Hello, just wanted to make a quick correction: Panther is the code name for Mac OS 10.3; if you are running OS 10.2.8, you have Jaguar.

I am now weighing the Mac vs PC In the balance for my next purchase. The biggest worry I have is that Mac is now a step or two behind in processor horsepower in the iMac (I do not like the G5 "box") and I will be doing DVD and photo work - if Apple bring out a G5 imac - well then I am on board !

As a longtime Mac user, though albeit usually a Wintel user, too, my guess is that PowerBooks will go G5 before iMacs, Richard. Apple considers the computers to be paired as 'consumer' and 'professional.' The pro computers are the big boxes (the G5 now, though the name will change as other computers get G5 processors) and the PowerBooks. They get priority because they sell for more.

That said, the PowerBook is now as fast as or faster than most mass market laptops. You might be as satisified using a maxed out PowerBook as you would a desktop, especially the 17-inch. That sucker is wide.

If you are doing DVD and photo work, I'd definately recomend a Mac. Most photo and video professionals use a mac, and between iPhoto, iDVD, and iMovie, you have tremendous power out of the box.

What's more important than processor speed is ease of use of the applications. For photo, video and audio work, Macintosh apps provide a superior and consistent user experience. This means you spend less time fighting software, and more time actually producing.

As for the G5 in a powerbook, don't hold your breath. The G5 CPU gives off so much heat, until that problem is solved, you won't see it in a laptop.

One other thing is that if you are doing pro-level video editing, you are going to want two monitors, ie, get a G5 with a Superdrive, an extra video card and two monitors.

You won't be able to do that with an iMac, because it isn't designed to be expanded, it's a consumer level machine. If you are just making home movies with iMovie or Final Cut Express, then a G4 iMac with a Superdrive and iDVD will do you just fine.

Of course, if you want real raw power, buy a bunch of G5 Xserve rack mount units and cluster them.

But he's on a budget, Jim.

Richard,

Not to self-promote or anything, because I am absolutely against that sort of thing and never engage in it, but I started this feature film on a plain ol' G3 400Mhz (with Final Cut Pro 1) and finished the DVD last week (with DVD Studio Pro 2) on a year-old G4 dual gig.

Plenty of power on both machines. The Mac is a Photoshop, video-editing and DVD authoring ace. I'd never use any other machine by choice. In addition to speed (not reflected in Mhz comparisons to PCs, btw), you get a complete system with components specifically designed to work together. When considering "speed," it's worthwhile to factor in all that time you won't spend trying to get your software, CPU and peripherals to play well with each other, as so many of my unfortunate friends with bargain PCs do.

The new 20-inch iMac would almost be exactly what I used to make the "Nothing So Strange" DVD. (The iMac has a faster processor, but just one; and a better Superdrive.) And that 20" display (I use the old Cinema Display, very similar) is perfect for apps with horizontal timelines, like Final Cut and DVD SP. Apple has phased out the need for two monitors (although they can still be useful) with the aspect ratio of their new monitors.

It's just amazing what you can get for $2200 these days. Eight years ago I was editing on a (rented) Avid that cost $100K. And it didn't even do as much, and did it slower.

"I can't crash it, and I cannot run .exe files"

That is priceless, nice!

I appreciate all of your helpful insights - they are swaying me towards Mac. Additionally, I was in an Apple Retail store recently and my wife had to drag me out - what incredible technology, software, aesthetics, etc. I purchase my first computer (a Mac!), in 1984 -now 20 years later it may be time to return to the fold...