically feasible, it is not financially practical?
See my last post.
Yep, more sensible in using the machine until it's written off, sell it on e-bay and buy a whole new one.
With the integrated graphics question you would have to compare a PC case where function follows form with a non standard Mobo and case-shape to an I-Mac, other than comparing the form follows function shuttle minicubes (where I must agree to you: they are saweeeeehhht) because you can upgrade the graphics on the G4 minicube too which is a better comparison IMO.
Case: Well you can case mod your DELL so whats to stop you modding a G3/4 case? But yes, in essence you are stuck with how it comes out of the factory... but at least you get a pretty cool looking case from the start.
halik
Lifer
alright first to answer the questions above:
1) Apple is the sole manufacturer of apple mobos, so yeah you can get a different mobo but its gonan be the same thing (unless you buy it from amiga...the other company that makes em). Again i dont see the reason for doing that, unless oyu mean upgrade which is possible
2)PSUs are everwhere, machines up to g4 AGP-Graphics can take normal PC PSU, after that you need a PSU with 22 pins for ADC i believe
3) powermac G4sw and G4 cubers have agp slots, no problems there (main reason why i jsut bought a powermac )
4) Sure, you can either get a faster CPU from apple or 3rd party manufacturers, though ebay is the best way to go 😉
5) Couple companies made rack cases for powermacs plus just about any PC case will hold a powermac will little moding. Again i dont see the point of that, as apple prodcuts have the best industrial deisng (SGi is up there too actually)
I just bought a 800mhz g4 powermac the otehr day with the intent of getting rid of my p4 desktop. Here's what im gonna miss:
1)GAMES ...there just aren't as many. Thought all the quake/unreal based games get ported, there's no counterstrike, bf1942 etc. That being said i havent played a game on my machne in about 6 months so that made my deci9sion easy there.
2)Parallel port ... my laser printer has no usb, im gonna have to get an adapter
3)High quality sound- i don't thin SB live drivers have been ported to osx yet, so you're stuck with the built in sound
Now i won't need any windows software because theres a windows emulator called VirtualPc that lets me run xp/2k/98/95 and all the programs for it. Now form my own experience xp pro is little slow on 600mhz ibook, but it should be smooth on my g4 machine.
1) Apple is the sole manufacturer of apple mobos, so yeah you can get a different mobo but its gonan be the same thing (unless you buy it from amiga...the other company that makes em). Again i dont see the reason for doing that, unless oyu mean upgrade which is possible
2)PSUs are everwhere, machines up to g4 AGP-Graphics can take normal PC PSU, after that you need a PSU with 22 pins for ADC i believe
3) powermac G4sw and G4 cubers have agp slots, no problems there (main reason why i jsut bought a powermac )
4) Sure, you can either get a faster CPU from apple or 3rd party manufacturers, though ebay is the best way to go 😉
5) Couple companies made rack cases for powermacs plus just about any PC case will hold a powermac will little moding. Again i dont see the point of that, as apple prodcuts have the best industrial deisng (SGi is up there too actually)
I just bought a 800mhz g4 powermac the otehr day with the intent of getting rid of my p4 desktop. Here's what im gonna miss:
1)GAMES ...there just aren't as many. Thought all the quake/unreal based games get ported, there's no counterstrike, bf1942 etc. That being said i havent played a game on my machne in about 6 months so that made my deci9sion easy there.
2)Parallel port ... my laser printer has no usb, im gonna have to get an adapter
3)High quality sound- i don't thin SB live drivers have been ported to osx yet, so you're stuck with the built in sound
Now i won't need any windows software because theres a windows emulator called VirtualPc that lets me run xp/2k/98/95 and all the programs for it. Now form my own experience xp pro is little slow on 600mhz ibook, but it should be smooth on my g4 machine.
MercenaryForHire
Lifer
halik - which PowerMac did you buy?
I'm looking at the 17" widescreen PowerMac G4 w/Superdrive myself ... with a little assistance from student discount naturally. 😛
- M4H
I'm looking at the 17" widescreen PowerMac G4 w/Superdrive myself ... with a little assistance from student discount naturally. 😛
- M4H
halik
Lifer
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