Need a dual G4!!

[macsnstuff]

Need to get my hands on a dual G4 as well. Please email at lousub@forestcom.com or call at 613-831-9252.

Thanks! Louis.

[z-mac]

Please pardon my curiosity... What possible advantage in buying a dual G4 (or any G4) is there over buying a dual G5 (or any G5)?

Some G4s can boot OS9.2. But Mac OS 9.2 was abandoned by Apple when they released OS X 10.0 in 2000.

A quick scan of prices on EBay shows that dual G4s are selling for unreasonable prices. You'd be wiser to invest in a G5... but wiser still to buy one of the new 64-bit Intel Macs.

[macsnstuff]

Price. A dual G5 is going for closer to $2000 and I think they are too expensive considering a retail MacPro is $2400 plus taxes.

A Dual G4, if i can get something at a reasonable price would last me 3 years, at witch time I can probably get a used G5 at a more reasonable price. Do you have a G5 for sale at a reasonable price?

[z-mac]

A Dual G4, if i can get something at a reasonable price would last me 3 years

I have a single-CPU G4 MDD 2003  that is still a capable workhorse. However, Mac users have stars in their eyes about what money their G4 MDD 1.42 GHz duals should fetch.

~IF~ you can get a deal for a dual G4 MDD 2003, take it. It will serve you well. Otherwise, given the shift from PowerPC to Intel, I think your best long-term investment is the Intel generation. The advantages in the software that you will be able to use (think virtualization as well as all the applications that will now be ported much more easily from Windows -- sorry if that sounds heretical) make the Intel boxes a better value for you than a G5. 

[macsnstuff]

what do you think they should go for?

[z-mac]

what do you think they should go for?

Significantly less than a new Core 2 Duo Mac Mini, in my opinion.

A G5 tower has speed and configurability on its side. But as you say, they are expensive used. In your situation, I would try to land a MacPro on EBay.

[Denis Deslauriers]

Price. A dual G5 is going for closer to $2000 and I think they are too expensive considering a retail MacPro is $2400 plus taxes.

A Dual G4, if i can get something at a reasonable price would last me 3 years, at witch time I can probably get a used G5 at a more reasonable price. Do you have a G5 for sale at a reasonable price?

You choice of going G4 DP latest model is very good thinking in your part.
Depending on the configuration.
G4 - 857mb DP around $650
G4 - 1ghz DP around $850

The G5 DP are selling for to much money, considering what the new MacPro's are selling for.
With the introduction of the Intel Mac's line and the MacPro, Mac users will have to get with the program and readjust there pricing.
The old myth that the Mac retains it's value is no more, newer model of Mac's are being introduced fatter than ever.

I considered a used G5 DP at some point, but they are asking to much money for them, it does not matter how much they try to convince people that it's good and fast, it's still older technology, might as well get a MacPro for the extra $400.oo.

I have a G4 - 857mb DP loaded to the gills, and there is no way I'm letting this CPU go, it's a work horse : )

When all the major software will have been written native for the Intel machine, and proven in several upgrades, I will buy into the MacPro line, but until then, I will let others be the guinea pigs : )

Be very careful of buying on Ebay !
I woud not.

My 2 cents

[macsnstuff]

Here. Here. Ok. That being said. Who wants to sell me their dual G4. Pretty Please... I want at least a 1G DP.

I love this forum!!

[z-mac]

Be very careful of buying on Ebay !
I woud not.

My 2 cents

For $0.02 you supply plenty of FUD about Ebay and Intel-based Macs. That's a penny per subject, according to my calculator. ;^)

I've bought all my Macs from sellers on EBay and they were great deals with commendable service.

If you already ~have~ a G4, it's a fine computer. As I said, I have one too. But it's old technology for which people are asking too much. The Intel Macs make the G4s look feeble.

The member is looking to buy a Mac. Telling him to invest in old, overpriced technology because of your FUDdly reasoning is hardly persuasive... unless, of course, it persuades him. :^B

[macsnstuff]

i would love to buy the latest and greatest but Macs are great. They last and they don't normally breakdown. Buying used mac is a good idea. The only problem is pricing. I just want to save some money. G5 prices are unreasonable. G4 prices may be better and what I am looking for is 2 - 3 times faster than what I have. Single 1.4 Ghz Quicksilver.

