I went with the 17"--since I will use the thing mostly for writing and surfing, I don't really need the huge display. I don't edit video or make my own movies.
I chose the midrange model, as usual. Added RAM and the wireless mouse/keyboard.
As soon as I saw that thing, I knew I was a goner. I guess I'm ruled by visuals, but I think it is such a neat-looking machine. My home office is on the small side--it's a converted third bedroom--and the ability to bounce the tower, the monitor, and my Mac-incompatible laserjet will free up so much space. My ideal office is one of those Crate and Barrel blond-wood-and-gauze-drapes impossibilities. I'll never have that at the current location, but the G5 is my babystep in that direction.
I will lose the use of the aforementioned old laserjet, but my newer all-in-one should be able to pick up the slack.
I was a half-Mac up to this point--I am typing this reply on an iBook, which I bought back in February, iirc. I was drawn in by the small size, the neat look, and the lack of virus infestation. I planned to make the complete switch eventually, and was considering an eMac because of the comparatively low cost compared to other Macs. But I decided to hold off until year's end. Then those new G5s came along...
I reached the point with PCs where nothing excited me, and since I do a lot of online shopping, IE/Windows security holes really concerned me.
I wondered if the synopsis got through. Looking forward to your comments, and hoping you feel better soon!
Congrats! I've been Mac since I had to (OS 6) for a new job. Now I swing both ways, as I must as a web designer, but most of my work is done on Macs. I have a recent eMac at home (my daughter uses my old Bondi Blue iMac) and I have a dual screamer here at work (and push it, too).
The biggest differences I've seen are in the Safari browser graphics, the layout of things, and some details of MacWord.
Safari and my ISP homepages do not get along. Something about my ISP's graphics hangup Safai something fierce. I have had to quit on occasion to get rid of the twirling rainbow. I'm guessing it's a Netscape thing, because there's no problem on IE for Mac.
Some of my discomfort with MacWord may go away as soon as I move to the larger display. My iBook is the smaller 12-incher, and it's not the best for typing page after page of text.
Haven't had a Panther crash yet, although going into/coming out of Sleep mode gets a little futzy at times. But I wanted something different, something safer when it came to infection, and something cooler-looking. And I got it.
You might try downloading "Firefox", the new Mozilla browser. It's fast and built on the same engine as Safari. I use it to read the sff.net news because I have the graphics turned off for that browser. The graphics at the top aren't set for size, so as it loads it bounces down, so I only read that site with the graphics turned off. (I have umpteen different browsers for testing purposes.)
I have MS Office for word processing. That, and BBEditLite, which is one heck of a great text editor (and free). It's easier for me because I get educational discounts.
I like the thought of laptops, but I just fit a full size keyboard and laptops seem designed for small hands than my size 9s. (Yes, finding leather gloves that fit is quite challenging.)
The coolest thing about Mac crashes is that unplugging it seems to fix even the worst freezes. Way cool.
I think the G5 will come with IE for Mac, which doesn't have the security flaws that the PC version has. That will make two browsers, which should in theory be sufficient. I have Opera on the soon-to-be-retired desktop, and while I am slowly getting used to it, it's not a fave. When you're used to a particular set-up/style of graphics, it can be hard to get used to something new.
I'm another who has switched to Firefox. Opera left me cold, and I have never liked IE (I wish I could blow it off my machine at work, but I've no choice in the matter there). But when I loaded up Firefox three months ago, it felt comfortable.
I think the G5 should come with IE. It should also show up with Safari and Camino. I use Firefox at home on the G5 and at work on the PC.
If you get the .Mac service, you can, supposedly, keep your Safari bookmarks synced on all of your machines. I haven't tried it, though.
I'm pretty happy with my G5. Sometimes the screens don't go to sleep and I haven't looked into it too much. And I got my bluetooth keyboard and mouse working the other day, now I need to remove the wired m/k from the desk.
