Mac OS X forum: Help me decide about getting a mac

The iMac G5 17" 2Ghz machine will do everything your need for it to do, and more. It is ideally suited for the type of work you mention.
They are very user friendly, do "not do all of the stupid garbage that Windows PCs do" It will connect to th ecollege netowrk without a problem. Wireless and Bluetooth are already built-in to the system. This average Mac lasts for many years beyond the average Windows Machine.
To be really safe, take out the optional AppleCare extended warranty and help will just be a phone call away. In your chosen field though, I'm sure you will not be the only one at your college with a Mac.

Enjoy

P

As far as the desktop/laptop quandry goes, I almost always say go Desktop. Especially when the Imac is so clutter free and compact that you get many of the advantages of a laptop in it.

However, I am nearing the end of my college days and kind of wish I had a laptop as an auxillary computer (mainly so I'd have a portable photo upload site and because I am trying to go into a career that involves lots of travelling).

I think, however, that if you are going to spend four years in college, that a desktop would do you much better. The power is really much greater, and so is the comfort of a big, ajustable screen with full size mouse and keyboard.

I've owned Macs ever since they first came out and have ALWAYS been happy with them.
I've owned PCs as well and, in my opinion, just take too much work to keep running smoothly compared to the Mac OS. I am an artist and graphic designer and I really beleive that the Mac is more conducive to artists. It's not as technical as the PC (although you can get just as technical if that's what you want to do) and that frees you up to be more creative.

It's only a tool, but as a tool it's like the difference between SNAP-ON Tools and Jet tools. In other words, it's a beautifully crafted and efficient.

With the software you mentioned, I believe you would be best off with a Dual processor G5 with the most RAM and the biggest hard drive you can get. Also be sure to get a Superdrive, Firewire and USB 2. Those programs use ram like crazy and you really will need a huge hard drive. Especially with Photoshop, well, really with both of them.

Some people say you don't need that large a hard drive as you can burn files to CDs. Take it from me, that's a big hassle. You end up with hundreds of CDs and it takes forever to find what you want. Especially if you're like me and can't remember all those file names! So get a big hard drive and if money is tight, just get as big a one as you can now and buy another one later on.

And when it comes to gaming....WOW! They use RAM and hard drive space like nothing else! And better yet, they are finally catching on that Mac people are gamers too. There are more and more games coming out for the Mac all the time. Doom III, Tomb Raider, Fable just to name a few. Check this site out - http://www.gamedb.com/ssps - more Mac games than you'd believe!

I better stop now! I talk too much! Especially when it's on a subject I really like. Feel free to ask questions. Later,

brett

I have to agree sophyr on this. The more complicated the software becomes, the more palettes there are. Sure you can turn them off and on but that gets to be a hassle. The optimal set up would a larger (the larger the better) monitor for your work and a smaler one for all palettes and whatever other windows you need open for reference or work.

After a while you'll have most of the important keyboard shortcuts memorized, but as I said, these programs are getting more and more involved. Especially software working with video and/or music and sound. So it gets hard to remember all of those.

3D software is even worse since a lot of the time you're working SO MANY different things. From textures to lighting and . . . well, you get the point. (I start repeating myself when I'm really into things!)

Once again I've babbled on long enough.
Until the next time.
hasta luego

Get a mac, n00b! Macz r easier 2 use, need less RAM, and, now, cost less than even da d-o dubble jizzle wood pay 4 it. Be a pimp g-unit gangsta, ghetto *****!