Should I get a new G5 Mac?

OzzyKP · September 14, 2003, 22:40

My folks are thinking of getting me a G5 for Christmas. I'm not sure though, I hear its an amazing machine but as I have quite a lot of stuff on my PC I don't want to throw it all away because nothing is compatable with a Mac.

Also I don't want my parents to waste a bunch of money on a computer that seems to be really expensive when they could get like $300 worth of components to bring my PC up to speed.

I don't like the idea of throwing away 5 years worth of my life on this computer. No way it'll happen. I'd rather stick to my crapbucket than erase it all. But then again if this G5 thingy is as amazing as one of my tech friends says, then am I a fool to look a gift horse in the mouth?

As for more civ specific questions: All my saved games and scenarios and modpacks and maps and other goodies for civ2, are they still useable for the Mac version?

And since I don't like the idea of having to replace my entire game catalog (and since I'm poor as dirt) how available are Mac games (if they even exist) online for download? Civ2, MOO, CtP, etc.

Agathon · September 14, 2003, 22:50

All the games you mention are available for the Macintosh. You can buy them at any good Mac retailer.

I have no idea about the Civ 2 stuff.

If you want the G5 because of the computer's speed, I'm a bit worried. Sure, it's a fast computer, but the real reason for buying one is that you like the Mac OS. Play around with it and see what you think. I love macs, but not everyone does.

FrostyBoy · September 14, 2003, 22:57

Have your parents upgrade your PC, its cheaper, you'll much more prefer a faster PC than a fast MAC and a slow PC. Eventually the G5 will be slow, and you'll wish you had upgraded your PC instead.

TRUST ME

monolith94 · September 14, 2003, 22:58

Civ 2, as far as I know, won't run on a new G5, because I don't think the new G5s will support OS 9. An OS X port of civ 2 has not even been announced, or anything.

Considering the G5 just came out, if you decide you want to go macintosh eventually, just wait for prices to decline a bit, because they undoubtedly will.

As far as transitioning from pc to mac, macs are pretty generous - your photos, documents, movies, basic files and such should port over easily. The only area where I can see you as being dissapointed would be in terms of games.

OzzyKP · September 14, 2003, 22:59

I'm indifferent on most things. I've switched back and forth between PCs and Macs for as long as I've had computers. I know and am comfortable with both.

I know my current computer is very slow, small, and outdated. But I can update that with $300 like I said.

But my friend who gave me that $300 shopping list said the G5 is still far superior, and he recommended I go for it. I don't need the biggest baddest computer on the block, but if its such a good computer then I might as well. As long as its not a soul crushing upheaval to switch over.

korn469 · September 14, 2003, 23:01

Stay with a pc it's cheaper and you'll be better off in the long run

Agathon · September 14, 2003, 23:02

Quote:

Originally posted by monolith94
Civ 2, as far as I know, won't run on a new G5, because I don't think the new G5s will support OS 9. An OS X port of civ 2 has not even been announced, or anything.

Civ 2 runs just fine in OS X's Classic mode - at least it does for me.

Man, I wish my parents would buy me a new G5.

monolith94 · September 14, 2003, 23:06

"Civ 2 runs just fine in OS X's Classic mode - at least it does for me."

But the thing is, I'm 75% sure the new G5s won't have classic mode.

Drake Tungsten · September 14, 2003, 23:15

I'll take the G5 if you don't want it...

klesh · September 14, 2003, 23:16

I'll ask my roomate to come on and answer G5 questions you have. His just arrived and he hasn't set it up yet. I think he's waiting for a monitor. I'll give you a shot of the box and the insides tomorrow. He's asleep and the machine is in his room.

Agathon · September 14, 2003, 23:19

Quote:

Originally posted by monolith94
"Civ 2 runs just fine in OS X's Classic mode - at least it does for me."

But the thing is, I'm 75% sure the new G5s won't have classic mode.

They run Jaguar and that does.

Drake Tungsten · September 14, 2003, 23:20

I think they're only going to run Jaguar (the 64 bit port) for a short time. They're supposed to be switched to Panther as soon as possible, which may not have Classic.

Agathon · September 14, 2003, 23:22

Quote:

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
I think they're only going to run Jaguar (the 64 bit port) for a short time. They're supposed to be switched to Panther as soon as possible, which may not have Classic.

I can't see why they'd want to remove it. It doesn't affect the running of X at all.

