Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

alwoodruff · **iMac vs desktop -** 10-16-2011, 01:27 PM

I have a very old powermac G5 (Not sure, but thinking it may be as much as 10 years old. I bought it used). It's been getting the job done, but I'm afraid it may be on it's last leg. My husband noticed the iMac's are $1000 less than a tower (we already have the monitor so we'd just need the tower part replaced). The guy at the mac store even said for what I'm doing, an iMac would suffice. We compared them side by side (online with specs) and it seems like everything the powermac has, the iMac has (again, for $1000 less). The only thing that makes me hesitate at buying the iMac (and of course selling the nice, expensive monitor) is my power mac has lasted soooo long and it's able to be upgraded (memory, etc) to extend it's life (which is actually what I did 2 years ago) and I seem to remember someone saying once that the iMac's life span isn't near what the powermacs are. Seems worth it to pay the extra $1000 and get that many more years out of it. Thoughts?

PS I am a part time photographer. Only shoot 2-6 shoots a month and don't shoot raw. I don't do video.

Charles Putnam · 10-16-2011, 01:48 PM

All-in-one computers (of which the iMac is one) have a slightly shorter lifespan (on average 4-5 years) than a desktop (5-8), but....everything wears out. If your Power Mac is 10 years old, it's a definite testament as to how well Mac's are built.

The Mac Pro (which replaced the Power Mac) is definitely a high end, high powered computer. The only people I know that use one are either high end graphics designers or high end videographers. That said, the current iMac's are extremely powerful and would easily serve your needs.

How long a computer lasts depends upon how you take care of it. I've had WinDoze computers last 8+ years - mostly because I kept them connected to a UPS. Even my MBP is connected to a UPS to protect it.

Mosephus · 01:54 PM

After having an iMac as my first all in one, It would be hard for me to go back to a tower computer, it's very convenient and it's features make it well worth it too. Also they are no slouch. I just had to give it back to my now previous employer and I'm stuck with my old powerbook g4. My head is starting to hurt with all this banging my head on the table, it is like night and day. I can't even access my aperture library till I can get ahold of an intel mac. :-(

picman · 10-16-2011, 09:06 PM

Have you checked to see if a Mac Mini would fit your needs?

Tom · 10-16-2011, 09:24 PM

You can upgrade the RAM and hard drive in your iMac to make them last longer. I did the RAM in mine and it was fantastically easy.

texxter · 10-16-2011, 09:59 PM

Very happy with my 27" iMac, great performance, seems solidly built.

Jake · 10-16-2011, 10:32 PM

I really like my 27" iMac. Works great and I do shoot RAW and play around with video a little also.

Rson · 10-16-2011, 10:52 PM

Sadly the Mac tower of old has changed. Now the new Mac is a PC with a different OS. :(

*I should note that it isn't a 500$ ACER special from Best buy. Quality proven components from selected vendors.

texkam · 10-16-2011, 11:05 PM

I suggest you consider having Rich custom build you a tower from "quality proven components from selected vendors". Some members here have been very happy with his work.

ggeen · 10-17-2011, 11:09 AM

Ultimately the choice is yours alone. My first Mac was a Powerbook Pro G4. It was my first laptop to last over five years. When it was time fore an upgrade I switched to an iMac and immediately doubled the memory. It is now three years old, running the latest OS/X and doing just fine.

With an adapter, you might be able to use you existing monitor as a second. That would give you a lot of real estate.

srwatters · 10-17-2011, 05:33 PM

I currently own and use two Mac Pro machines. Both are from the first production year, one using two dual core 2.66GHz Xeon processors and the other having two quad core at 3.0GHz. In the house we also have a 24" iMac, and two 15" MacBook Pros. My original Mac, a 2004 model 20" G5 iMac is still running well at my parents home. I have never kept a PC longer than about three years, yet my Mac Pros are both going on 5 years old and get daily use in my home office and studio. I've upgraded them both with disk (10K RPM SATA) and RAM (16GB), and really don't feel they are holding me back processing large images (39MP PhaseOne digital back).

I am considering upgrading when the next hardware refresh occurs, but will most likely keep the oldest MacPro as a server running Lion. If I amortize the cost over their lifetime, I find my Apple equipment to be very cost effective. Of course YMMV.