Quad G5 or Macbook Pro (used)

[jlaudon]

I have a Mac Quad G5 that I was going to sell after buying a Mac Pro, but after some thought, I decided that I will set up a 2nd computer (esp with the Vienna Ensemble Pro software coming, and Bidule for now).

I'm considering selling the Quad G5, and picking up a used Macbook Pro (I can get a 2008 model for about the same price). I notice on benchmarks that they are about the same, but obviously the G5 is good for extra hard disks, etc. Does anyone have any thoughts about what would be best, or if there isn't a big difference should I get the Macbook Pro?

Thanks.

[Frodo]

Dunno, J. Some may differ on this one---

But I've got more than a computer's lifetime of software on my G5. Since I won't be able to run Snow Leopard on it- and as a result-- since it will be even harder to sell than usual-- I've sort of concluded that it's worth a lot more to me in service as a VI slave.

For all the questions about where things are going with OSX-- I'm hoping that MIDI is still MIDI and that audio is still audio. That's why I'm not counting on MIDI and audio over LAN to be compatible in perpetuity-- which is why I've set up my Intel/G5 system with standard MIDI and lightpipe connectiity.

There may be arguments in favor of selling the G5 for pennies on the dollar sooner than later, but I'm finding that my G5 2.5 dual is worth more to me as a VI slave. As time passes and as more news about the state of OSX is revealed, I'd be more inclined (believe it or not) to replace my Intel MacPro for a better one than I would be with replacing my G5.

Why?

I could sell the MacPro 3Ghz more easily than I could the G5, so the turnover cost would be handsomely offset by the sale of the Intel. Ideally, an 8-core would offer more horsepower in general (ie: firewire running at 2.5Ghz instead of 33Mhz, let alone the RAM capacity)...

But at this point, I'd keep the G5 Quad if I were you. You have one major benefit: a PCIe slot, if I'm not mistaken.

Putting together Mac masters and slaves ain't cheap--- and as long as MIDI and audio are getting from point A to point B (and back again), there's no reason to get rid of the G5 Quad.

What's nice about having a G5 slave is that it does more when you don't have to hit the space bar! When it just sits there hosting VIs there are more resources devoted to just that and not to all the other things we worry about when running a DAW. My G5 is actually serving me better now than it did when it was the only machine I had in service.

I'd keep it, dude.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

The G5 is a formidable machine. My dual 2.0 is quiet as a church mouse and runs smooth as silk 99 & 44/100ths % of the time. I'm akeepin' it as long as I kin.
I still have my G4 as well, but it's loud by comparison. Works great and could be useful, but an Intel is surely in my future. The G4 will probably end up in some elementary school classroom as I tend to donate these things to charity rather than sell them at the end of their useful life. The old G3s were donated to a raffle. Some kid got a complete system with printer, legal versions of Word and other programs, a 17" monitor and some peripherals last year for a $1 ticket. I feel so much better about that than I would with a $75 or even a $200 sale on eBay.

[jlaudon]

Thanks guys for the great advice. I'll keep the G5 for now, and even plan on trying to use it for a live show (using either Mainstage, Kore 2, Bidule, or Jambalaya to host VIs - wow, what a choice!).

[HCMarkus]

If you have and use any legacy software that is pre-universal binary (in my case, Photoshop CS, Office, etc) the G5 is a nice machine to have around. Certainly, the G5 will be a more expandable VI host than a laptop. If you could put that laptop to good use though, that might make the change you are considering worthwhile.

[jlaudon]

I'm doing more and more live stuff these days (music director), but I have an old Powerbook G4 which works fine for a few audio tracks, and I use DP for clik references. It's also the home email and web computer. So, at some point I might need something more powerful, but I do feel more secure using the G5 as a VI host live .