iMac - To Buy or Not To Buy - Plus new Intel Core Duo

[Mat]

Hi

Lately I have seriously been thinking about buying a new 17" iMac, my 14" 700 MHz iBook is getting a little outdated and not giving me the performace I would like.

First of all I was just after any opinions on whether the new iMac is a good purchase. I did a degree in Multimedia, so all I use is a mac, but since my degree I have lost touch with the Mac world, and this forum, for that matter.

A few days ago I had a look at the Apple site and all was fine I knew that if I bought this new iMac all my apps would work and so on. Today I had another look and there is this Intel Core Duo chip in it. That doesn't bother me, but I have read that my apps may not work now. Does anyone know whether Photoshop CS, Macromedia Suite and Office will work on this new chip?

Thanks

Mat

[nixgeek]

Rosetta (the software that allows PPC software to run on the new Intel Macs transparently) will help you in this part. Steve Jobs tested Photoshop PPC and said that performance was good enough for everyday users, but high end users might notice a bit of a slowdown. But all of your older apps will work.

The other good news is that all the major software companies, including those that make the soft2ware that you're asking about, will make universal binaries available for today's apps and will also have a trade-in program if you want to switch to the universal binary version. Today's upgrade of iTunes and QuickTime (which weren't really mentioned during the keynote but are there) are actually universal binaries (I checked myself ).

I say go for the Intel Core Duo iMac. Test drive it over the weekend once the Intel iMacs are at the Apple Store so that you can get a feel for the new system.

[Mat]

That's good news. Thanks a lot nix. You seem to answered it, but please feel free anyone else to add your opinions/ideas.

[fryke]

Apple's own pro apps won't work until March. And if you already own a license to the newest version, you'll have to exchange the media for the Universal update (no free update from Apple for this, sadly...). But that's only for stuff like Aperture, Final Cut Pro etc. ...

[Mat]

OK, cool. Thanks fryke, that's also some good news. So you would agree to get the Intel Core Duo iMac over the G5 iMac?

[fryke]

That's not really a question. You can _only_ go with the intel, since it's _definitely_ faster and more future-proof. Right now, they both cost the same, yet the intel one's plain better.

[Mikuro]

Originally Posted by nixgeek

Steve Jobs tested Photoshop PPC and said that performance was good enough for everyday users, but high end users might notice a bit of a slowdown.

Since Rosetta only emulates G3s, I think it's safe to say that apps like Photoshop would be a lot slower. Most Photoshop filters are highly optimized for G4s and G5s. I still think it'd be perfectly usable, though. Maybe even faster than on a 700MHz iBook.

The other good news is that all the major software companies, including those that make the soft2ware that you're asking about, will make universal binaries available for today's apps and will also have a trade-in program if you want to switch to the universal binary version.

Heyy, really?!? I've only heard Apple mention a "crossgrade" program. Have companies like Adobe, Macromedia and Microsoft made any similar promises? If so, then that's great. I had assumed that many of these apps wouldn't be ported until the next major (read: costly) update, as they've been known to do in the past. (Of course, it doesn't matter much to me since most of my apps are a version or two behind at this point anyway.)


If I had to buy an iMac now, I'd definitely go for the new Intel model....but I'd expect a bumpy road. For example, none of my QuickTime codecs would work (not even under Rosetta, from what I've heard), Photoshop would be slow, etc. But when I spend $1500 (give or take) on a computer, I expect it to last a good few years, and I think a year from now, an Intel iMac would serve me so much better than a PPC iMac that it would outweigh the short-term troubles. I can't afford to buy a new computer every year or two, so I'd go with the one that, as fryke said, is more future-proof.

And it'd be refreshing to see a computer get more useful and perform better as time goes on, wouldn't it?

[Mat]

Hey everyone, I really appreciate the feedback you all gave me. I have been waiting anxiously. I can't help but feel like Bart and Lisa from the Simpsons when they say "Are we there yet, are we there yet?" when I ask this, but what about now? Do you still feel that I am best to wait until next year to purchase an iMac? And if so, is that soley that Photoshop and the like are not yet universal?

Thanks, Mat.