Personally, I'd stay away from Apple reconditioned computer and monitors sold through their website.
I agree with you on the LCDs, as many have been returned for pixel issues that fall within Apple's vague guidelines. However, I would have no qualms about buying a reconditioned powermac tower.
"Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston "The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
Can you run a 30" on a PC? I know that the 23" and lower will, but looking at the tech specs page at Apple, I'm not sure the 30" is compatible with a PC.
in fact you can, a guy i'm talking with is doing it. you need an nvidia QuadroFX3000 but it works perfectly...
"Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston "The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
in fact you can, a guy i'm talking with is doing it. you need an nvidia QuadroFX3000 but it works perfectly...
That reminds me. Workstation class video cards (such as the Quadro series) usually have better image quality than the gamer based cards (geForce or Radeon). How the drivers are tweaked plays a small role (gamer cards often sacrifice image quality for speed, but that's mainly for 3D graphics), but the big difference comes from the higher quality parts and better shielding found in the workstation cards. Some gamer cards are built equally well, but not worth getting unless you're building your own PC from parts.
My bad... didn't realize Halo was released for the Mac.
Battle-damaged Master Chief reporting for duty! :grim
"Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston "The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
I'm with humungous
I'm with humungous on this-i just bought an ibm clone pentium 4 - 3.2 gig intel chip and 1 gig of ram as well as a decent graphics card , 56k modem and burner for $AUD600-if the ram isn't enough I will upgrade when it gets a little cheaper-ram prices seems to fluctuate a lot.
whereas cameras and accessories etc are expensive in Oz pc's are quite cheap
With extra ram this will last me about three or four years if software continues its history of memory sapping growth.
the money you save on pc expenditure could be better spent on new lenses etc-
the canon 60mm macro with extender gets me hot and bothered...grain of rice filling a frame..ahh "macrobation"
but I also assume that you are not short of a buck,so i guess spend it whilst you have got it.
the other way to go is get your box upgraded at your local pc shop...
I reckon it's all about the money/quality continuum.
If money is more important to you, buy disposable PCs every six months. If quality of experience and ease of use is more important, then buy a Mac. Easy.
"Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston "The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
I reckon it's all about the money/quality continuum.
If money is more important to you, buy disposable PCs every six months. If quality of experience and ease of use is more important, then buy a Mac. Easy.
aww now wait a minute there fish
i have had my sony desktop system for 24 months - and the only thing i did was bump the ram from 512 to 1.5gb. not one single problem ever with he system, crashes, virus, or other performance issues. this system doesn't owe em a penny, yet when i get my new system, my wife and kid will have it for until it goes casters up...
not all pcs need replacing every six months. that's just a plain myth.
i have had my sony desktop system for 24 months - and the only thing i did was bump the ram from 512 to 1.5gb. not one single problem ever with he system, crashes, virus, or other performance issues. this system doesn't owe em a penny, yet when i get my new system, my wife and kid will have it for until it goes casters up...
not all pcs need replacing every six months. that's just a plain myth.
not saying you're wrong about apple btw, either.
Almost all the PC systems suggested have been single processor systems - And yes, single processor Windows boxes with modest amounts of RAM are significantly cheaper than a Dual Processor G5. Go to Dell and price a DUAL XEON Processor Tower comparable in features to a G5 - 800 speed Dual Fire Wire, 400 Fire Wire etc. I did that before I bought my MAC. The Mac WAS less than the DUAL Xeon.
THE ONLY REASON TO BUY A DUAL PROCESSOR box is if you have software that can recognize and use both processors - PHOTOSHOP can and does use both processors in a MAC - Not as Native PS - You must download the plug in for dual processors - but that is where the speed is on the MAC. And that is why I ended up in the Mac world, Andy. If you decide to stay in Windows, that is cool, but a single processor XP box will not run filters on large 16 bit files like a G5 Power Mac. That is not my opinion, that is the opinion of many people in the graphics industry.
