Topic: Switching to Mac questions

[dmonterisi]

I am considering switching from PC to Mac in the next few months.  the main things i use a computer for are (in order of importance):
1. photo editing (Photoshop CS)
2. audio processing (wavelab 5, cdwav, flac, shn, winamp, etc)
3. web and email
4. word processing, etc.

what i would like to do is keep my windows box as a server and web portal and get an ibook, though i may just go with a mac desktop.  portability of a laptop is not a huge concern, but is a nice option, especially when travelling with my camera. 

here are my questions:
-how easy or difficult is it to set up a cross-platform network?
-is it rumored that the iBook or powerBook G5's will be released soon?
-are there substantial performace differences between the iMac G5 and the PowerMac G5 for my applications?  the powermac seems much more upgradeable, but i'm not sure how necessary that is for what i will be using it for.  the cost difference is huge.
-is there a secondary market for used mac's so that if i decide whichever platform isn't right for me, i can make a switch?
-any issues with choosing among the mac models that I do not see?  I'm really unfamiliar with the mac line.  I have used macs that a couple friends own and have been impressed, but do not know all that much about them and they don't use them for the same applications that i would use.

any help would be appreciated.

damon

[jpschust]

I am considering switching from PC to Mac in the next few months.  the main things i use a computer for are (in order of importance):
1. photo editing (Photoshop CS)
2. audio processing (wavelab 5, cdwav, flac, shn, winamp, etc)
3. web and email
4. word processing, etc.

what i would like to do is keep my windows box as a server and web portal and get an ibook, though i may just go with a mac desktop.  portability of a laptop is not a huge concern, but is a nice option, especially when travelling with my camera. 

here are my questions:
-how easy or difficult is it to set up a cross-platform network?
-is it rumored that the iBook or powerBook G5's will be released soon?
-are there substantial performace differences between the iMac G5 and the PowerMac G5 for my applications?  the powermac seems much more upgradeable, but i'm not sure how necessary that is for what i will be using it for.  the cost difference is huge.
-is there a secondary market for used mac's so that if i decide whichever platform isn't right for me, i can make a switch?
-any issues with choosing among the mac models that I do not see?  I'm really unfamiliar with the mac line.  I have used macs that a couple friends own and have been impressed, but do not know all that much about them and they don't use them for the same applications that i would use.

any help would be appreciated.

damon

Damon,

To answer your questions in order:

it is pretty easy with a linksys router to set up a network.  not too much of a problem- john kelly has his mac and pc on the same network as do i.

for the g5 book- doubtful that it will be all THAT soon, but no one really knows.  I know they were having problems cooling the processor last i heard.

as per the imac vs power mac, you are right- the powermac is more upgradable- but realisitcally, how much are you going to upgrade?  you can do audio stuff through firewire and usb interfaces now, so you don't need an audio card.  the graphics cards in macs rule, and the networking stuff is integrated.  not too many other things to add.  i really like the new imacs in their design.

as for the secondary market- it is there, but it's just like pc's, the value drops pretty rapidly.  the audio community loves to buy 2nd hand macs tho

as for the models, at this point i think it's all about ram, especially for what you are doing.  load it with ram.  that's my best advice.

let me know if you have any other questions.

j

[MattD]

Add another person who's used PCs and Macs on the same network. If it were me, I'd get the iMac unless you explicitly want to be portable. You can always add firewire hard drives or periphrials (why can't I spell that?) later.

[Mic D]

-is it rumored that the iBook or powerBook G5's will be released soon?

Here's my demo unit...

[jpschust]

thats funny... it comes with a tandy as a backup

[dmonterisi]

thanks for all the advice guys.  i'm sure i'll have more questions as i get closer to making a decision.

[Mic D]

the main things i use a computer for are (in order of importance):
1. photo editing (Photoshop CS)
2. audio processing (wavelab 5, cdwav, flac, shn, winamp, etc)
3. web and email
4. word processing, etc.

1. Photoshop 7, Illustrator 10
2. Spark XL, Sound Studio
3. Optional .mac account
4. MS Office (for Mac)

[dmonterisi]

how do spark and sound studio compare to wavelab and other pc based apps?

