Upgrading, G4 VS. G5

The G5 has been completely redesigned to be more powerful and much quicker, so you'll get more oomph out of it. However, the G4 is still an excellent machine in itself, and you'll find some benefit from the dual processors. You need to decide how much you want to spend, and which machine you think will look better on or under your desk.
 
G5...better odds that you get Panther free with it, and it'll be the machine of the future, not of the past, so it'll last you longer...
 
good poimts arden, voice, but am i really getting 64bit processing with a G5, I remember reading some where that Mac OS X isnt actually 64 bit yet( I think the article refered to the 64 Bit version of jaguar) but it just does certain things in 64 Bit and that that theres a system bridge(?) for support of the 32 Bit parts of the OS and 32 Bit apps.
 
Jaguar is not 64bit, but Panther is and will be shipped with the G5 PowerMacs when they ship.
Panther will also be compatible with 32bit processors so not everyone has to get G5 to use Panther.

Also, I believe (may be wrong) that G4's Velocity Engine enables it to perform SOME operations at 128bit, but the majority of stuff goes at 32bit.
 
Originally posted by voice-
Jaguar is not 64bit, but Panther is and will be shipped with the G5 PowerMacs when they ship.
Panther will also be compatible with 32bit processors so not everyone has to get G5 to use Panther.

Also, I believe (may be wrong) that G4's Velocity Engine enables it to perform SOME operations at 128bit, but the majority of stuff goes at 32bit.
Click to expand...

You are incorrect about the Velocity Engine performing 128 bit operations. It's not 128 bit operations, rather it's 128 bit *data* and that data is not even 128 bits total. The Altivec registers are 128 bits in size, but they actually hold 4 individual chunks of 32-bit data. Then programs can execute one single instruction on that register that affect all 4 data chuncks at the same time rather than 1 instruction for each chunk of data resulting in 4 seperate instructions. 4 birds with one stone :)

Panther is still a 32 bit OS, it simply contains additional libraries compile for 64 bits to allow greater than 4 GB memory addressing and 64 bit integer math libraries. In this respect, Panther is the same as "Smeagol" what differs is Panther will have the new Finder, Expose, and all the other features demonstrated at WWDC.

EDIT:


WeeZer51402, http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/39/31995.html
 
it's pretty obvious to say that the g5 would be a good computer to go for. it's the very latest apple system, so it's bound to be **very** good. however, with the g5 ready to ship, you're likely to get the g4 at a very reasonable price, plus the g4 is proven technology.

apple are great, but **EVERY** system gets better, and most experience some teething issues, otherwise there wouldn't be a second generation ipod, or g4. i seem to remember that the first verion of OSx wasn't very good.

which ever computer you go for, it's going to be outdated within a couple of years. i'd suggest seeing what kind of bargain you get on the g4 price..... because a dual g4 is still a brilliant bit of kit.
 
Lyc, lecture me, what is "Smeagol"? I get the feeling you're not talking about Gollum's alter ego...
 
Neither the first nor second version of OS X was not very good... that's why Jag-wire came out.

If you want a relatively casual computer that will last for years but not stay up-to-date, then get the G4. If you want a powerful computer that will stay with whatever comes out to push the envelope in the next several years, the G5 is for you. That's all there is to it.
 
Originally posted by voice-
Lyc, lecture me, what is "Smeagol"? I get the feeling you're not talking about Gollum's alter ego...
Click to expand...

"Smeagol" is the internal code name Apple is using to refer to OSX 10.2.7 which is what will ship installed in the G5 systems this August. Panther (10.3) will follow shortly after to replace 10.2.7 and G5 owners get a free upgrade to 10.3.
 
Either way you go, you'll be fine now, so think ahead and try to figure out what you will need in a year's time, or 18 months from now, and see what bests those needs.
 
Originally posted by voice-
G5...better odds that you get Panther free with it, and it'll be the machine of the future, not of the past, so it'll last you longer...
Click to expand...

If you get a Mac after Panther's official release, chances are it will come with Panther (unless they claim it to be 'optimized for G5s' or something). That's what they did with Jaguar...

But you are right that it will be a machine of the future. I frequently regret not getting a G4 dual, given the stuff I'm doing with my iMac TFT 700 now :rolleyes:

Maybe I'll just get another G4 500 tower, then it'd be like a dual hehe.
 
Originally posted by Lycander
"Smeagol" is the internal code name Apple is using to refer to OSX 10.2.7 which is what will ship installed in the G5 systems this August. Panther (10.3) will follow shortly after to replace 10.2.7 and G5 owners get a free upgrade to 10.3.
Click to expand...
How do you know that? :p

I was hoping they'd release at least one 10.2.++ before 10.3...
 
Hehe Lucander I do read a lot of news, but since I'm not a comp sci major (I'm in university) I tend more toward my field--economics--which takes up a heck of a lot of time already...

Thanks for the headline though! ;)
 
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