Need advice on computer upgrade, please! :)

[Jeff Carpenter]

Short answer: Go with the G5.

Long answer: You would be better off getting an Intel Mac and upgrading to Final Cut Studio 2, After Effects CS3, and Photoshop CS3. If you’re going to keep this machine for a long time (as it sounds like you do) you’d be better off getting into the next geneartion right now. Even going with the cheapest MacPro (base RAM and lowest processor) you’d be getting a much better machine than you have now. Sure, it would be nice to add more RAM later, but if you have to sacrafice that to just get the machine now, I’d say it’s worth it. But if you’re unable to upgrade your software then, yes, you’d be better off getting the G5. I suggest the Intel, but if all of this is not possible than see the ‘short answer’ at the start!

[Estoriafilms]

Jeff,

Thank you for your reply. So am I right in assuming that my current software would be useless in the new Intels?

Right now, unfortunately it WOULD be way too much financially to get the computer AND software. But I’d like to think that the increase from the G4 to the G5 would increase my productivity (and income) enough that down the line I could get the new Intel, software and all.

Or perhaps I’ll just win the lottery tonight and get on with it! 🙂

-Adrianne

[Steve Covello]

While I agree in principle with Jeff’s reply, I respectfully disagree.

None of your current software should be a problem for an Intel mac. the only issues would be that they are not Universal Binary, meaning that they are coded for PCC chip, not Intel, and thus would require ‘translation’ [invisibly] by Rosetta in order to work. This requires nothing on your part to do.

The main thing is that, even by just upgrading to a more contemporary Mac, you will enjoy INSANELY better performance than from a single 467mhz processor.

So don’t sweat the software expense until there is SPECIFIC function of the new software that will make your work permanently improved, such as working with P2 files or ProRes [none of which were mentioned in your post].

steve covello

[Estoriafilms]

Steve,

Thanks for your reply as well. This may be an ignorant question, so please forgive me if it is, but do the Intel Macs come with Rosetta as part of the software bundle or is that an additional cost I should consider if buying an Intel computer?

I may use P2 cards down the line, and I know that would require a newer version of FCP that supports them, but for now the majority of my clients use MiniDV so this is not a problem right now.

Thank you both for your replies and please anyone else who has an opinion feel free to chime in. I’m looking for all the feedback I can get to make sure I make a good choice here.

Thank you!
-Adrianne

[Jeff Carpenter]

I didn’t think we’d have to get into this much detail, but I guess we do. Estoria’s advice is not 100% correct, here’s what’s going on.

Rosetta comes on every Intel Mac. You never see it. It just works. For example, I use Microsoft Word on my Intel Mac even though it is not Universal yet. It technically slower than it could be, but who can tell? It’s Word. I have no problems with it.

So up to that point, Estoria is totally correct. Most old software will run just fine on Intel Macs. But when it comes to professional media programs, your results will vary. Here’s a rundown of the things you mentioned:

Final Cut Pro: According to Apple it will not load on an Intel Mac unless you have version 5.1 or 6 (which is part of Final Cut Studio 2). I’ve heard of some people getting it to load, but Apple doesn’t support this and I’m sure several features won’t work right.

DVD Studio Pro: Only version 4 will run, and it has to be the version 4 that comes with Final Cut 5.1 or 6.

Photoshop: Earlier versions than CS3 will run, but slower. Now, with ‘Word’ this works fine, but with photoshop it gets to be a bit of a problem. It’s usable for sure, but I found working with CS1 to be a litte frustrating sometimes, certainly when I was working with large files. CS3 (which is universal), on the other hand, has been great. This one wouldn’t HAVE to be upgraded, but I do suggest it.

After Effects: Similar problem to Photoshop but given that the size of After Effects projects tend to be larger and the processing more complex you will end up with problems even more often than Photoshop, I’d think. I never used the non-universal After Effects on my Intel Mac, so I’m just guessing here. But I can’t see that it would work any better than the pre-universal Photoshop did.

Toast…I haven’t used. My experience with using programs in Rosetta, though, has been that small files work great and large projects work, but are slightly less stable and prone to crashing a bit more. I’d be uncomfortable using a disc burning program like that, but that’s just my opinion. I’ve never used it.