The last few G4 MDD that were built is a better option. The FW800 models. The only thing that i don't prefer is that you can only have a maximum of 2GB of Ram to these machines and you can only run 1GB of ram per application.

Tiger is not even built to run native 64 bit anyway. CS2 hardly is. Only CS3 will be true 64 bit compliant as well as the latest OS X after Tiger.

If I could get a G5 DP for around $1300-$1500, I would do that. But everyone wants close to $2000. A brand new 2Ghz DP with 1GB of ram, 256 mb video cards is $2400 plus taxes. How cheap is that. And people expect to get $2000 for the similar but less spec G5?...

[Denis Deslauriers]

z-mac, I don't how long you have been using a Mac for, but buying into the latest technology is not always a wise choice, you better have deep pockets if you want to play the " get the latest toy game ", specially with all the software upgrades : (

Yes the G4 is older technology. but the initial question was for a G4 DP, so my answer was in line to compare the G4, G5 and Mac Pro.
That being said, a G4 latest DP is still a good buy if you find one at a reasonable price, or go all out and get a Mac Pro and be ready for Tiger and Native written software,  but then again, that's if " macsnstuff " is ready to fork out that extra cash ?
There is still quite a leap between the G4 / 1ghz DP around $850, and the MacPro at $2400.oo plus tax.

Tiger is not even out, nor have the major software been written for it yet, worste been provent, take that in consideration and if you think that Apple will not be coming out with new models before that happens, your dreaming.
I rather hold, and see what comes out in the mix over time, and I give it a time line iof at least one year.

Depending on what the computer is intended to be used for, my answer could have been quite different.
Any one wanting an all around Mac, to surf and have fun with, I would say to go directly for the Mac Mini / 1.66Ghz Intel Core Duo at $679.00, or the latest Imac, but don't ask it to do any intensive rendering with software such as Photoshop, illustrator or other, plus the G4 latest DP if intended to be used with the so mentioned software will be significantly faster than the Single 1.4 Ghz Quicksilver.

When Tiger comes out, and the major software's will have been written and proven in native mode for that OS, it's going to be a whole different ball game.
BTW, the Quads are not the end of the Mac line, nor is the MacPro, there is more to come by the time Tiger pans out, they are already experimenting on doubling that, and it's called Quad Core.

As for Ebay, watch the scams.
I rather buy from a major forums such as ehMac's used and classified, or usedmacs, that buy from who know who on Ebay, and loose considerable cash.

My opinion is exactly that, and opinion.
Use it, discard it, it's your choice.

PS : This is going to be moved and become a thread in the discussion area pretty soon.

[MacMoore]

Surprised to find out that the Tiger I've been running for more than a year now is only beta.  Won't it be great when it comes out as final.

[z-mac]

z-mac, I don't how long you have been using a Mac for, but buying into the latest technology is not always a wise choice, you better have deep pockets if you want to play the " get the latest toy game ", specially with all the software upgrades : (

I've owned Macs for 10 years. I agree with you that the smart money avoids the abuse and cruelty of the Apple upgrade/obsolescence cycle. I'm not dreaming: I agree that Apple is likely to continue to abuse customers as far as it will take them. Steve Jobs' vision has been remarkable, but Apple is just a company with a marketing team and shareholders. I agree that the value proposition of a G4 dual CPU box is good... at a certain price. The G5s will come down in price in three month's time if the buyer can wait. At the same time, the G5 tower is a great design -- better than any of the G4s. A G5 for a good price has real value for the consumer.

If we can say a two good things about the move to Intel, they are a) wattage efficiency and b) the new CPUs are amenable to most of the application code in the world today. This is significant future value for the consumer. And let's not forget that now you can run MS Windows natively on Mac hardware, as well as standard Linux distros. The path that gives the consumer the most freedom is the best one.  It might cost more now, but given options G4, G5, and Intel, the latter has the strongest legs.

The number of cores in a CPU is not likely to be a factor for most users, nor most applications. Intel and AMD have marketing departments too. :^) However, the current family of Intel CPUs leaves G4s well behind. A Core Duo Mini with 2GB RAM is an adept performer.