Drake Tungsten · September 14, 2003, 23:27

Panther is going to be a 64-bit OS, IIRC. So is the version of Jaguar that the G5's run. Maybe Classic isn't compatible with a 64-bit OS?

edit: It appears Panter won't be fully 64-bit after all. It's a hybrid 32/64 bit OS.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/39/31600.html

BustaMike · September 15, 2003, 01:35

Hell no you shouldn't get a mac.

http://webdev.o1.com/rvb/movies/switch/RvB_switch.mov

I think this sums up my thoughts on Mac gaming

.

Q Classic · September 15, 2003, 12:26

i say upgrade.

for as much as you'd pay for a g5, you could upgrade your current pc to 0wnz0r anybody else's.

what's more, you could simply swap out the mobo: ~100, add a new chip ~300, and add new memory ~300, and you'll have a decent computer.

g5s are nice, though. but are you doing video editing? sound editing? no? then there's no *critical* need for you to move up to it.

Harry Seldon · September 15, 2003, 12:47

As my college instructor was always so fond of saying when we got to the Apple section of our books, "Apple... who cares!" To be fair though, he also would occassionally state, "Macs... they make great doorstops."

Inverse Icarus · September 15, 2003, 12:47

upgrade the PC. assuming you have $800 to spend, you can buy a new mobo, processor, a video card and some ram, EASILY. go to computer shows and the price drops signifigantly, especially kif you have a chinese guy who speaks chinese buy it for you.

they wave tax if you pay in cash, and they'll cut the price for their own kind.

chequita guevara · September 15, 2003, 12:54

It depends on what you want to do with your machine.

Inverse Icarus · September 15, 2003, 12:57

if you want something to bash your head against, buy the mac.

Jack_www · September 15, 2003, 13:03

I would say etheir buy a new PC or upgrade. A mac is not very good with games and PC is much faster then macs. I used to like macs a lot untill I started to use PC more and how much more games they have on a PC compared to a MAC. I am glad I have a PC instead of a MAC.

child of Thor · September 15, 2003, 13:28

A couple of friends of mine own Mac's. One makes films, the other does a lot of DTP and Photoshop.

Both swear that its the machine for their needs. But both are a bit less enthusiastic about it as a games platform.

There are games out there but if gaming is your thing then stick to your pc and upgrade that.

Of course the PC does have very good productive software of its own these days, so IMHO i would stick to your PC.

Then again if you want to strike a blow for free trade and freedom of choice and good compition in the market place get the Mac.

Kyle · September 15, 2003, 16:43

I'd take it in addition to my PC, but I'd probably never replace my PC for a Mac.

Whaleboy · September 15, 2003, 17:24

Windows!

The only thing that could possibly be better is a simple, good looking interface running on top of a BSD kernel!

OTOH, the Mac is a damn fine looking piece of equipment.

Agathon: You're 31 now, shouldn't you stop relying on your parents?

j/k Sponge all you want!!

Provost Harrison · September 15, 2003, 17:44

They're all image, an 800MHz version of one of those pieces of cack (G4) costs more than my 3GHz system

God knows how much that sh*theap will cost...

OzzyKP · September 15, 2003, 18:01

Now how much of those responses were from really knowing the G5 and what software there is out there for it, and how much of that was just general anti-Mac sentiment?

Provost Harrison · September 15, 2003, 18:08

Just a healthy dose of cynicism...they are overpriced ornaments

monolith94 · September 15, 2003, 18:15

There's a healthy dose of exaggeration there, too.

In terms of software, you can find everything you need, apart from games. If you want a good, reliable computer that will let you do your work faster and will work WITH you rather than get in your way, go with a mac. If you want to play the latest games and be able to play more types of games, go with the pc.

OzzyKP · September 15, 2003, 18:56

expand on that monolith.

I like games, but most of my stuff is pretty old anyways. I probably haven't bought a new game in like 5 years. I don't want to loose what i've got though.

I have been frustrated with Win98, though who knows if thats just because my computer is old and corrupted and all its crashes and freezing are because of that rather than an OS problem. Would Mac OSX be any better than an updated Windows? Or would it be just as troublesome after its old and well used?

(looking for impartial opinions btw)

Provost Harrison · September 15, 2003, 19:12

Quote:

Originally posted by monolith94
There's a healthy dose of exaggeration there, too.

In terms of software, you can find everything you need, apart from games. If you want a good, reliable computer that will let you do your work faster and will work WITH you rather than get in your way, go with a mac. If you want to play the latest games and be able to play more types of games, go with the pc.

Yes, apart from games. But let's face it, a 4 year old PC could run modern day applications without too much of a problem...probably why a Mac can run them too

And a computer that will work with you rather than against you? What kind of flannel is that? I think Jobs would be hard pushed to think of something worse than that