Games WILL play faster on a PC - games are written in languages for the Intel chip not the G5 chip. Most of the MAC games are ported from the Intel/Windows world and do not run that fast on my MAC ( they don't use both processors perhaps?). The gamers all run hot pushed Windows boxes - but they are not concerned about security or viruses because many of them reformat their drive weekly - they are on a quest for speed and only speed.
I don't want to have to format my drive yearly let alone weekly. And you are right, I did not throw out my P4 XP box - I still use it for Microsofts Streets and Trips. What I do not use it for is PHOTOSHOP because it is so much slower. Depends on what you want to use your computer for ultimately. 'Nuff said.
i have had my sony desktop system for 24 months - and the only thing i did was bump the ram from 512 to 1.5gb. not one single problem ever with he system, crashes, virus, or other performance issues.
So YOU'RE the one guy with that experience, huh? I've been wondering.
not all pcs need replacing every six months. that's just a plain myth.
Want vs. need.
not saying you're wrong about apple btw, either.
So on your security scheme with your pc....it sounds very robust. firewalls, antivirus, spamstoppers, router, gateway, ethernet condoms, etc. But why bother? Wouldn't it be better not to have to deal with all that bs?
"Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston "The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
So on your security scheme with your pc....it sounds very robust. firewalls, antivirus, spamstoppers, router, gateway, ethernet condoms, etc. But why bother? Wouldn't it be better not to have to deal with all that bs?
So on your security scheme with your pc....it sounds very robust. firewalls, antivirus, spamstoppers, router, gateway, ethernet condoms, etc. But why bother? Wouldn't it be better not to have to deal with all that bs?
Hmmm...I would argue that "all that bs" is necessary whether you run Solaris,
Windows, OS/X, Linux or any other OS. Just ask Robert Morris
Ian
Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
Hmmm...I would argue that "all that bs" is necessary whether you run Solaris,
Windows, OS/X, Linux or any other OS. Just ask Robert Morris
Ian
There are 0 (ZERO) viruses for OSX. If you can trick a user into running a program the user can harm their personal area but OSX stays secure. The OS differentiates between user programs and root programs. There are zero viruses for solaris/tru64/bsd/unix in general. There are security issues that occur and get addressed but all of those OSes live in a very different and more secure environment than Windows. 80% of all Windows systems on the net are hacked at any given time. 0% of OSX/Solaris/Linux/BSD/Unix systems are hacked at any given time.
Charles Richmond IT & Security Consultant
Operating System Design, Drivers, Software
Villa Del Rio II, Talamban, Pit-os, Cebu, Ph
hey joe! welcome to dgrin, and thanks so much for joining! and, for your firsthand experience with alienware. i value your opinion, so alienware is gooooooooooone from my vocabulary.
the left coast crowd is pushing me towards a mac anyhow
Mac, yes, left coast here too.
From the 18 year-geek standpoint I stopped supporting PCs in '98 for the usual reasons. Have had 50 Mac-only mostly-entertainment industry clients since, and for the last 18 months I've been like the Maytag repairman. When I say 50, that's 50 invoiced within the last year. OS X is rock-solid, has been easy to support via phone.
Color management, lack of malware and virus, OS patches infrequent, ease and elegance of use, built-in apps, the well-engineered, easy on the eyes hardware... Suuuweeeeeet!
My iView Pro catalogs are 40,000 and 22,000 images respectively FWIW, running on only a G4 laptop @ 1 GHz & 1 GB RAM. My TIFF submittals to my stock agency are from 35 mb to 60 mb, handles it fine. You'll rock with a G5.
There are 0 (ZERO) viruses for OSX. If you can trick a user into running a program the user can harm their personal area but OSX stays secure. The OS differentiates between user programs and root programs. There are zero viruses for solaris/tru64/bsd/unix in general. There are security issues that occur and get addressed but all of those OSes live in a very different and more secure environment than Windows. 80% of all Windows systems on the net are hacked at any given time. 0% of OSX/Solaris/Linux/BSD/Unix systems are hacked at any given time.
