Forums | MacLife

Yankee Rose · 2006-08-22 6:09 am

Hi everyone:

The time has come for me to upgrade to a newer Mac. I currently use a PowerBook G4 with a 667 MHz processor, 512 memory and a hard drive with less than a gig of room left!

I use my Macs for photos mainly. What I would like to do with my new one is convert all of my old VHS family videos and burn them as DVDs. I need something that will be powerful enough to do that. I also would like to use iMovie (which I have on my G4, but my processor is so slow it doesn't work well.) I assume I would use iDVD to burn my DVDs.

I would appreciate any advice on what I should get. I've pretty much decided against the MacBook. The MacBook Pro is an option, as is an iMac. I don't have a preference of a notebook over a desktop or vice versa.

I do use my compact flash card frequently in my G4. I assume that the MacBook Pro's "ExpressCard" is for a CF card. ?? That would be necessary in whatever I get.

I want to hit my local Apple store, to test drive whatever it is I ultimately end up with, but wanted to start here with you guys for advice. I'm leaning towards the MBP, but if I don't have to spend that much money for what I want to do, that would be great. smile

Thanks in advance .....

@~~~~ Rose

pcguy · 2006-08-22 7:15 am

If you have no perference between a desktop or a laptop, and u don't need to carry it around, always choose a desktop over a laptop because

1. Price is always much better for similar spec hw.
2. It will run cooler and have faster hardware, (much bigger/faster hd, faster and dl support dvd burner, bigger screen, etc)
3. ExpressCard is not CF card, it is replacement for pcmcia card, but there is almost nothing out in the market that use expresscard at this moment.

gl and enjoy your new Mac

chuckaeronut · 2006-08-29 1:33 am

See, pcguy has a good point about laptops vs. desktops, but I'd go the other way and get the laptop. You never know if you'll want to bring it with you... to work, on a trip, in a tree, in a car, on your bike, to the bathroom, to your bed, to your couch, anywhere.

An MBP will blow your mind with speed, as would the MacBook. As would the iMac. I'd say anything mobile will do your job just fine.

But so would the iMac. Comes down to your budget, I s'pose. If you're not gonna do gaming, I'd get a MacBook and a monitor and keyboard and mouse (and external hard drive if you need it) and have everything an iMac can get you... plus the mobility.

Tetrachloride · 2006-08-29 7:02 am

I'd get a new iMac or Mac Mini and keep the Powerbook too.

pcguy · 2006-08-29 7:08 am

Chuckaeronut, I would agree with you except one point, Yankee Rose mention about converting old vhs to dvd, a Apple laptop dvd burner run really slow and burn even slower, it is almost beyond believe, laptop hd is very small and super slow compare to some of the newer 3.5 desktop hd, so by the time you get a external hd, a external dvd burner, maybe a bigger external lcd, kb/mouse, you might as well get the iMac for less then half the price and have better overall performance.

That is if you don't travel with your computer and it stay in one place anyway.
imo

tigerwolf7 · 2006-08-30 11:34 am

Anything Apple has would work fine for you if it's got a Superdrive in it. Whatever you get you'd need some kind of Mac-compatible video capture card.

I assume Elgato's EyeTV products would work for that? Just something to get it on the Mac in an iDVD compatible format.

Onanum · 2006-08-30 11:58 am

And if you're serious about doing photo work the MacBook Pro has the option for the anti-glare screen wich provides more accurate color representation. The glossy screen option is similar to the one in the standard Macbook giving higher contrast and more saturated colors (personally I find it a little easier on the eyes when coding and provides better visibility outdoors).
I am going with the MacBook Pro (once the update happens) with the glossy screen as I'll be using my Lacie 320 LCD for photo work, but if you only have one monitor go for the non glare if you want a "more" photo specific display.

There's my 2 cents. big_smile

kevmo · 2006-09-03 2:26 am

You can get a good deal right now at the Apple online store on certified refurbed MB Pros and iMacs. I have bought two refurbs from them before and was completely satisfied. I think I would buy an iMac and keep my G4 book if I were in your shoes, and you should get a big external drive to use to save space on the book's drive. Good Hunting!

kevmo

Yankee Rose · 2006-09-13 10:04 am

I really appreciate everyone's advice and opinions here.

After much thought, I've decided to go for an iMac. (I wanted to wait until yesterday's Media Event to make sure they weren't going to be upgrading the MBPs with the new intel processors.)

I could use some advice in narrowing down which iMac to get now.

1. A 17" iMac upgraded to 2.16 Core 2 Duo/250 HDD/2 GB ram = $1600

2. A 20" iMac with 2.16 Core 2 Duo/250 HDD/2 GB ram/upgraded video 256 MB = $1800

3. A 20" refurbed iMac Core Duo/250 HDD/512 MB ram/128 MB video = $1300

I'm thinking I need more video memory and more RAM for making my home videos?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks everyone.

Deadguy · 2006-09-13 10:43 am

Option 2 looks like your best bet.

Forums | MacLife

#1 2006-08-22 6:09 am

Need advice: What should I get?

#2 2006-08-22 7:15 am

Re: Need advice: What should I get?

#3 2006-08-29 1:33 am

Re: Need advice: What should I get?

#4 2006-08-29 7:02 am

Re: Need advice: What should I get?

#5 2006-08-29 7:08 am

Re: Need advice: What should I get?

#6 2006-08-30 11:34 am

Re: Need advice: What should I get?

#7 2006-08-30 11:58 am

Re: Need advice: What should I get?

#8 2006-09-03 2:26 am

Re: Need advice: What should I get?

#9 2006-09-13 10:04 am

Re: Need advice: What should I get?

#10 2006-09-13 10:43 am

Re: Need advice: What should I get?

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