My iBook came with IE for Mac. I use it to visit sites that go all balky with Safari. The appearance lacks, imho, unless it's some sort of tribute to the New Minimalism or something.
I do have a .Mac account, with an unused email addy and everything. Bought it for the antiviral and the online storage.
I have noticed the occasional problem with going to Sleep as well. If I let the iBook sit with the lid closed, it shuts down eventually.
You're the only person I know in the Second City these days. Any recommendations you could make for my dinner plans for Wednesday through Friday nights would be appreciated. I prefer unusual things, don't generally follow the crowd, and cost is not an issue.
The thing is, I don't live in Chicago proper, so any recs I make may be a shade out of date or touristy.
I would rec Harry Carey's because it's practically a landmark. The emphasis is on Italian food, and it is a nice place. But it's also a tourist magnet so it's up to you.
If you like Pan-Asian, there's a place called Red Light at 820 W. Randolph. Now, the first and only time I was there was *erk* four years ago during Chicon. But I checked a recent review and it still ranks three stars. The decor is very cool and it's a good place to people-watch.
Berghoff's on Adams is another mainstay. German food. Their own brand of beer. An Old World feel--waiters in white shirts and ties, iirc, and lots of dark wood decor. Again, a tourist stop, but you also see the city crowd and the food is good.
That's it for my in-depth knowledge of Chicago restaurants, I'm afraid. If money is no object, the best restaurant in the city is supposed to be Charlie Trotter's. Never been, so no idea.
Did you read my whines on SFFNet as well? I don't know if I discussed it all that much here. Maybe I did.
I was seriously trying to hold off indefinitely--I mean, I really don't need a new desktop. It has reached the point where many available programs don't work with the OS (it's a Win95 box), but I could always simply upgrade to Win98 and keep it going for another year or so.
The biggest issue is turning out to be the lack of a USB connection. I had enough trouble with SCSI cards at work to know that I do not want to go that route, and the hardware that I can run on the thing is becoming more and more limited. Can't use the nifty $49 cable that one can hook up from PC to Mac to transfer contents--that's the real bummer.
I most excited about the G5's looks, however, and the deskspace it will free up. I will save all the PC's contents to Zipdisks and important files to CD as well. I'm hoping that I can transfer data from Quicken to MacQuicken with no issues. Same thing when I get around to ordering/installing MacTurboTax.
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winterfish
no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 07:06 am (UTC)Our G5 towers will show up some time after the 14th...and then there will be Joy in my humble abode.
Did you get the 17 or 20 inch model?
-TRR
no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 07:15 am (UTC)I chose the midrange model, as usual. Added RAM and the wireless mouse/keyboard.
As soon as I saw that thing, I knew I was a goner. I guess I'm ruled by visuals, but I think it is such a neat-looking machine. My home office is on the small side--it's a converted third bedroom--and the ability to bounce the tower, the monitor, and my Mac-incompatible laserjet will free up so much space. My ideal office is one of those Crate and Barrel blond-wood-and-gauze-drapes impossibilities. I'll never have that at the current location, but the G5 is my babystep in that direction.
I will lose the use of the aforementioned old laserjet, but my newer all-in-one should be able to pick up the slack.
Party!
Date: 2004-09-03 07:07 am (UTC)Hope you enjoy your Mac plunge. You were a PC woman, I thought?
Wiped here, between meds and cats--but I have your synopsis to look forward to this week!
Re: Party!
Date: 2004-09-03 07:23 am (UTC)I reached the point with PCs where nothing excited me, and since I do a lot of online shopping, IE/Windows security holes really concerned me.
I wondered if the synopsis got through. Looking forward to your comments, and hoping you feel better soon!
no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 12:57 pm (UTC)Do I get any credit/blame? ;)
no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 02:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 01:35 pm (UTC)Go Macs!
no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 02:10 pm (UTC)Safari and my ISP homepages do not get along. Something about my ISP's graphics hangup Safai something fierce. I have had to quit on occasion to get rid of the twirling rainbow. I'm guessing it's a Netscape thing, because there's no problem on IE for Mac.