[jpschust]

how do spark and sound studio compare to wavelab and other pc based apps?

i like spark but not as much as i like wavelab.

i've been thinking about just making the move to protools for live work too.

[scb]

i never got into pro tools.  other apps seemed to do things better or easier

powerbook g5 could be announced in jan.  we'll see...

[MattD]

For basic editing, I'd compare Spark to SF6 (I've never used 7). It does all the things you're ever likely to do to a live recording and does them pretty well. It also has the best-sounding dither algorithm out there.

I like Spark better than Wavelab, except when it comes to multitracking or mixing down sources. There, Wavelab's montage feature is something I like a lot.

[wbrisette]

For basic editing, I'd compare Spark to SF6 (I've never used 7). It does all the things you're ever likely to do to a live recording and does them pretty well. It also has the best-sounding dither algorithm out there.

I'm not sure I agree with you on this one. The best dithering routine has to be the Waves L1+ plug-in. However, that cost money. I also think the raw dithering routine in Digital Performer is at par or even slightly better than the Spark routine. However, that said, Spark ME?? Is free (is that still available since the company decided to get out of the software market?)...

Wayne

[scb]

why don't you like MegaBitMax dithering?

[MattD]

Is the dithering scheme in the L1+ the same as the L2?

For clarification, I was talking about MegaBitMax as Scott suspected ... I think Spark may have it's own dithering in there (TCdither?) which is not what I meant, sorry.

[jacallery]

Does Mac have any way to burn 24/96 DVD-A?  I know wavelab 5 does and all the Discwelder apps,
but is there a way in the mac world?

callery

[scb]

i run discwelder 5 to burn dvda on my mac (in virtual pc)

[heath]

how do spark and sound studio compare to wavelab and other pc based apps?

i like spark but not as much as i like wavelab.

i've been thinking about just making the move to protools for live work too.

do it.  Protools is the shizzle...

[jpschust]

how do spark and sound studio compare to wavelab and other pc based apps?

i like spark but not as much as i like wavelab.

i've been thinking about just making the move to protools for live work too.

do it.  Protools is the shizzle...

it is indeed.

[brianp]

how do spark and sound studio compare to wavelab and other pc based apps?

I dont know how they compare, but Sound Studio is awesome. Real simple to use and very stable with OSX. I have Spark, but I dont really like it. Ive found it to crash a lot and too damn complicated. Also, I only do 16 bit, no 24 bit so YMMV.

Just make the switch and dont look back. Macs are awesome and keep getting cooler.

[Mic D]

how do spark and sound studio compare to wavelab and other pc based apps?

I dont know how they compare, but Sound Studio is awesome. Real simple to use and very stable with OSX. I have Spark, but I dont really like it. Ive found it to crash a lot and too damn complicated. Also, I only do 16 bit, no 24 bit so YMMV.

Agreed. Sound Studio is VERY easy to use. I got spark a while back but have yet to figure it out.

[scb]

how do spark and sound studio compare to wavelab and other pc based apps?

I dont know how they compare, but Sound Studio is awesome. Real simple to use and very stable with OSX. I have Spark, but I dont really like it. Ive found it to crash a lot and too damn complicated. Also, I only do 16 bit, no 24 bit so YMMV.

Just make the switch and dont look back. Macs are awesome and keep getting cooler.

what version of spark?  there's probably an update that fixes your crash problem

[brianp]

what version of spark?  there's probably an update that fixes your crash problem

I believe it's 2.8, Im at work now and away from my computer.
I have problems with saving files and closing files. The problems seemed to start right after I installed my VX pocket software.

[jcme262]

Jonny

"as per the imac vs power mac, you are right- the powermac is more upgradable- but realisitcally, how much are you going to upgrade?  you can do audio stuff through firewire and usb interfaces now, so you don't need an audio card.  the graphics cards in macs rule, and the networking stuff is integrated.  not too many other things to add.  i really like the new imacs in their design."

^ what he said 

[scb]

what version of spark?  there's probably an update that fixes your crash problem

I believe it's 2.8, Im at work now and away from my computer.
I have problems with saving files and closing files. The problems seemed to start right after I installed my VX pocket software.

os 10.3.3 introduced a bug with saving files.  spark 2.8.2 fixed it