Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[matusiak <dave AT matusiak.org>]

Hey Deborah --

I would highly recommend a dual-processor PowerMac tower.  Laptops have 
no advantage other than portability.  And you've already seen how much 
portability you need on an average basis.

Now normally I would only recommend "going forward" with technology, in 
this case only buying a G5-based machine.  However, while discussing 
video editing and its taxing nature with one of the folks who run the 
Media Resource Center in R.B. House library today, I found that they 
are seeing some dual-G4 machines outperform single-G5 1.8 Ghz machines.

This feedback was limited to Final Cut Pro and was, of course, heresay. 
 (It also contradicts the speed figures Apple released concerning G4 
vs. G5).  Regardless, these are folks who work with video a lot and 
whom I trust and also whom would have little reason to deceive me with 
product information.  I asked if they saw the same performance benefit 
for Photoshop manipulation and he was not so sure.  More tests are in 
the works.

Long story short:  a dual-processor PowerMac and nice big LCD should 
suit you just fine.  (Tell them you *have* to have it!)

Best wishes on your new adventure!
dave m.

On Jan 25, 2005, at 4:19 PM, Deborah Ellington wrote:

> Following up on Tom's post...
>
> I'm ordering a new computer for my new job. I can ask for whatever I 
> would
> like. Doesn't mean I will get it, but the odds are good. Currently I 
> have a
> G4 Powerbook with an 800 MHz processor and 1 GB SDRAM. It seems to 
> work fine
> but it gets a little bogged down sometimes when I am trying to edit 
> video. I
> wish it would be a little snappier on that score. But I don't know 
> gigahertz
> from whatever so I don't know which number should be higher in order 
> to get
> better video editing performance. I guess it would also be nice if 
> Photoshop
> rendered a little faster when I am doing some mega-filter thing.
>
> My other issue is I don't know that I really need a Powerbook. Can't I 
> get
> more performance for less cost by going to a G5 tower? In my entire
> employment here I think the Powerbook has left my desk maybe three 
> times. It
> is always connected to an external monitor on my desk. If I REALLY 
> needed to
> take a Powerbook somewhere I guess I could just bring my personal 
> Powerbook
> from home. So I'm leaning towards the tower.
>
> What would y'all do?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Deborah Ellington