I would always buy from a local seller if I had the option. One can get burned in any transaction, though, and used gear is used gear. EBay's advantage is that you can source parts from the US market, which is 10 times the size of ours.  Let the buyer be aware and informed. Homo hominem lupus est.

In the end, one of the best configurations for our friend just might be buying an old Sawtooth G4 and stuffing it with a Sonnet dual G4 1.8GHz upgrade card. You might be able to put this together with used components for $600 CDN. But it's definitely an exercise for EBay users.

As someone else noted, Tiger is current and Leopard is next.

PS : This is going to be moved and become a thread in the discussion area pretty soon.

Heh. Sorry about that, Sir.  :^B

[Denis Deslauriers]

The number of cores in a CPU is not likely to be a factor for most users, nor most applications. Intel and AMD have marketing departments too. :^) However, the current family of Intel CPUs leaves G4s well behind. A Core Duo Mini with 2GB RAM is an adept performer.

I would always buy from a local seller if I had the option. One can get burned in any transaction, though, and used gear is used gear. EBay's advantage is that you can source parts from the US market, which is 10 times the size of ours.  Let the buyer be aware and informed. Homo hominem lupus est.

In the end, one of the best configurations for our friend just might be buying an old Sawtooth G4 and stuffing it with a Sonnet dual G4 1.8GHz upgrade card. You might be able to put this together with used components for $600 CDN. But it's definitely an exercise for EBay users.

Heh. Sorry about that, Sir.  :^B

lololloloololol
Sorry, I messed up my Cats ; )
Leopard is what was aimed and intended in my previous post : )
It's a huge Jungle with to many Cats out there I guess. lol

Your right, multiple Cores will not be a Mac for Mr. everyone.
Most who bought in, said they should have waited because it's underutilized.

Ebay for parts is very attractive in deed, but as you say, buyer beware.

Buying a Mac is not always an easy task, it all boils down to one simple thing " what you need vs. what you want ".

Please don't call me Sir, it makes me feel like your grandfather, and I'm not that old. lololol
Not in my mind I'm not ; )

I saw some real nice deals on G5's DP set ups a few months ago ( around $1500.oo ), but I'm still holding off until Leopard has been proven with Native software ( Bootcamp to boot ).
One year.
I give it only one year enduring the white nuckle sindrome and holding back from buying, then " a new MacPro will set me free ". lol
This will also set my bank account free when I upgrade all my software : (
Free and empty that that is.

Hey macsnstuff.
Tell us exactly what you intend to use the computer for ?
Are you srtating out ?
What level of Graphic design are you involved in ?
Be honest, and we as a group may offer you better adsvise.
You have to maximize your Bucks and make it worth your while : )
A MacMini Intel Core Duo might your answer if your not into heavy rendering, if you can work with that mac, it would be a better buy and a wiser choice than a G4 DP any day of the week.
I have heard of guys do some pretty intensive work on there laptops, so a MacMini could be your answer.

[macsnstuff]

Hey guys! I have an small agency with 3 people. I have 14 years experience in high end design. Advertising. Marketing, and web development. We also get into displays. I have the CS2 package which I just upgraded. I don't plan on upgrading again for 3 years so I think if I go to a G5 DP used that I can expand to 8GBs of ram instead of 4 like on the PCI models versus the PCI-x models, then I will have a machine that can be run for 5 years or so.

Sometimes my files in Photoshop are over a Gig when open so ram is important. You can only run 1Gig of ram per application on the latest G4s. The other problem that I have been running into is with my single processor, i get lag and chocking when I am switching from software to software and getting into multiple tasking.

Uploading files, while going on the internet, while sending large emails, while filtering in Photoshop. It may be worth my while to spend up to $2000 for a G5 DP now rather than spend $1000 on the latest G4 now and $1000 on a G5 in a year from now. Maybe I should simply buy the latest and run that machine for 6 years. It certainly seems to have the technology and speed to last that long.

The inetersting thing in all of this is that my mac or any mac for that matter other than G3 can still do the job. Its a matter of how fast you need it to do the job. I think that I need a DP at the very least to help with the multi-tasking I need to do.

I do love the look of my quicksilver though. Its a nice box.