The new iMac G5 seems like a good value upgrade from the previous version iMac. In some ways the G5 processor is overkill for what most people will use an imac for, or at least what most of us imagine the normal iMac is used for. At the same time, the specifications are underwhelming for people who are concerned about Doom III. However, I think that it hits a nice spot for something fast enough for many tasks and it will remain useable for quite a while.
As someone who falls in that "budget production work" category of computer buying, the iMac G5 presents an interesting compromise. It offers much of the power of the low end Powermac for about $800 less ($500 in CPU price and about $300 in monitor price). In my mind, I am putting a La Cie Electron Blue 19 inch CRT with the Powermac G5 dual 1.8. The La Cie is one of the finer CRTs on the market and offers 1920 by 1440 pixels, as opposed to the iMac G5 17in's 1440 by 900. To compare apples to apples, pardon the pun, if you were to try and get a 17 inch LCD, it should cost you a little more.
If you have the cash, the new iMac doesn't hold a candle to the speed and expandability of the Powermac G5. However, the RAM and disk are easily upgraded and the processor power is ample. It will compare favorably to older Powermac G4's for folks without Firewire 800 devices.
As a design statement, the iMac G5 doesn't say much to me other than "put sticky notes on my chin!" It has the familial design hint of a wide rectangle in a tall rectangle that goes back to the original Macintosh. The base is certainly more sure-footed than it looks. However, it doesn't match the one unit lump simplicity of the original iMac nor the sunflower stalk functional grace of the iMac G4.
In terms of where it fits into the evolution of computers and Macintoshes, the iMac G5 seems the most grown up of the iMacs. It is an austere pizza box on a stand with regular components that look easy to upgrade. The cooling unit of the current Powermac G5 is as large as a Powermac G4 Cube. If they were able to cram all that into the back of a monitor at this point, a Powerbook G5 doesn't seems as far off. I'm a bit worried about the eMac ever getting a G5, because it would be a real squeeze.
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
One hurdle cleared
the interview went well. The bottom line is that my name has been submitted for the next interview with the supervising surgeons/doctors. The field is being narrowed to three names. There has apparently been an overwhelming response to this position, which makes it truly a wonder that i've even made it this far.The other two have more photographic experience than i have (apparently), but luckily the position isn't really about the photography, in terms of who would be best to fill the position; the most challenging aspect of the position is the ability for the photographer quickly build confidence between themselves, the doctors, and most importantly, the patients, not to mention project such confidence when faced with a bleeding stinking tumor.
Obligatory iMac G5 Post!
As usual, the www.macitynet.it Expo Report has the best photos (even if they aren't all in focus...).
Monday, August 30, 2004
What if you placed 1108 PNG files on your desktop?
Your computer will come to a discouraging halt. You'll be able to launch apps, but you won't be able to doing anything with the finder: no menus, no dragging, no selecting, no nothing.So i launched my system preferences (luckily, i had a dock icon for that) and quickly created a profile for my wife. I didn't have any other profiles created and had my computer automatically luanch as 'me' so i never had to log in. Once i created her profile, i shut down the computer and logged in as my wife, got to 'killys desktop' and erased the files from there once i changed the permissions. Viola!
In other news:
I got THE CALL from HR. I have an 'official' interview for the med photographer position tomorrow at noon, during my lunch hour. If you pray, pray for me. If you belive in karma, send it my way. I'm trying my best to calm my excitment.
The Republicans Invade
So the Republican Convention is on the same street as my office, wouldntyaknowit, just 2 blocks away. I take the subway into Penn Station, which is connected to Madison Square Garden, where all the hoopla is. I'm surprised and amazed this morning that the subway actually stops at Penn Station, as the rumor about town last week was that all subways were being re-routed away from the area. So they decided to make things easy on us, after all. Hardly anyone on the subway ride in -- lots of people getting the heck out of town for the week ... but not me, nope, stubborn 8 mos.+ pregnant lady decides she's gonna work 'til she can't stand up no more.
So anyway, I get off the subway and climb up onto 34th street, where I see a fairly large percentage of the 10,000 cops that are in the area this week to secure the event. They're packed in little clusters on street corners here and there .. I try to walk up closer to the Garden but they're only letting people with "RNC" badges past, so I don't get to see anything interesting -- 8 a.m.'s probably too early for most protesters anyway.
I saw on the news last week that lots of bike riders were arrested for riding past the convention center in a pack, even though it's a weekly gathering and not an event targetting the RNC specifically -- a few of them had signs/banners/etc. but they do this every week, so what's the big deal?? Lots of bogus sounding charges -- overly amped cops eager to arrest someone, anyone, to justify their presence -- road obstruction charges, that kind of thing...
34th street and all the streets around the center are closed to traffic but pedestrians can walk up and down the sidewalks. Cops everywhere, plain clothes policemen stepping out of cop cars, eyeing my black bag and fat belly suspiciously -- wish I had something more exciting to keep ya fellas busy, but all I got is a Garden Design magazine, my wallet, and a baby in my belly.
Lots of conservative types walking down the street in front of my office -- button-down shirts and ties, slicked back hair, polished shoes -- they would probably blend right in on Wall Street or Madison Ave, but down here in the fashion district the regulars are all much more casual and definitely less white-bread if you know what I mean ...
So not a lot of interest to report yet, but I'll keep ya'll posted if anything vivid happens ...
So anyway, I get off the subway and climb up onto 34th street, where I see a fairly large percentage of the 10,000 cops that are in the area this week to secure the event. They're packed in little clusters on street corners here and there .. I try to walk up closer to the Garden but they're only letting people with "RNC" badges past, so I don't get to see anything interesting -- 8 a.m.'s probably too early for most protesters anyway.
I saw on the news last week that lots of bike riders were arrested for riding past the convention center in a pack, even though it's a weekly gathering and not an event targetting the RNC specifically -- a few of them had signs/banners/etc. but they do this every week, so what's the big deal?? Lots of bogus sounding charges -- overly amped cops eager to arrest someone, anyone, to justify their presence -- road obstruction charges, that kind of thing...
34th street and all the streets around the center are closed to traffic but pedestrians can walk up and down the sidewalks. Cops everywhere, plain clothes policemen stepping out of cop cars, eyeing my black bag and fat belly suspiciously -- wish I had something more exciting to keep ya fellas busy, but all I got is a Garden Design magazine, my wallet, and a baby in my belly.
Lots of conservative types walking down the street in front of my office -- button-down shirts and ties, slicked back hair, polished shoes -- they would probably blend right in on Wall Street or Madison Ave, but down here in the fashion district the regulars are all much more casual and definitely less white-bread if you know what I mean ...
So not a lot of interest to report yet, but I'll keep ya'll posted if anything vivid happens ...
Todd and lungs
Hey Todd we are sending you much love over the cosmic intergalactic neurotransmitters of the collective unconcious. Hope that you are feeling well and that the sun is shining gently.
Happy belated to Killito, just put his face up to the computer screen and tell him it's a birthday hug from people he doesn't know from far away.
Happy belated to Killito, just put his face up to the computer screen and tell him it's a birthday hug from people he doesn't know from far away.
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