I won't disagree that windows is insecure. I will disagree with your assertion that
"0% of OSX/Solaris/Linux/BSD/Unix Systems are haced at any given time.". How do
you suppose "security issues" are discovered in these OS's?
Thanks for playing.
Ian
Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
I won't disagree that windows is insecure. I will disagree with your assertion that
"0% of OSX/Solaris/Linux/BSD/Unix Systems are haced at any given time.". How do
you suppose "security issues" are discovered in these OS's?
Thanks for playing.
Ian
Since I am deep into OS development and security, I am quite comfortable with my assertion. Most security issues are hypotheticals that are discovered by various white-hat hackers and that are patched without ever having resulted in an actual system hack. Some of the others are results from real issues resulting in systems being hacked but that count never rises high enough to round up from 0% to 1%.
Charles Richmond IT & Security Consultant
Operating System Design, Drivers, Software
Villa Del Rio II, Talamban, Pit-os, Cebu, Ph
Since I am deep into OS development and security, I am quite comfortable with my assertion. Most security issues are hypotheticals that are discovered by various white-hat hackers and that are patched without ever having resulted in an actual system hack. Some of the others are results from real issues resulting in systems being hacked but that count never rises high enough to round up from 0% to 1%.
I have picked up the pieces on several occassions and continue to see the
various attempts to do so. I stand by my assertion that you need to take
precautions originally described as "bs" by fish whether you are a windows
user or some other OS.
Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
I have picked up the pieces on several occassions and continue to see the
various attempts to do so. I stand by my assertion that you need to take
precautions originally described as "bs" by fish whether you are a windows
user or some other OS.
OK, OK, you guys. But is it going to help Andy? But Andy is going to do what Andy is going to do anyway, I guess...
I have picked up the pieces on several occassions and continue to see the various attempts to do so. I stand by my assertion that you need to take precautions originally described as "bs" by fish whether you are a windows user or some other OS.
Fish's comments were a bit over the top. IISC.com does run a firewall and the mailserver running on a tru64 UNIX box does spam blocking. I also run a network QoS appliance to maintain bandwidth for critical applications and destinations. On the otherhand my comments about not allowing IE or Outlook to run are absolute and are key to the no viruses in 14 years.
The one place where Fish's comments were spot on were in regards to AV S/W. AntiVirus S/W on OSX is way more dangerous than the non-existant viruses that it is defending against. If you have a Mac, DO NOT INSTALL AV!!!!! I will never forget one poor soul writing in to the support group that Norton AV had reported 6 "infected files" on his Mac had been deleted without naming the files. Who knows what files were really deleted and what system issues followed but what is sure is that there were no Apple viruses extent.
Charles Richmond IT & Security Consultant
Operating System Design, Drivers, Software
Villa Del Rio II, Talamban, Pit-os, Cebu, Ph
OK, OK, you guys. But is it going to help Andy? But Andy is going to do what Andy is going to do anyway, I guess...
I would hope so. If for no other reason than to realize that regardless of your
platform choice, there are things every computer user can do to insure (or at least
mitigate) the problems associated with being connected to a network.
Ian
Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
I have picked up the pieces on several occassions and continue to see the
various attempts to do so. I stand by my assertion that you need to take
precautions originally described as "bs" by fish whether you are a windows
user or some other OS.
So Ian...name one virus that self-installs and runs on Mac OS X.
"Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston "The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
Fish's comments were a bit over the top. IISC.com does run a firewall and the mailserver running on a tru64 UNIX box does spam blocking.
Yes, firewall is important. Hard router is best. However, I haven't seen a single port scan since I replaced my windoze boxes with macs. I also ran some tests, and the default settings for OSX shows up as complete stealth to the outside world. Nonetheless...safe sex, right?
