Calling ALL MAC users. Need advice on a machine purchase.

[The village idiot]

It looks like I will soon have a job where there are a lot of Mac G4's in use. Mostly they are using Avid Xpress DV right now, but I will need to be able to perform maint on these machines. They are all running OSX.

The best way for me to learn the nuts and bolts of OSX is to run a machine at home and those at work. I'm looking for the least expensive machine that will run OSX. Would also like something small like the cube machine if it would be a good learning tool. The job doesn't depend on me knowing how they work at the start, but I can't allow my own ignorance to keep me from doing my job. Also if you know where I can buy a used Mac and not get ripped off. Thanks.

[mrtristan]

Just curious. How did you manage to secure a job dealing with macs and have little or no experience?

[The village idiot]

Macs make up a very small part of the job. Mostly it will be repairs of television equipment, cameras, tape machines, etc. The Macs are a small part of the plant. And there are many more things that are windows based too. The Macs are also new, so most of the things would be user problems, and they really only use Xpress DV right now. It's as they get older that I need to be concerned with. Changing dead drives and display cards is no sweat even now. The system will load itself with out problems. But as things progress to more advanced needs, there will be a need for someone who really knows the BSD base of OSX. This is at a college in the Electronic Media dept. where they teach televison and radio courses. And it keeps growing with every year. They already have one person that knows the common things to do to the Macs, but no one that really knows the command line possibilities of the unix base layer, the real nuts and bolts of the box. Most places with Macs get by like this forever, just set them up and run them.

I am in the top 3 candidates, and most likely going to get it. Most of the other applicants do not have any of the technical abilities to do the rest of the job. Mostly they have been out of work production people, not engineers.

[Faustus]

Get an imac DV+ or DV SE (graphite or snow) and then bump the ram up. It will not be a dream to work with but it will run OSX. If you expect to have much fun with it get at least a g4 though. Check ebay, I see some DV+ 450 G3s go for ok prices. Just remember that Mac retain their value alot better then PCs so you're not gonna get out ultra cheap on much of anything thats decent.

[galactica]

Imac g3/333mhz for only $350

I think this would suit you fine, but you may also consider a powerbook

I just scored a 15" G3 400 walstreet edition (black one with the big white apple on the top that lights up) off of craigslist.

$400 for the comptuer, a battery, dvd/cd rom, cdburner and zip drive
its really cheap for all that

It will run 10.2 and even panther when it comes out.
You can also find iMac's for pretty cheap these days, but if you want to really have it be mobile, between work and home and still be able to "learn" get a powerbook.

if your not familiar with craigslist visit http://www.craigslist.org/about/cities.html and pick the city close to you. Actually, I would Pick NYC because there are LOTS of people selling mac comptuer for WAY TOO CHEAP and they will usually ship it to you if you tell them you will pay for shipping.

also a great site is www.dealmac.com just type in what you are looking for and you will get the best prices and deals on the net for mac's
This is how i found the iMac listed above for $350

Keep in mind you need min of 256megs memory and a g3 300mhz to run 10.2 (dont learn osx on pre 10.2 systems) they are old and out of date and actually 10.2 is entirely a different system

10.1 = windows 2000
10.2 = windows XP

Only used for analogy, in no way saying they are equal.

[The village idiot]

Thanks for the help. Mostly I want something small because I don't have room for a full sized G3 or G4. I wouldn't need to carry it as there are plent of machines to work with at that job. Would have to buy a KVM switch though. At that job they are all G4s with 10.2. I think a G3 would be OK for my home learning, if I really need something with speed, I still have my winderz boxes. I would just consider the Mac as a learning tool, though if I can swing it, a DV edition Mac would be nice. It is always easier when your machines are fast.

And comparing any version of windows to a real unix system should be a sin . I know how hard it was for you to do that, thanks

As for portable computing, I think the next one I buy will come from Toshiba, I like the little tiny 2.5 pound wieght that they tend to put in at least one model. I looked at their tablet/notebook machine the other day, kind of heavy at 4.5 pounds. OK call me elitist and a notebook snob, but having a light laptop is very nice! For now my old Portege 3010 will have to continue through the wars. Word processing, light surfing, even DV work can be done on that old machine. I just wouldn't try to convert anything over about 1 minute to mpeg. Building a DV file takes about 2 times the length of the clip, so it is tolerable.

[mrtristan]

Good luck with the job. Are you the guy that used to work for a tv station, or something like that?

[The village idiot]

Until recently, yes I did.

[galactica]

so what did you end up with?

[The village idiot]

Still waiting to find out if I get the job. I see that some of the DV+ machines are going for about 400-600 dollars on Ebay. Does that sound reasonable? Still think I want one of the cube machines for the size and low power consumption (less fan noise).

I do have 1 other question, how many of the Mac models use a ps2 style keyboard and mouse connector? I have a feeling the answer is none, which would make using my KVM switchbox a lot harder. I have a few machines connected now, including the resurrected "Bungholio" PVR. And I still have a printer with its server to connect, though that may have to be a standalone device since I don't really have to look at it too much.

Hopefully they will make their choice this week.

[Faustus]

I would suggest if you want to use a KVM that you make sure you get a mac new enough to use USB keyboards and mice. Then you can use a KVM that supports USB and be done with it. Almost any mac you get thats not very old at this point uses USB keyboards and mice.

Also remember on a DV+ its gonna run OSX, but its not gonna be a dream machine for it either.

[galactica]

I do have 1 other question, how many of the Mac models use a ps2 style keyboard and mouse connector?

That and actually, you will NEVER find a mac with PS2 because the older ones are all ADB which looks very similar but is still different. Now a days, its only USB and firewire on macs, so any new mac (including iMac) will only have USB and perhaps firewire if you are lucky.

[The village idiot]

Rats, that is gonna mess up my works. And any machine I buy will have to have firewire, or I won't buy it. I like firewire too much to not buy a machine that supports it. Found out they will be making no decision until after October 17, so I have more time to wait.