Is a MAC G5 any use?

[bigboyfrankie]

Just bought a shiny white G5 as an eventual replacement for my Windows machine. At the moment I am using them side by side to give me time to learn MAC OS X, but after a month I am on the point of giving up. Having used MS products since DOS machines until now, do I feel let down by Apple or what!!! I wanted to avoid using any MS product at all may not be possible. The initial issues I have are as follows .............
1) Most of all I miss the right mouse button context menus, does this never work on a MAC?
2) inability to resize scroll controls, they are too small and why does the screen fade every time I move the mouse?
3) multiple windows must be opened open to get to anything then all have to be closed individually, what awaste of time and effort.
4) very slow picture transfers from my digi camera.
5) loss of printer options although it is a MAC compatible Canon.
6) Will have to use MS MAC versions of Office to be able to work, thought that Open Office or Neo Office wopuld be fine, they work but without 'right click' options are not quck to use.
7)Cannot find any magazine or MAC user info that is really helpful.
8) Where is the Apple software to compete with MS? Apple works will not open any MS Documents.

My conclusions are ....
1) That it is a beautifully made machine, quiet and great design.
2) That the G5 is a toy and not a serious work machine unless I buy Microsoft software.
3) That the iMac software is not really very useful.
4) That I was seduced by design and not useability
5) having used the Apple helpline based in India twice- I won't bother again, too much delay on the line and due to their lack of understanding of colloquial English, conversations are impossible.

Big Question - If I buy MS Office for MAC, will the right mouse button work for copy, cut & paste etc? Don't want to shell out if it doesn't.

Am I missing the point or am i right???? Any comments would be appreciated.

Might have a nearly new G5 going for sale soon, with new Bluetooth Keyboard.

By the way, this post is being placed via my WXP machine on W Explorer!!

[Buzz]

Hi bigboyfrankie,

I understand you unfamiliar and frustrated most likely. You're terribly wrong on a few points. Most notably in thinking the Macintosh out of the box will do exactly what YOU need it to. I doubt any PC you've ever owned id EXACTLY what you wanted right out of the box.

1) Buy a mouse you like.. just as you would on a PC. Did your iMac come with the multiple button mouse from Apple? If so, you may just need to configure it using the System preferences. Apple doesn't know what YOU want to do.

2) Scroll size is the result of your monitor resolution. I don't know what "screen fade" refers to.

3) Command(apple)-Option-W will close all windows. Or hold down the option key when closing the top window and all others will close as well.

4) This is most likely a result of very little RAM or specific software you are using.

5) Did you install the Mac printer drivers and software? What model specifically? Some "Mac compatible" inexpensive printers mean it's usable but the manufacturer didn't really care HOW usable.

6) The only MS product I use is Office. There is no similar product for the Mac. But MS Office on the Mac is very usable.

7) Mac user, MacWorld, macfixit.com, macosx.com, apple.com... there are a ton of items out there do a Google search.

8) See #6

part two.....
1) I agree but not as robust as a tower would be. PCs by default are towers. The G5 towers would have been a better product if you are truly concerned about upgradability and beefing up performance.

2) That's an incorrect statement. Any computer is a toy without software you need. Even PCs are just a toy unless you install software. Stop expecting the Mac to be everything in one package.

3) The iMac software such as iTunes for playing and organizing music files, iMovie if you edit dvd videos, iDVD if you want to create your own DVDs, Garageband if you want to edit music files or create your own, iPhoto for organizing and maintaining a photo library, are all VERY useful if you need that type of software. I really don't get your hang up expecting the Mac to do more than any base computer. PCs don't come with Office pre-installed unless you pay for it.. which you could have done with the iMac.

4) The Mac is JUST as usable as a PC... buy office for Christ's sake you would have to if you bought a PC.

5) I agree.. the apple tech support line sucks. But Apples Web site is always full of helpful information.

Big question.... Most two button mice have a programable system preference you can assign to be anything. In this case, you would want to assign the right mouse button to the Control key.. which is identical to the PC right click.

Yes you are missing the point entirely. You've essentially bought a new car and are complaining that there's no good CDs left in it to listen to. You've got a great powerful machine. No machine comes "perfect" for every user out of the box. No machine. Go get the software you need and stop complaining.

[bigboyfrankie]

Thanks for very comprehensive reply. I was deliberately over the top in my criticisms in order to elicit good feedback - thanks very much. Lots of info and a very good analogy about the new car. Finally - is there a MAC magazine published in the UK?
Your reply is very much appreciated, will start work in the points asap.

[Big Jim]

bigboyfrankie, welcome to the forum.

Over here you have to really search for Mac magazines but they are available. I had the same problems in looking for them when I first came to the world of Apple Mac, but I searched online and subscribed online to three of them. I think Mac Format http://www.macformat.co.uk/is best for keeping up with events and providing good info on some Apps, but Mac User http://macuser.pcpro.co.uk/is very good for indepth articles on the essentials of using Mac's. Another one is Mac World http://www.macworld.co.uk/

The biggest and best Mac only forum is http://forums.macosxhints.com/
And about the best UK Mac forum is http://www.macassist.co.uk/forums/mac.html

[mapizzofx]

Wanna Trade???

[bigboyfrankie]

Sure thing, I'm ready to sell - I'm in the UK though.

