pros and cons versus emac 1.25 Gz superdrive and G5 imac?

[dandrhesse]

I have a beige G3 266Mhz desktop, purchased in 1998. I need to update. I can't run os X and the kids would like to be able to burn CD etc, etc. Anyone have any ideas they want to share?

[Downtown Hound]

1. I'd go for the imac

It'll be up to date for some time to come whereas the emac will only have a few more years before it starts becoming ancient. If you plan on burning DVD's then get the superdrive model. If not, the low end combo drive should do you just fine for burning CD's.

Plus, I've used those imacs, they are very cool. You'll love it. I'm a powerbook guy myself so I haven't gotten a G5 yet, but as soon as they come out with one, I'm placing an order. The difference between a G4 and G5 is staggering. Do yourself a favor and get the G5.

[dandrhesse]

2. thanks so much

I know I could always talk to a sales rep but they only care about selling you something. Thanks for the honest opinion, I was leaning that way. Do you have any thoughts about a printer/scanner combo. Right now I have a usb 1.0 hp printer, that I do not like. I also have an hp scanner that is ok, but not great. I had an Epson before and really liked it.

One more question. Is it worth it to get the blue tooth and the wireless board and mouse? Also I have an imac downstairs and right now have it connected to the internet via a router, if I'm not going to move them is there any reason that I should get the airstation instead?

Thanks
again

:)

[progressiveBadger]

3. Check those prices for Bluetooth

Usually, it's cheaper to buy an external module. If you don't mind an ugly thing haning off your computer. In general though, the airport card is just slightly more expensive than a third party option, so if you want wireless, I would go ahead and add that as a BTO.
But if you don't need to use wireless, then don't. If you have a handy hard-wired ethernet cable handy, use that as it is A: faster, and B: more secure.

[dandrhesse]

6. thanks hadn't thought about the security issue, is it akin to cell phone

conversations being picked up over scanners? Is it the same deal if you use a wireless mouse and board or only wireless networking?

[progressiveBadger]

9. More on security

The big problem is that most people, if they have more than one computer at home, have a router so that they don't need to pay for multiple IP addresses from their internet provider. This router also can act as a firewall, keeping joe somebody from easily accessing your computer from across the globe. This also lulls most people into a false sense of security and causes them to leave passwords blank for their Administrative account, etc. Then add wireless into the mix. A neighbor can attach to your wireless network (even if it is password protected - it just takes a little longer), and then access your computer like they were inside your house. Very dangerous.
That said, I use wireless at home. I make sure that it is password protected, as well as having secure passwords on my home computers. To me, the convenience of wireless outweighs safety, but I live "in the middle of nowhere".
Hope I was able to clear things up, and make you a little safer! Enjoy whatever computer you get!

[reprobate]

4. I recently bought an iMad G5 with blue tooth keyboard and mouse.

I love the machine after windows clunkers for years. The one thing I would not do again is buy the keyboard and mouse, as I prefer an ergonomic keyboard and a trackball, so I'm using the microsoft wireless comfort keyboard and Ms trackball explorer. But that's just me.

I did get the wireless board installed just incase I want to move it to another room.

As far as the printer and scanner, I'm using a HP MFP which works fine. Hp has come out with new drivers for their MFPs and they work like a charm with OSX.

[Citizen Jane]

5. I'd go for the iMac

I've been saddled with a couple of eMacs at the university (as part time faculty) and I far prefer the iMac. In fact, when the had to locate me a computer for this year I took an older G4 tower over a new eMac (of course I lug my G4 powerbook in too).

I also agree that it will have a longer viable lifespan.

[dandrhesse]

7. thanks you guys, you made it easy for me to decide!