My comments were primarily aimed at viruses and malware carried by either email or downloaded trojan.
"Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston "The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
i'm actually typing this msg on a mac, first time ever since 1984 using a mac - this 30" display is
intoxicating
I've got $1 that says he buys Apple.
"Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston "The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
Yes, firewall is important. Hard router is best. However, I haven't seen a single port scan since I replaced my windoze boxes with macs. I also ran some tests, and the default settings for OSX shows up as complete stealth to the outside world. Nonetheless...safe sex, right?
My comments were primarily aimed at viruses and malware carried by either email or downloaded trojan.
I should have mentioned iisc.com's cisco router also.
Port scans do take place all the time but the OSX and UNIX boxes shrug them off. The primary weaknesses in the MS products are related to ActiveX, MS's broken messenging and sharing s/w. Blocking the apropriate ports in the router and/or firewall is a real necessity. Course giving up MS is also an avenue
Charles Richmond IT & Security Consultant
Operating System Design, Drivers, Software
Villa Del Rio II, Talamban, Pit-os, Cebu, Ph
Comments
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
in fact you can, a guy i'm talking with is doing it. you need an nvidia QuadroFX3000 but it works perfectly...
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
That makes sense.
Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/store-name=videogames&index=videogames&search-type=ss&field-manufacturer=MacSoft/002-3575716-5665605
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
Battle-damaged Master Chief reporting for duty! :grim
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
I'm with humungous on this-i just bought an ibm clone pentium 4 - 3.2 gig intel chip and 1 gig of ram as well as a decent graphics card , 56k modem and burner for $AUD600-if the ram isn't enough I will upgrade when it gets a little cheaper-ram prices seems to fluctuate a lot.
whereas cameras and accessories etc are expensive in Oz pc's are quite cheap
With extra ram this will last me about three or four years if software continues its history of memory sapping growth.
the money you save on pc expenditure could be better spent on new lenses etc-
the canon 60mm macro with extender gets me hot and bothered...grain of rice filling a frame..ahh "macrobation"
but I also assume that you are not short of a buck,so i guess spend it whilst you have got it.
the other way to go is get your box upgraded at your local pc shop...
Longitude: 145° 08'East
Canon 20d,EFS-60mm Macro,Canon 85mm/1.8. Pentax Spotmatic SP,Pentax Super Takumars 50/1.4 &135/3.5,Pentax Super-Multi-Coated Takumars 200/4 ,300/4,400/5.6,Sigma 600/8.
If money is more important to you, buy disposable PCs every six months. If quality of experience and ease of use is more important, then buy a Mac. Easy.
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
aww now wait a minute there fish
i have had my sony desktop system for 24 months - and the only thing i did was bump the ram from 512 to 1.5gb. not one single problem ever with he system, crashes, virus, or other performance issues. this system doesn't owe em a penny, yet when i get my new system, my wife and kid will have it for until it goes casters up...
not all pcs need replacing every six months. that's just a plain myth.
not saying you're wrong about apple btw, either.
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
Almost all the PC systems suggested have been single processor systems - And yes, single processor Windows boxes with modest amounts of RAM are significantly cheaper than a Dual Processor G5. Go to Dell and price a DUAL XEON Processor Tower comparable in features to a G5 - 800 speed Dual Fire Wire, 400 Fire Wire etc. I did that before I bought my MAC. The Mac WAS less than the DUAL Xeon.
THE ONLY REASON TO BUY A DUAL PROCESSOR box is if you have software that can recognize and use both processors - PHOTOSHOP can and does use both processors in a MAC - Not as Native PS - You must download the plug in for dual processors - but that is where the speed is on the MAC. And that is why I ended up in the Mac world, Andy. If you decide to stay in Windows, that is cool, but a single processor XP box will not run filters on large 16 bit files like a G5 Power Mac. That is not my opinion, that is the opinion of many people in the graphics industry.
