Mac Rumors (http://www.macrumors.com) points to a note on
http://www.macnews.net.tc that states "... the PowerMac G5 line will
stay as it is for at least 5 months (January/February may see a
change, and not a small one)"

I'm a PC user who's decided to switch to a Mac for personal use (but
have been putting off the purchase for some months now). A few months
back I heard rumors about the release of G5 and ditched my decision to
buy a Power Mac G4. The new Power Mac G5 is stunning, and just when I
thought I should buy it in a couple of months, I see this bit. This
has made me wonder whether or not I should go for the G5 now (by
around October).

I know that waiting for "newer, better, faster" machines is pointless,
and I also understand that the decision to buy one should be based on
need. I do not have a "burning need" to buy this machine within the
next couple of months. But I have other questions which could probably
help me in my decision process.

1. Does Apple have a history of making such "big changes" within such
a short period of time (like 5 months of a new hardware release)?
2. Although these are just rumors, what kind of changes could one
expect?
3. Since Panther is set for release in December (or early Jan 2004),
would it be worth waiting for it or is it prudent to just use 10.2.7
now and then (pay and) upgrade later?

Thanks
Milesh :)

fornewsgroup2001[at]yahoo.com (Mil)asked:
> 1. Does Apple have a history of making such "big changes" within such
> a short period of time (like 5 months of a new hardware release)?

yes

> 2. Although these are just rumors, what kind of changes could one
> expect?

what kind of changes would you expect from rumors and NDAs?

> 3. Since Panther is set for release in December (or early Jan 2004),
> would it be worth waiting for it or is it prudent to just use 10.2.7
> now and then (pay and) upgrade later?

Those who wait will never be satisfied...
the Jan-04 G5 + Panther looks a good combo.
Can you wait?

Bleeding edge fanatics will sink their fangs into the first G5s off the
line. I see snags:
the low end model is stuck at 2G ram,
the mid-range model cannot be upgraded to dual,
but dammit I just love that brushed metal look ;-)

> 1. Does Apple have a history of making such "big changes" within such
> a short period of time (like 5 months of a new hardware release)?
> 2. Although these are just rumors, what kind of changes could one
> expect?
> 3. Since Panther is set for release in December (or early Jan 2004),
> would it be worth waiting for it or is it prudent to just use 10.2.7
> now and then (pay and) upgrade later?
>
> Thanks
> Milesh :)

I think all personal comptuer manufatures are upgrading their hardware
as fast as they can. In the past, Apple made their announcements
around a summar and winter computer show. Now, they do them whenever,
or with the release announcement of the G5, apple moved the date of
the show.

There is an announced goal that the G5 will increase to 3ghz within a
year. The statement was little vage. Some people have interpreted
this as year end and other people as a calender year. I'd go more for
a calendar year. I'd read and hope the intent of IBM is to keep up in
the ghz race.

I'd probably advise waiting until you can get panther. Apple at one
point had a policy to give you a free OS upgrade only if you bought
the system one month before the new version of the OS came out.

It does seem today if you only wait three months you will get a much
better system. But you know, you can only wait so many three months
before you need to decide to buy.

Robert

Peter KERR <user[at]host.domain> wrote:
> Bleeding edge fanatics will sink their fangs into the first G5s off the
> line. I see snags:
> the low end model is stuck at 2G ram,

4GB?

> the mid-range model cannot be upgraded to dual,

yeah, that's a :(


You'd think Apple would seize that as a chance to make mad bling off people
that buy stuff in chunks.


-JB

In article <bg9i4m$d23$1[at]sparta.btinternet.com>,
"James Boswell" <JamesBoswell[at]Btopenworld.com> wrote:

> Peter KERR <user[at]host.domain> wrote:
> > Bleeding edge fanatics will sink their fangs into the first G5s off the
> > line. I see snags:
> > the low end model is stuck at 2G ram,
>
> 4GB?
>

Ooops, yeah :-(
but still, why? Is it the bridging between the pairs of four slots?
Or just 'cos you can't yet get bigger DIMMS?

In article <58116035.0307281249.30e697de[at]posting.google.com>, Mil
<fornewsgroup2001[at]yahoo.com> wrote:

> 1. Does Apple have a history of making such "big changes" within such
> a short period of time (like 5 months of a new hardware release)?

It's happened from time to time over the near-20-year life of the Mac,
but it's not common enough that you'd call it "a history" or want to
count on it as the norm. Having said that ...

> 2. Although these are just rumors, what kind of changes could one
> expect?

.... it should be noted that the announcement of the G5 models at WWDC
included a specific assertion that the plan was for the high-end to be
50% faster within 12 months.

> 3. Since Panther is set for release in December (or early Jan 2004),
> would it be worth waiting for it or is it prudent to just use 10.2.7
> now and then (pay and) upgrade later?

Now _there's_ a "need" issue. Since you say you don't have a pressing
immediate need for it, I'd say wait for Panther. This has the added
benefit that waiting may help you acoid the whole "settlers take the
arrows" aspect of buying a completely new model (of any product from
any vendor).