Apple Mac

Gavin Scott · Wed 20 Jul, 2005 21.13

I've borrowed (for evaluation purposes) the Apple Power Mac G4 from our office. We bought it for doing graphic layouts for company literature, but it never really got off the ground and the machine has been languishing in a corner gathering dust. I think it might work well for my hobby of video editing.

It has a 1GHz processor and (I think) 256MB of DDR RAM. I'm sketchy on the details because I havent switched it on yet. At the moment it's on the floor with a scented candle on top of it.

Couple of things really: can anyone tell me more about working with Macs - ideally including a reference to video editing? The other thing is that the transparent single button moose has gone missing. Will my standard USB two button mouse work ok?

I ordered a rather nifty little thing today. It's an analogue to digital video converter - that is: I can plug any video source (VHS, cable tv, live video camera) either composite or SVideo and it turns it into a live stream of DV and will connect into the Mac or a PC. It also converts back the other way. It's ideal for editing all those performances of the shows I do which I've got on other formats like Hi8 etc without having to capture them first. This should be really good fun so I'm keen to work with the apple before I have to decide whether its worth buying.

One last thing, chaps: how much would this G4 be worth in realistic terms?

James H · Wed 20 Jul, 2005 21.19

Gavin Scott wrote:I've borrowed (for evaluation purposes) the Apple Power Mac G4 from our office. We bought it for doing graphic layouts for company literature, but it never really got off the ground and the machine has been languishing in a corner gathering dust. I think it might work well for my hobby of video editing.

It has a 1GHz processor and (I think) 256MB of DDR RAM. I'm sketchy on the details because I havent switched it on yet. At the moment it's on the floor with a scented candle on top of it.

Couple of things really: can anyone tell me more about working with Macs - ideally including a reference to video editing? The other thing is that the transparent single button moose has gone missing. Will my standard USB two button mouse work ok?

I ordered a rather nifty little thing today. It's an analogue to digital video converter - that is: I can plug any video source (VHS, cable tv, live video camera) either composite or SVideo and it turns it into a live stream of DV and will connect into the Mac or a PC. It also converts back the other way. It's ideal for editing all those performances of the shows I do which I've got on other formats like Hi8 etc without having to capture them first. This should be really good fun so I'm keen to work with the apple before I have to decide whether its worth buying.

One last thing, chaps: how much would this G4 be worth in realistic terms?

Forget all that, what scent is the candle?

nwtv2003 · Wed 20 Jul, 2005 21.28

We had to use a Mac for Editing our A-Level Media Studies Project, though generally I didn't like the Mac, probably because I'm really used to using Windows, the Editing program iMovie or whatever it is, is really simple to use and allows more flexibility than something like Windows Movie Maker, it allowed us to add text, add music from a CD etc, all straight from a DV Camera.

Gavin Scott · Wed 20 Jul, 2005 21.31

James H wrote:Forget all that, what scent is the candle?

Raspberry (or Swedish equivelant) from this evening's trip to Ikea with my sister.

Gavin Scott · Wed 20 Jul, 2005 21.34

nwtv2003 wrote:We had to use a Mac for Editing our A-Level Media Studies Project, though generally I didn't like the Mac, probably because I'm really used to using Windows, the Editing program iMovie or whatever it is, is really simple to use and allows more flexibility than something like Windows Movie Maker, it allowed us to add text, add music from a CD etc, all straight from a DV Camera.

I use Premiere Pro on my PC so I'm quite up to speed with complex video editing programs.

I get the impression (whether its down to good marketing or not I don't know), that Macs are inherently good at handling video/graphics - and that I wont have to wait for long render times like I do with the pc. Is that true?

The Mac also seems to have two DVI connectors on the back. I assume this means two monitors can be connected?

babyben · Wed 20 Jul, 2005 21.45

I believe that it's much quicker than a PC.

G4 is abot £900 at least I think.. but I could be so wrong - check ebay.

If it's creative (graphics/video) then I think mac's roxx over PC, but for letter typing or email - a pc is better.

Chris Turnbull · Wed 20 Jul, 2005 22.04

It really depends on what you want to do on it Gavin.

If you are editing simple home moves iMovies is wonderful, but if you are going the pro route Apples Final Cut Pro is a godsend. Bit pricey though but there are ways around that!

I’ll say this much though, I’ve used Wintel machines and Mac/PPC machines for most of my 18 years on this planet and have ALMOST NEVER had a problem with my Macs, Wintels on the other hand cause nothing but problems.

Although if you intend to buy Mac best to upgrade to OS X Tiger. Best £89 pounds I’ve ever spent!

Oh and G4s are now around £500 what with apple now selling the superduper G5s. (Although i'm typing this on my iBook G4 and it's far faster than any Wintel Machine i've ever used so G4 is still usefull for editing and what not).

DJGM · Wed 20 Jul, 2005 23.13

Gavin Scott wrote: The other thing is that the transparent single button moose has
gone missing. Will my standard USB two button mouse work ok?

Any USB mouse should work on a Mac that supports USB devices, although they'll work best in Mac OS X.

My iMac G3, which has built in USB ports, has a PC Line branded USB mouse connected to it. This works
in both Mac OS X and 9.2.2. Meanwhile, I also have an older beige Power Macintosh G3, which doesn't
have built in USB. I installed a USB2.0 PCI card into this particular machine, and plugged in a Logitech
branded USB mouse. This works in Mac OS X, but not 9.2.2, due to having no built in USB.

BTW - let that single button Apple Mouse stay missing! It looks nice, but that's about it!

MarkN · Thu 21 Jul, 2005 15.03

Chris Turnbull wrote:Oh and G4s are now around £500 what with apple now selling the superduper G5s. (Although i'm typing this on my iBook G4 and it's far faster than any Wintel Machine i've ever used so G4 is still usefull for editing and what not).

I am expecting the price of Apple G5s to drop by a considerable (by Apple's standards) amount when their new "Mactel" machines are released.

DJGM · Thu 21 Jul, 2005 15.12

MarkN wrote: I am expecting the price of Apple G5s to drop by a considerable (by Apple's
standards) amount when their new "Mactel" machines are released.

Why do I keep hearing the word "Mactel" being constantly used as a reference to the new Intel
based Apple computers due to start appearing next year? IMHO, "Macintel" sounds much better.

MarkN · Thu 21 Jul, 2005 15.18

DJGM wrote:
MarkN wrote: I am expecting the price of Apple G5s to drop by a considerable (by Apple's
standards) amount when their new "Mactel" machines are released.

Why do I keep hearing the word "Mactel" being constantly used as a reference to the new Intel
based Apple computers due to start appearing next year? IMHO, "Macintel" sounds much better.

I am lazy - "Mactel" is two less letters to type than "Macintel". And Apple has registered "Mactel" as a trademark in the US - http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regs ... y=78644706.