At 1:32 PM -0400 7/21/06, Walter Knapp wrote:
>Posted by: "vicki powys"
>
>> Do any naturerecordist members who use Mac computers, have any good advice
>> on the current suitable Mac models with a view of course to processing
>> nature recordings?
>>
>> I have been using an 'old' iMac (G3, 350 mhz, 6 GB, USB 1, OS 9),
>> transferring DAT to computer running Peak, using analogue sound input
>> miniplug, then burning to CD with external burner. The iMac does the job OK
>> but is well past its use-by date and I am thinking I will need to upgrade to
>> OS X fairly soon, and also to USB 2. The new Macs come in a bewildering
>> array of new styles including the Mini-Mac (bring your own screen), the iMac
>> with vertical CD slot, and the very expensive G5. The e-Mac seems to have
>> gone.
>>
>> Someone has suggested that the less-expensive Mini Mac might do the job, or
>> that a 2nd-hand G4 might be the go. However, living as I do in a remote
>> area, 2nd hand Mac stores are few and far between.
>>
>> Any advice would be much appreciated!
>
>I'm still using the earliest G4 desktop and it handles USB and OSX just
>fine. Sound processing is no problem. But support can be a bit thin, OSX
>is sometimes quirky on it, if not just quirky in general. And though it
>supports wireless hardware just fine, Apple never saw fit to implement
>support in the OS on it. I'm expecting to have to move on before too
>much longer. I was set to move to the G5 quad until Apple announced
>their intention to abandon Power PC processors. A lot of money to spend
>on something they are about to abandon.
>
>I'd not recommend the Mini Mac. Virtually no expandability, it's
>intended only for simple tasks. USB 2 is not really a problem as it's
>backwards compatible. Unless you intend to use it to run hard disks or
>such like.
>
>All the macs you mention are outdate too. Apple is in transition to
>using only intel processors. They still sell the G5 high end, but that's
>supposed to end by next year when everything they sell will be intel
>processors. In transitioning to intel processors the OS has to be
>reprogrammed. For now it's being provided in both Power PC and Intel
>processor form. And both versions of OSX are still being updated.
>
>With Steve Jobs in charge it's only a matter of time until all Power PC
>processor macs will be ignored and support will go away if it's not
>already occurring. That's been his pattern several times in the past.
>Every mac program must be redone to work on intel macs, the very
>arrangement of bits in data is different. The most immediate effect is
>that any programs that are original mac OS (mac Classic in the OSX
>setup) won't be supported at all as that's going away immediately. No
>classic support in the intel version of the OS. Most third party
>software suppliers are or already have come out with compatible
>software, however. You need to verify that each software you use is
>being updated or find substitutes.
>
>As a result my recommendation is to look just at the newer intel
>processor macs if you want longest life. I cannot tell you which one as
>I am still working them out. Basically Apple is replacing their entire
>line with similar intel processor machines. I've heard some good things
>about the new mac that will run both windows and mac without emulation
>on either side. It's quite new, however, and I know little about it.
>It's the one I'm most interested in finding out about. Currently the
>biggest downside is that it does not come with the windows OS so you
>have to buy that separately and install it and handle your own support.
>I'm at this point holding off on replacing my G4, not sure what I'll end
>up with. Any move I make will involve considerable expense as most of
>what I have in the way of hardware (like my large array of high speed
>SCSI based hard disks) won't be properly supported. I'll have to get a
>new monitor too. I've even considered moving down to windows, but that's
>a more expensive and even less desirable option. So far there does not
>appear to be a direct replacement for the quad G5, that will probably be
>replaced next year, they started from the low end.
>
>I'd not be surprised if it all does not just evolve in the end that
>Apple just becomes another PC clone maker. Which would at least make the
>decision easier, though not necessarily desirable.
>
>Note I don't think there is any problem processing nature recordings,
>most any should run that just fine. Though a few newer macs have been
>reported to interrupt sound operations in undesirable ways, that's a
>function of the Unix that's what OSX really is. The user and his tasks
>is lowest priority in the Unix world. Any add on soundcards will have to
>be checked for compatibility. Apple has also slowly been implementing a
>competing system of sound software, particularly in things like a new
>plug in format. Their own stuff is not suitable for nature recording
>processing, however. The biggest problem in sound software now is price
>as one after another the cheaper options are discontinued or jumped way
>up in price. Note that the newest peak uses a dongle protection system
>so a dongle must have a dedicated port and if the dongle fails you are
>out of business. I've been holding off upgrading, though it will be
>necessary if/when I go to the intel processor. Peak has also been jumped
>quite a bit up in price.
>
>Walt
Almost all heavily-invested mac loyals I know have their brake lights
on-- partly because they haven't tapped the full potential of the
applications the expensive apps they already own and partly because
Apple has forced them into pondering large, interlinked purchases
while other alternatives grow. I expect a slow but steady increase
in people using open source freeware and cross-platform apps over the
next five years-- especially professionals who need a dependable
work-horse without a lot of extras. Here's one example that could
take-off very quickly with more support: http://ardour.org/ While
Apple appears to be ignoring freeware alternatives, Adobe is
countering with really cheap software packages-- so cheap that even
students who are adept with Mac apps, quickly abandon them once they
graduate. That said, if you know and love Mac and you don't already
own a bunch of mac software that would need to be upgraded, buying a
platform that will boot on Windows and Linux as well has advantages.
Perhaps we'll see Mac apps boot on Windows eventually, but even
before that point, you'd be able to use freeware and buy inexpensive
windows apps or premium Apple apps as your budget permits. Buying a
used G4 as Lou suggests will definitely give you a power boost, but I
wouldn't do this if there's a chance you want to get into any new
pro-level apps in the next few years. Its harder to learn software
when you're 2-3 years behind 95% of the people on the user lists. Rob
D.
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