Mac Discussion

So really trying to make a go of my home Graphic Design business, and starting to see it pick up. I have a small budget to invest, and am thinking of updating my desktop to take advantage of current software/ faster processors etc. .

What I'm working with now:
G5 1.6GHz powerPC, 1.5 Gig Memory. 10.4.11 to run Adobe CS3 apps (mostly for print design), but am in the process of learning after effects as well as DreamWeaver.

What would you guys suggest? I have 2 internal HD's, two video cards (on which I don't use since upgrading to a 22" LCD). Would like my next machine to last as long as this one has. Any suggestions? My budget is roughly $1600.00

Thanks much

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I am B. . . . .

iMac

Dit Dit Ditto the above. Get a case for the internals & never look back. Don't get emotionally attached to your current ride. Selling it waaaaaaaay before its' value sinks to the value of its' aluminum makes for a wise individual.

I have a nice collection of these USB/FW400/FW800.

[www.mwave.com]



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 10/27/09 04:00PM by toetag.

I would suggest more design classes, and specifically one on how to run a small business/design studio. Especially the money/taxes side.

I started out freelance, then got bigger and before you knew it I needed $20,000 a month just to break even.

Im still paying back taxes. =(

Theres nothing wrong with that G5, maxing the ram wouldnt hurt.

If you are dead set on a new Mac, 27" iMac all the way, and use your 22" monitor as a second screen for email/surfing/etc.

I dont really care for dual bay cases like toetag linked to, fans get loud.

If one of your drives is the original 160 gig, just toss it.

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Posting And You: [www.albinoblacksheep.com]

I don't think it's worth throwing more money at the G5. The iMacs are an exceptional value and will smoke your old machine.

[forums.dealmac.com]



From a Raines Cohen T-Shirt: "The day Microsoft makes a product that
does not suck will be the day they start making vacuum cleaners."

Thanks everyone. I do think it's time to upgrade, and think I can still get a few bucks for this machine. I like the imac idea. . . would anyone suggest replacing a desktop machine entirely with a macbook pro?

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I am B. . . . .

I actually have a degree in communication design, but don't want anything else to do with the corporate world Badger, but I think getting some small business classes is excellent advice.

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I am B. . . . .

Sure, lots of people I know have replaced their desktops with laptops.

2 of them started with Wallstreet G3 266s, then 1ghz Tis, then G4 1.67s and now 2.66 MBPs.

However, none of them used the bottom of the line model.

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Posting And You: [www.albinoblacksheep.com]

i'd get the 24" imac refurb, upgrade it to 4gig ram (not from apple) and put the hds in external cases. should all be within your budget.

A Macbook pro (or any laptop for that matter) would give you the flexibility to take your workplace with you to a client for presentations. Until the recent introduction of the 4 core iMac, the performance difference between iMacs and macbooks/pros was relatively narrow, especially for smaller photoshop files and projects. (I'm hoping for a 4 core Apple version of the alienware workhorse laptops!!!) I would go for the 15" screen at a minimum and one of newer ones that can handle 8 gb of memory (or at least one that can handle the 6 gb of memory ... see owc's website for those matched sets). If you can add a large drive 500gb+, all the better. My 2 cents.



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 10/28/09 11:30AM by mnop.

I would say it depends upon how important the portability is to you. While MBP's are great computers, it's still very much the case that you will get more bang for your buck going with an iMac.

I mean, just go to the Apple store online and compare, say, the $1699 27" iMac versus the $1699 15" MBP.

I was just pointing out the portability advantage as something that might tip in favor of a laptop. For $1600, maleek's budget, he/she can find quite a few refurb macbook pros available if he/she is patient and waits for the good deals. The performance difference, especially in real world graphics applications, when you are comparing two similar processors in a imac and macbook pro has been getting closer for a few years and sometimes tips in favor of the macbook pro. [barefeats.com] Until Apple starts putting L3 cache in their entire line from top to bottom, the macbooks and imacs are going to be hobbled to some degree.



Edited 2 times. Last edit at 10/29/09 02:20AM by mnop.

Great thread and many good points. Although some disagreements, they're mostly style or personal preference issues.

I've been a freelancer for 18 years and, while a generalist, I seem to do more Web sites and graphics every year. I'd note some of my experiences only as food for thought. In no particular order:

• I went with a MacBook Pro last year and will probably never get a desktop again. The ability to go sit in an easy chair and continue working, work on my porch or even outside is heavenly. The lack of a second internal drive for backup is an issue, but multiple externals pretty much fills the gap. My 2.6 ghz, early-2008 MBP is plenty fast enough, but its 4 gig ram limit will likely be an issue (newer models can max at 8 which would be plenty for me). I bought AppleCare and would recommend that with a portable; never had it for desktops. When I'm at my desk, I connect to a 24" monitor and keyboard.

• iMac would offer a lot of bang for the buck. Just not quite the portability. That's probably a personal call.

• I keep my old computer(s) as backup. My previous "main machine" was a G5 dual which I use as backup. I think a complete backup is critical--not just data but a machine that can at least temporarily fill in for a down machine.

My MBP's ram went south and I suffered the widespread NVIDIA problem, both of which knocked out my laptop for several days. I lost little time working because a partition on the G5 duplicates my main startup drive (even mail and iCal are current to within 60 minutes) and of course my work is current as well. There always seems to be something I have to tweak to make this transition--Intel only programs and Snow Leopard have complicated this. But I highly recommend a working backup that is both bootable and operational, even if a bit slower.

• My external drive "fleet" includes two firewire drives with about everything I have--including fonts and stock photos, old work, everything!--backed up. One of those drives is always in a nearby bank safety deposit box and I swap the 2 drives at least weekly. I've not tried online backup but may within the next few months, although I'd keep the externals. I had an F4 tornado jump over my house once and realized that if it had hit, I'd have been out of business no matter how many backups I had here.

• I don't know that you need business classes, but be sure to look into your local and state codes, etc. I operated "under the radar" for years but have recently been tapped by my local city. A client demanded that I register a fictitious business name and the city apparently saw that. So far, the cost is small and hassle minimal, but be advised that if the bulk of your income comes from this "business," you're probably going to be required to get into that.

There's a LOT of work out there, maybe even more in the current economy because companies are downsizing. The trick is tapping a few good clients and it builds from there. Good luck!

dalegg Wrote:
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>
> My 2.6 ghz, early-2008 MBP is plenty fast enough,
> but its 4 gig ram limit will likely be an issue
> (newer models can max at 8 which would be plenty
> for me). I bought AppleCare and would recommend
> that with a portable; never had it for desktops.
> When I'm at my desk, I connect to a 24" monitor
> and keyboard.

I agree with you 100%. I was able to up the memory on a 2.6 ghz macbook pros (circa 2008) to 6gb and it is much happier. I used the Other World Computing matched (power-wise) 6gb set. [eshop.macsales.com]

Wow Dalegg. . what a GREAT post. Very informative, even has me considering just holding on to this G5 because you make a really valid point about keeping a "back-up" working machine. Thanks to everyone for all of the excellent posts and advice!

-Maleek

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I am B. . . . .