Powerbook 15" 1.67GHz vs iMac G5 17" 1.9GHz

[Blueskystudio]

I'm deliberating on a Mac set-up dilemma: I've spent long enough deliberating on this, and am down to two choices of set-up...
SET-UP OPTION 1:

Mac 1. Powerbook 15" in the studio, with Formac 19" Raven Extreme III monitor [already have the monitor] for photo and graphics processing in studio, around the house, and out on the road.

Mac 2. iBook 12" for domestic use, partner's use, web-browsing, Word, iTunes radio.

SET-UP OPTION 2:

Mac 1. iMac 17" in the studio, with Formac 19" Raven Extreme III monitor [already have the monitor] for photo and graphics processing in studio.

Mac 2. iBook 12" for domestic use, partner's use, web-browsing, Word, iTunes radio.

The real question is, is the PBook G4 faster than the iMac G5 for my workload of Photoshop work, and a little Dreamweavering? And, can the iMac G5 be connected to the external monitor without being stuck with mirroring [not using Screeen Spanning Doctor]

Any advice welcome, I'll be ordering today from Apple Store, one way or another.

 

[echelon2004]

faster, but I don't know if you can connect an external monitor at all to it?

Why not get a normal G5 if you already have the monitor?

The PB you can use with the monitor and not mirror, it's a little bit depending on the graffics card you buy, but a 19" shouldn't be any problem at all.

Using C1pro on the 15"PB is a bit slow and PSCS2 is VERY slow.
Buy memory upgrade first thing you do if you go that route...
--
Anders

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event photography and photo journalism

 

[Blueskystudio]

Would love the G5, but would cost me the same as the 15" PBook, and I would only have the one monitor, although I could always buy a second. And still get that iBook for general use in and out of the home. It would be a shame not to get one of the last ever PowerMac Powerbooks in history! Was kind of hoping to do thhe whole setup for no more than about £1600-1800, as I will raise around £400-500 for the kit I am selling off, leaving me a balance of anywhere between to £1100-1400 depending how the buying and selling bit goes.

I so need to get this kit ordered today, it's my last day of deadline, have been procrastinating for a good couple of weeks on this now, keep circling. Mmm. Thinks...

 

[pbolton]

if you are thinking powerbook or iBook you have to wait till tomorrow as both (or one or neither) may be significantly updated then..... even if you don't buy the new versions the prices of the old versions would drop a lot, see http://www.macrumors.com/ for a rumor roundup, there is a small chance that the iMac will be updated

 

[JohnyP]

iMac is faster than PowerBook

You really don't need two laptops (especially in the studio/lab)
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[hatidua]

You really don't need two laptops (especially in the studio/lab)

Exactly my thoughts. I travel with a Powerbook but the studio has two dual-processor G5's with 23" displays. I would hate to be stuck on the laptop back in the studio.

 

[LarryK]

Definitely wait a day.

I'm pretty sure you can hook your external monitor up to the powerbook no problem, in fact I think the latest Powerbook 17 (maybe 15 as well) can drive a 30" Cinema Display, haven't had a chance to try that yet.

Larry

 

[echelon2004]

external monitor to an iMac?
--
Anders

http://www.teamexcalibur.se
http://www.teamexcalibur.se/excalibursida4.html
http://www.teamexcalibur.se/excalibursida4a.html

event photography and photo journalism

 

[xtoph]

steve jobs will likely announce new models on tues, and even if they aren't instantly availible, the 'obsolete' models should drop in price.

you sure you can't wait another day?

 

[Jeff Behm]

I guarantee you can run external monitors from G4 Powerbooks, because I do it at my home office every day. My calibrated 20" CRT works just fine with the adapter that came with the Powerbook. My local MAc retailer (MacOutfitters) also told me the 12" I have would run up to a 30" Cinema, too.

As for the difference between the 17" G5 iMac, they assured me that the iMac would process photos faster than, for instance a G4 Mac Mini. I'd been under the impression that the iMac was consumer grade and that the Mac Mini might do a better job, despite the CPU difference. My opinion was based on the speed with which the Powerbook handles Photoshop. They cleared that up for me thoroughly.

I'm waiting for the Intel stuff before buying more hardware, but whatever you choose to do, leave cash for maxing out the RAM.

--
jrbehm

 

[Zidar162589]

This is three minutes old, from Reuters:

"Apple Co-Founder and Chief Executive Steve Jobs told the annual Macworld trade show here that the company's new line of iMac computers would come in the same shape and sizes as the exisiting G5 line of iMacs, with starting prices at $1,299.

"The new iMac is two to three times faster than the iMac G5," Jobs said in a speech introducing a range of new products."

Today is not a good time to buy a new Mac.

Zidar
Alaska

--
'He's out there operating without any decent restraint, totally beyond
the pale of any acceptable human conduct.'

• Apocalypse Now

 

[Jon Vermilye]

Check out the intel Macs at http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/
--
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[Blueskystudio]

I ended up with a dual 2GHz G5 Powermac, and a refurb iBook, both at bargain discounts, via a very helpful Apple tele-sales team. Very happy with both, plan to get a MacBook pro next year, when they're more sorted.