Some of my discomfort with MacWord may go away as soon as I move to the larger display. My iBook is the smaller 12-incher, and it's not the best for typing page after page of text.
Haven't had a Panther crash yet, although going into/coming out of Sleep mode gets a little futzy at times. But I wanted something different, something safer when it came to infection, and something cooler-looking. And I got it.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 02:18 pm (UTC)I have MS Office for word processing. That, and BBEditLite, which is one heck of a great text editor (and free). It's easier for me because I get educational discounts.
I like the thought of laptops, but I just fit a full size keyboard and laptops seem designed for small hands than my size 9s. (Yes, finding leather gloves that fit is quite challenging.)
The coolest thing about Mac crashes is that unplugging it seems to fix even the worst freezes. Way cool.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 05:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-03 07:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-08 05:21 am (UTC)If you get the .Mac service, you can, supposedly, keep your Safari bookmarks synced on all of your machines. I haven't tried it, though.
I'm pretty happy with my G5. Sometimes the screens don't go to sleep and I haven't looked into it too much. And I got my bluetooth keyboard and mouse working the other day, now I need to remove the wired m/k from the desk.
SZ
no subject
Date: 2004-09-08 09:06 am (UTC)I do have a .Mac account, with an unused email addy and everything. Bought it for the antiviral and the online storage.
I have noticed the occasional problem with going to Sleep as well. If I let the iBook sit with the lid closed, it shuts down eventually.
OT: Chicago Resturant Recommendations?
Date: 2004-09-06 10:45 am (UTC)Thanks!
Re: OT: Chicago Resturant Recommendations?
Date: 2004-09-06 04:02 pm (UTC)The thing is, I don't live in Chicago proper, so any recs I make may be a shade out of date or touristy.
I would rec Harry Carey's because it's practically a landmark. The emphasis is on Italian food, and it is a nice place. But it's also a tourist magnet so it's up to you.
If you like Pan-Asian, there's a place called Red Light at 820 W. Randolph. Now, the first and only time I was there was *erk* four years ago during Chicon. But I checked a recent review and it still ranks three stars. The decor is very cool and it's a good place to people-watch.
Berghoff's on Adams is another mainstay. German food. Their own brand of beer. An Old World feel--waiters in white shirts and ties, iirc, and lots of dark wood decor. Again, a tourist stop, but you also see the city crowd and the food is good.
That's it for my in-depth knowledge of Chicago restaurants, I'm afraid. If money is no object, the best restaurant in the city is supposed to be Charlie Trotter's. Never been, so no idea.
If you like certain types of food, visit http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/dining/ and do a search. It's a pretty informative site.
Re: OT: Chicago Resturant Recommendations?
Date: 2004-09-07 05:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-08 06:34 am (UTC)It's about time too. I was beginning to think you'd never get a new desktop computer.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-08 09:24 am (UTC)I was seriously trying to hold off indefinitely--I mean, I really don't need a new desktop. It has reached the point where many available programs don't work with the OS (it's a Win95 box), but I could always simply upgrade to Win98 and keep it going for another year or so.
The biggest issue is turning out to be the lack of a USB connection. I had enough trouble with SCSI cards at work to know that I do not want to go that route, and the hardware that I can run on the thing is becoming more and more limited. Can't use the nifty $49 cable that one can hook up from PC to Mac to transfer contents--that's the real bummer.
I most excited about the G5's looks, however, and the deskspace it will free up. I will save all the PC's contents to Zipdisks and important files to CD as well. I'm hoping that I can transfer data from Quicken to MacQuicken with no issues. Same thing when I get around to ordering/installing MacTurboTax.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-08 12:28 pm (UTC)If you need any Mac help, let me know. Though, you've been playing with the laptop for a while now so you should be pretty well set.
Ok, while I've been enjoying my anonymity on LJ, you probably know who I am now. If not, just ask Alfreda.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-08 09:31 pm (UTC)