Topic: New Computer Recommendations

[thegreatgumbino]

Did some looking and didn't find much related to computer recommendations.  I'm looking to get a new desktop system in the less than $1,000-1,200 range in the next couple of weeks.  Anybody got any recommendations on manufacturers/models?  I don't play many games, so the bulk of its use will be for music transfers & burning (DVD burner & firewire connections are a plus), internet, general home use, and some introductory digital photo work which the wife is trying to get into.  I am hoping to get a 17" LCD and a decent sound system as well.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks.

[jpschust]

id personally go with the new imac g5.

[nic]

yeah, if you're budget is up to $2000, definitely get the new iMac

[thoman8r]

Did some looking and didn't find much related to computer recommendations.  I'm looking to get a new desktop system in the less than $1,000-1,200 range in the next couple of weeks.  Anybody got any recommendations on manufacturers/models?  I don't play many games, so the bulk of its use will be for music transfers & burning (DVD burner & firewire connections are a plus), internet, general home use, and some introductory digital photo work which the wife is trying to get into.  I am hoping to get a 17" LCD and a decent sound system as well.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks.

Dude, get a dell.

If you don't need to play games, you'll be able to get everything you want for well under $1200.

[jpschust]

the low end new g5 imac is way cheaper than 2

[gewwang]

Even though Mac hardware is more expensive, it's worth it because it runs Mac's OS which means you don't have to deal with Microsoft nonsense.

[dnsacks]

Let us know if you're set on a windoze-based or mac.

If you're going the windoze route, let us know if you're comfortable "opening the hood" on the pc or want everything pre-configured.

For those comfortable installing an os and opening the hood, I just picked up a dell poweredge server for $300 (after rebates) from dell through a deal I found on slickdeals.net (thanks to whoever posted this site).  It's a bare-bones setup (2.8ghz p4, 800mhz fsb w/ 512mb ram, 40gb harddrive, integrated network, soundcard, etc but no moniter, OS, etc), but is fast and quiet.   Throw in from other sources 200gb hdd (can be had for under $100), a nice lcd moniter ($300ish?), a 16x dual layer dvd burner ($80ish) and a decent set of computer speakers and you'd have a real nice pc for well under $1k.

[thegreatgumbino]

I am running a PC right now.  I haven't used a Mac in years!  My dad still swears by them.  The new G5 looks sweet!, but I am apprehensive due to the fact that I haven't used on in so long.  I guess I have concerns with trying to find software for my JB3 and music stuff that Mac supports.  I am sure it wouldn't be difficult, but just one more thing to occupy my time.

As for opening up myself, I wouldn't be against it, but it would be a trial and error experience.  The only experience I've had with this is installing an aftermarket cd burner about 4 years ago.  I know I could build one for cheap, but I don't want to spend a great amount of time trying to figure it out.

[dnsacks]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe a jb3 will interface well with a mac. 

If you had no problem installing the cd burner 4 years ago, you'd have no problem adding the necessary parts to the dell I described -- adding a new burner is no different than before and adding a new hard drive is real easy too. (ditto with installing windoze xp corporate)  The one issue with the dell I described is that it comes without software.  Unless you have/can get the software you need, you might be better off buying a more "traditional" system that includes the necessary software and licenses.

[thegreatgumbino]

I don't have any of the software, so I would be buying everything.

[dnsacks]

In that case, probably best to buy one more fully-configured.  If you go the PC route, I personally have had great luck with Dell. 

[jpschust]

you are wrong, there are drivers out there now for the jb3 and mac

[dnsacks]

cool -- I'd heard something about partial integration via itunes, but thought I'd also heard it wasn't fully functional.  Can you now transfer new material to and from a jb3 via a mac?  Using itunes or some other interface?

[jpschust]

yep, look in the computer forum i believe- the drivers are in the jb3 yahoo group

[thegreatgumbino]

what audio management programs are you using for the Mac?  Is there a compatible soundforge/shntool/cdwave/flac type program?

[dnsacks]

Re sound stuff -- check out wiki.etree.org -- should show you the shn/flac/etc. type stuff.  Personally not familiar with the mac's audio editing software, but am generally familiar enough to know it's first rate.

If I had the $$$ to drop, I'd go mac for sure!

[thegreatgumbino]

Re sound stuff -- check out wiki.etree.org -- should show you the shn/flac/etc. type stuff.  Personally not familiar with the mac's audio editing software, but am generally familiar enough to know it's first rate.

If I had the $$$ to drop, I'd go mac for sure!

Thanks for reminding me about wiki.  I didn't even think about that. +T

[thegreatgumbino]

Any body know if the JB3 Firewire IEEE 1394 is compatible with the FireWire 400 on the iMac G5?

[jpschust]

xact, plus more audio stuff than you can imagine for mac

[thoman8r]

Any body know if the JB3 Firewire IEEE 1394 is compatible with the FireWire 400 on the iMac G5?

IEEE1394 = Firewire 400

[thegreatgumbino]

Any body know if the JB3 Firewire IEEE 1394 is compatible with the FireWire 400 on the iMac G5?

IEEE1394 = Firewire 400

Thanks.  Wasn't familiar with that.

[thegreatgumbino]

Damn you guys!  I never even thought about going back to Mac.  Now, I am going to the Mac store tonight to look at these things.  I've spent the last hour reading about them on apples website.  The iMac G5 sounds pretty damn sweet!

[thegreatgumbino]

Any of you guys made the transition from PC to Mac?  Just curious how difficult it was.

[MattD]

I'm a dual-user. PC first, then Mac for taping and I want to pick one up as my new primary machine when my desktop finally croaks. I like the way OS 10.3.x functions much better than Win2k or WinXP.

[thegreatgumbino]

I'm a dual-user. PC first, then Mac for taping and I want to pick one up as my new primary machine when my desktop finally croaks. I like the way OS 10.3.x functions much better than Win2k or WinXP.

Are you using an ibook for taping, or are you using a desktop?  How do you like the programs available for audio transfer & management?  Any chance you use a JB3?  Sorry for all the questions. 

[MattD]

Powerbook (G3 400 Pismo) for taping. I have used the desktop for transfers before I got the laptop rig together. On the Mac, Spark XL 2.8.2 does pretty much everything a taper would want - recording, editing, mastering. Sorry, I don't use a JB3, but if John Kelly sees this post, he does and can answer those. Hope that helped!

[Ed.]

if you have any know how about computers and specs and whatnot, you might want to investigate building your own.  two years ago, i built the best computer money could buy (well it was an amd, not p4, but whatever) for ~$500.  i didn't get a new monitor or anything, and i just swapped out my current cd burner and video card cuz those were already fairly knew, but still you could get away for quite cheap even if you had to buy that stuff.

check out www.pricewatch.com - it'll give lists of computer stores, who has the cheapest parts, and reviews of each retailer.  also, i just looked and you can even buy complete systems on there now from certain retailers.

[thegreatgumbino]

The iMac G5's are freakin' sweet!  Went and checked them out last night.  Might have to take the plung and drop ol' Microsoft!

[John Kelly]

Any body know if the JB3 Firewire IEEE 1394 is compatible with the FireWire 400 on the iMac G5?

Well they are the same thing, but there is no jb3 firewire driver for the mac.  You have to use USB.