Games WILL play faster on a PC - games are written in languages for the Intel chip not the G5 chip. Most of the MAC games are ported from the Intel/Windows world and do not run that fast on my MAC ( they don't use both processors perhaps?). The gamers all run hot pushed Windows boxes - but they are not concerned about security or viruses because many of them reformat their drive weekly - they are on a quest for speed and only speed.
I don't want to have to format my drive yearly let alone weekly.
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
Want vs. need.
So on your security scheme with your pc....it sounds very robust. firewalls, antivirus, spamstoppers, router, gateway, ethernet condoms, etc. But why bother? Wouldn't it be better not to have to deal with all that bs?
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
heheeh good point, fish-mon!
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
Windows, OS/X, Linux or any other OS. Just ask Robert Morris
Ian
Operating System Design, Drivers, Software
Villa Del Rio II, Talamban, Pit-os, Cebu, Ph
Mac, yes, left coast here too.
From the 18 year-geek standpoint I stopped supporting PCs in '98 for the usual reasons. Have had 50 Mac-only mostly-entertainment industry clients since, and for the last 18 months I've been like the Maytag repairman. When I say 50, that's 50 invoiced within the last year. OS X is rock-solid, has been easy to support via phone.
Color management, lack of malware and virus, OS patches infrequent, ease and elegance of use, built-in apps, the well-engineered, easy on the eyes hardware... Suuuweeeeeet!
My iView Pro catalogs are 40,000 and 22,000 images respectively FWIW, running on only a G4 laptop @ 1 GHz & 1 GB RAM. My TIFF submittals to my stock agency are from 35 mb to 60 mb, handles it fine. You'll rock with a G5.
Lynne
Galleries here Upcoming Ranch/Horse Workshop
"0% of OSX/Solaris/Linux/BSD/Unix Systems are haced at any given time.". How do
you suppose "security issues" are discovered in these OS's?
Thanks for playing.
Ian
Operating System Design, Drivers, Software
Villa Del Rio II, Talamban, Pit-os, Cebu, Ph
various attempts to do so. I stand by my assertion that you need to take
precautions originally described as "bs" by fish whether you are a windows
user or some other OS.
The one place where Fish's comments were spot on were in regards to AV S/W. AntiVirus S/W on OSX is way more dangerous than the non-existant viruses that it is defending against. If you have a Mac, DO NOT INSTALL AV!!!!! I will never forget one poor soul writing in to the support group that Norton AV had reported 6 "infected files" on his Mac had been deleted without naming the files. Who knows what files were really deleted and what system issues followed but what is sure is that there were no Apple viruses extent.
Operating System Design, Drivers, Software
Villa Del Rio II, Talamban, Pit-os, Cebu, Ph
you got that right rutt
i'm actually typing this msg on a mac, first time ever since 1984 using a mac - this 30" display is
intoxicating
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
platform choice, there are things every computer user can do to insure (or at least
mitigate) the problems associated with being connected to a network.
Ian
We are waiting to see photos of you unloading the boxes when you get home.
didn't buy anything (well, i did get an ipod for my lovely wife, so she can have sting with her 24/7)....
but after viewing that 30" cinema display, i tell ya:
i am ruined! everything else is now substandard
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
So Ian...name one virus that self-installs and runs on Mac OS X.
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
My comments were primarily aimed at viruses and malware carried by either email or downloaded trojan.
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
I've got $1 that says he buys Apple.
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
Port scans do take place all the time but the OSX and UNIX boxes shrug them off. The primary weaknesses in the MS products are related to ActiveX, MS's broken messenging and sharing s/w. Blocking the apropriate ports in the router and/or firewall is a real necessity. Course giving up MS is also an avenue
Operating System Design, Drivers, Software
Villa Del Rio II, Talamban, Pit-os, Cebu, Ph
I'll put $1 on and Apple 30" and a Windows box
Dave
http://www.lifekapptured.com (gallery)