[Big Jim]

bbfrankie,
out of interest, how much would you want for it?

[MichaelFortune]

my opinion: I have never liked MAC. And in my case I would have done the same thing you did cause I would have "judged a book by its cover." The G5 is defiantly one of the most beautiful machines ever. But it is just so, yeah. Start Menu vs. MAC Dock.....START MENU!!!! and so on. Never thought about this but can you put Widowns OS on MAC machines?!? If I were you I would sell the MAC then but some components for your Windows machine.(New Hardware etc. You should get a lot of $$$ for that overpriced, not to good hardware/software MAC machine)

COMPARISONS

MAC Dual 2GHZ Power PC G5=$1,999(overpriced for the hardware your getting)



Dual-core 2GHz PowerPC G5 processor

1GHz frontside bus per processor

1MB L2 cache per core

512MB of 533MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-4200)

160GB Serial ATA hard drive

16x SuperDrive (double-layer)

Three open PCI-Express expansion slots

NVIDIA GeForce 6600 LE with 128MB GDDR SDRAM

VS

eMachines T6420=Price $549
http://emachines.com/products/products.html?prod=T6420

AMD Athlon™ 64 3400+ Processor (with AMD 64 technology)1
(512KB L2 cache, 2.20GHz, 1600MHz system bus)
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition2
Chipset: NVIDIA® nForce® 410
Memory: 1GB DDR (2 × 512MB), 400MHz dual channel
Expandable to 4GB
Hard Drive: 200GB HDD (7200rpm, 2MB cache)3
Optical Drive: 16x DVD±RW multiformat double layer drive
Media Reader: 8-in-1 digital media manager (Secure Digital (SD), smart media, micro drive, memory stick, memory stick PRO, compact flash, multimedia card, USB 2.0)
Video: NVIDIA® GeForce® 6100 GPU
up to 128MB of shared video memory
PCI-Express (PCI-E x16) slot available
Sound: 6-channel (5.1) high definition audio
Network: 10/100Mbps integrated Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port)
Modem: 56K ITU V.92-ready fax/modem (RJ-11 port)
Peripherals: Premium multimedia keyboard, 2-button wheel mouse, amplified stereo speakers
Ports/Other: 5 USB 2.0 ports (4 in back, 1 in media reader), 1 VGA external connector, 1 serial port, 1 parallel port, 2 PS/2 ports (keyboard and mouse), 5 audio ports (2 in front, 3 in back)
Dimensions: 14.25"H x 7.25"W x 16.00"D
Weight: 22.5lbs
Software: Microsoft® Works 8.0, Microsoft® Office 2003 Studen Teach Edition trial4, Microsoft® Money 2005, Microsoft® Encarta Online, Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 7, CyberLink® PowerDVD with 5.1 audio support, Microsoft® Windows Media Player 10, Microsoft® Digital Image Starter Edition (includes 60-day Digital Image Standard 2006 trial), RealNetworks RealPlayer®, Quicktime, Napster 3.0 (30-day trial)5, Microsoft® Internet Explorer, AOL 9.0 (6 month membership included)6, Google Toolbar, Norton Internet Security™ 2005 (90-day complimentary trial)7 6, eMachines BigFix® 8(identifies and resolves problems that affect the system before they occur)



Conclusion: For as much money as you spent on that eMachine you could of had a SUPER COMPUTER...like RAID hardrives, Dual Coreprocessing, SPECTACULAR Video card SUPER MOBO etc. I praying for you that you didnt but the $3,999 dollar G5 lol.

[Buzz]

I will not allow this thread to turn into a Mac vs. PC Thread. Use what you like but don't put down other systems. The truth is if you've never used a Mac, you have no idea what you are talking about.

[MichaelFortune]

I have used MAC I have one sitting on my shelf collecting dust. But im not crtizing MAC im trying to prove a point. But yeah I wont turn it into a MAC vs PC thread, sorry buzz.

[DJoe]

In my opinion MAC needs to come down in Price unlike Systems like HP that have Windows, MAC should branch out, besides their hardware. However I never remember having problems with MAC unlike Windows. I probably would have to re-learn computers with MAC. Also I haven't used them for a long-time. Never-The-Less I find MAC less annoying then Windows. For some people there are convenience issues unlike Windows. Theres Con's and Pro's to both OS's. Lets see what Google comes up with.

[Buzz]

By the way, it's Mac not MAC. MAC would indicate an acronym -- M.A.C. -- it's not an acronym.

Both systems do have their advantages. Honestly though, if you don't get the Mac then you haven't utilized it well, or you're a gamer. Macs aren't really made for gamers.

[MichaelFortune]

yeah I am a gamer/photpshoper so yeah. (Excuse me for me Language Arts skills)

[Big Jim]

For my 2 cents, I'd just like to add to Buzz's reasoned remarks.
In this particular time period it is entirely possible to have a dual boot PC running XP and Tiger x86. I'm not condoning piracy, but the files are out there for anyone to find. I would just like PC users to evaluate Mac OS X without the need to buy expensive hardware and if they like it then they could buy a Mac Mini or any other Mac.

http://www.osx86project.org/

[MichaelFortune]

yeah...I wouldnt mind having a Mac OSX boot on one of my hardrives hmmm...id get the best of both worlds.