So does Rosetta work? Sure. I use it all the time for older programs. But since you’re using pro program it will lead to more application crashes and speeds that are pretty comparable to the G5, if not slower. Rosetta is supposed to be a crutch for transitioning, not a permenent method for getting work done.

But think about it…if you can afford the Intel Mac and Final Cut upgrade now and then the rest of the software upgrades in a few months…well that could work. Things like Photoshop aren’t perfect under Rosetta, but as long as it’s not a permanent solution they can work. I used Photoshop that way for several months and I got through it. You just have to decide what’s more important…a “very good” system right now (the G5) or an “ok” system for year with an upgrade to a “great” system next year when you can afford the updates.

[Estoriafilms]

Jeff,

You’ve been extremely helpful. Thank you for breaking it down the way you did. I appreciate all of your advice. It seems like I am leaning more and more towards the G5 until I can upgrade to the Intel properly.

-Adrianne

[Rj Miles]

If you are interested in saving $$$ yet still moving in to the Intel processor domain, there are tons of good deals on 2.66ghz Intel Mac Pro computers.

If you’re not looking for all of the extra speed of the faster Intel Mac Pros, the new Mac Book Pro laptops are a very interesting option.

Personally, I’m looking for atleast a 3.0ghz 4-core to replace a G5 I just sold, althgouh I am seriously thinking about a MacBook Pro 17″ widescreen. 🙂

A good portion of the CS3 Adobe Production is Intel only, and I can only imagine we might see more software in the future released as Intel only.

I am working in the G4, G5 and Intel environments. So far, most of my G5 programs are running well. AE 7 has been the only challenge, but there have been some good work arounds. With the release of AE CS3 it’s no longer an issue.

Happy shopping

[Jason Porthouse]

Hi Adrianne,

This is a tough one, but with a little thought you’ll come out on top. I think that, for many of us, 95% of what we do we could do with older versions of the software. It may not do it as quickly, and in some rare instances not as well… but ask yourself – apart from the speed issues, are you taxing your software? Will upgrading to 5 over 4 enable you to do more? Many of my projects are exactly the same as ones I cut on 3, in terms of what I am able to do. Sure there are nice fixes for bugs ad quirks that maybe don’t require a workaround – but I can’t *honestly* say that my experience working on Studio 1 is hugely different from 4 or HD – I didn’t suddenly say ‘Wow! All these toys to play with!’ – it’s more of an evolution.

So for you, I’d say do the math – get a good G5, possibly try to get one with PCI Express (a late 2.3 or 2.7Ghz Dual or a Quad 2.5) as that will have a bit more life (and unless Apple ditch PCIe means that any cards you buy are somewhat future proofed), get a decent amount of RAM from somewhere like Crucial (2 gigs at least) and edit the nuts off it. Make lots of money. Upgrade to Studio 2 IF YOU NEED TO!!- but if not, look for a copy of studio on ebay or similar – they come up from time to time. A stable, crash-free edit platform that you know inside out (limitations and all) is, to me, far and away preferrable to a whizzy-dink new bells & whistles system that maybe only gets used to 50% of its potential. Don’t worry about the latest and greatest – I still cut on NuBus Avids in some places, ’cause they’re bomb-proof and cheap (can’t give them away sometimes) but they do what they need to do.

And, consider other things that may enhance your productivity – things like a tablet (made life soooo much better for me) or dual monitors. Needn’t cost the earth, and can be taken to a new system when you really need to upgrade.

hope this helps,

Jason

[Estoriafilms]

Jason,

Thank you for your reply!! My mind is made up to go with the G5 and just max its RAM out. I really don’t need the bells and whistles at all, I just didn’t want to drop $1500-$2500 on an “obsolete” machine when it’s quite difficult for me to part with that kind of cash to begin with. Just wanted to make a wise investment. And I think I’m going to. Thanks again to you and everyone who has answered my original post in this thread. You all are the reason that I have and will continue to turn to the Cow for all my editorial/techie needs 🙂

Take care and have a good night everyone!

-Adrianne