Well that kind of obviates getting the lower end machine for me. It doesn't look too appealing, considering the previous 733 machine got beaten in a lot of categories by the even more previous 533 machine with a larger cache. I would imagine it's about 2x as fast as my G4. Not good enough. The mid-range machine looks better in comparison, but I don't know if I can justify such a purchase just yet. Don't really need the super drive yet, although it is nice. No optical drive option it's super drive only.
It's not just price. I'd have to take apart and sell my G4, sell the RAM, swap drives. Reinstall software, upgrade systems etc. Think I'll be waiting until the next round. By then we'll get a speed boost from DDR etc, probably faster firewire and other stuff. Hope I have the spare cash then. These are not enticing enough yet. I've never been happy with my G4. It's barely faster than my souped up 8500, had to get it because of firewire, but it makes me wary of buying anything I won't be happy with again. I'll only buy when the deal is totally compelling or I can't miss a new item like firewire. I'm suspicious it won't be very upgradeable due to the changes in the next machines, maybe I'm wrong.
I bet I'm about average on this too right now. If the economy was pumping then designers would be buying. But right now I for one have to be conservative. Those who are in lucrative areas might be buying but not me. Many of my friends from school are struggling.
They'll be selling a bunch of Book machines and I'm guessing the iMac will sell well, perhaps not as well as the previous iMacs. The upper end G4 without the goodies will probably sell well. The others will languish. |