[rocktivity]

8. Buy the iMac, but DON'T junk the G3!!!

Thanks to a DU-er directing me to http://www.eshop.macsales.com">Otherworld Computing, I just turned my 233Hz G3 running OS9 into a 1000Hz G4 running OSX. You can get a faster processor card, a USB/firewire card, a Combo or Super drive, and up to 768K of RAM for as little as $350. You'll have to swap your serial printer for a USB-compatible one (I'm using an Epson printer/scanner/card reader). But you can keep your ADB keyboard and mouse, and access your internal floppy/Zip drive by booting in OS9. And thanks to an ingenious little program OWC has developed, it is possible to run OSX even on pre-G3 Macs (if they have at least a 300Hz processor).

:headbang:
rocknation

[dandrhesse]

10. oh so cool

I ordered a new G5 imac, thanks to feedback here that was really helpful. But I have two kids and a router that I already have hooked up and it has room for one more computer to be added so...you sound like a knowledgable person let me know what you would suggest I do with the other computer stuff I have now.

Power PC G3 beige 266Mhz with a 4 GB Hard drive and 384 RAM and only
2 MB VRAM with a sony multiscan 200ES monitor. This also has a 1.0 usb 2 port belkin card.

Power PC G3 beige Tower 300Mhz with a 8 GB Hard drive and 64 RAM plus an internal zip drive and 8 MB VRAM but no ethernet port installed or it is missing. This one was bought second hand from macofalltrades.com

imac Power PC G3 400Mhz with a 10 GB Hard drive and graphics care 64MB RAM expandable to 512 RAM with a RAGE 128 Graphics card installed.

I don't have a problem opening them and swapping parts, in fact I swapped a 56k modem card to the tower from the desktop because my mom, who now uses it didn't have an ethernet connection.

I was thinking that the best bet would be to use the imac 400 and the tower 300 and install the usb card in that if possible as well as some extra RAM from the other one.

Does that sound like a good plan? What else would I need to do to run OS X on the older ones?

Thanks in advance I appreciate any feedback.

[rocktivity]

12. I said, "BUY the Mac, but DON'T junk the G3!"

I wasn't trying to talk you out of getting the G5. I was trying to talk you into getting a lot more mileage out of your G3s by making a relatively small investment.

The last two computers on your list are the best candidates for upgrading. They'll both need USB 2.0/Firewire cards, and secondary hard drives because the primary drives will have to be partitioned in order to install OSX via XPostFacto (the ingenious OWC program I mentioned.) Your first computer is the runt of the litter--take the VRAM card and the RAM chips out, put them in the other two, and give it a dignified sendoff.

For the second computer, I'd also add a minimum 500MHz G4 processor card, a combo drive, and at least 512K worth of RAM chips. Since the third has a graphics card and a maximum RAM of 512, I'd add a minimum of 700Mhz G4 processor card.

Better yet, go to this page for your iMac and this page for your G3. You'll see where I got all my "knowledge" from--oh, and here is your Ethernet port!

:headbang:
rocknation

[faithnotgreed]

11. i think i can help a little. i have an emac and was using my moms g5 imac

on edit - nevermind. i see you just posted that you chose the imac! have fun

in fact i just packed up my moms imac to give back to her - only because she hasnt been able to use it yet so i have to give it back!

so right now im using the emac. its a strange switch i have to say

the imac has a cinema lcd screen so its wider and brighter. these are both 17" screens but
on edit - never mind my post here. i see you just posted that you chose the imac! have fun

the imac is superior but of course much more expensive

without knowing more i would say that if you just need a computer for the usuals like you mentioned, then the emac is more than enough. the superdrive on an emac allows you to burn dvds but i dont have that need so i dont have a superdrive

i have the combo which allows you to burn cds and thats all i need

if you can afford it and really want the best of whats out there then i wont discourage you from the imac
but if you want a solid machine to do what youve listed and you really want to burn dvds, then the emac is a good choice

i bought my emac with the optional stand for about $500 used (plus it had a lot of new software) and the imac was about $1200

for that difference ill stick with the emac but my moms vision is going and the lcd screen allows her to use a computer at all so she had a special need

good luck

[dandrhesse]

13. thanks!

[rocktivity]

14. The link to the ethernet port page isn't working for some reason

But it's there!


:headbang:
rocknation