Used Mac or new PC?

I'm at the point where I need to get a new computer to replace this 6 yr old PC.

All I plan to use it for is PS CS2, internet, email and a bit of MS office for admin, letters etc. I don't do gaming, video editing or anything similar. I also have a PC laptop (running CS2).

I could probably build a PC with a reasonable spec (Intel core 2 duo, 2Gb ram, ASUS P5B etc) for about £650.

OR I could look for a used Mac like a G4 on eBay for about £500-£600.

I started off on Macs in the late '80's and early '90s and loved them but was forced to switch to PCs for a new job (and hated it) but have stayed with a PC ever since as Macs were so expensive (in the UK).

Will a used G4 be a reasonable buy and do what I want with CS2? If so, what spec should I be looking for? Can I use a G4 with my current monitor (Sony) or do I need a replacement? Will I need a Mac version of CS2?

Recommendations gratefully received.

I'd go with the Mac, but that's just me. Either way you will have a new computer. It all depends on what your preferences are. Do you own any Pc/Mac software already? Maybe save and get a new mac and you can put Windows on it so you have the best of both worlds.

cgratti wrote in post #2914372
Do you own any Pc/Mac software already?

That should be your biggest selection point. If you had a Mac Laptop AND looked to get a Mac PC then cool. But with having a PC laptop you may need to buy software twice.

I have a dual-core Dell laptop and a dual-core PC with an ASUS WIFI MB that can take quad-core so CPU is upgradeable. I bought and built this myself from scratch a few weeks ago. My 8yr old PIII-500 is so jealous She has been demoted to a file server.

What would I recommend? Well being someone who has always bought and built his machines from scratch, I'd go PC.

My software is Windows 2000 with Office 2003 and PSCS2 and that's it apart from some specialist balistics software that I can run on this PC.

I need to upgrade to XP or the Mac OS. Ditto the Office suite. So software isn't really an issue because it all needs upgrading, apart from CS2.

Geez, I did not pay £600 for my G4, I could sell you mine? It has CS on it & office. Your original Monitor would be fine. I thinking of buying a Macbook Pro, when leopard is launched in a few months time. Macs work! You will start to find that if you wish to upgrade these, you may struggle to find to video cards etc. Maybe the best bet is a Mac Mini, see:

http://www.apple.com/m​acmini/

Phideaux wrote in post #2914137
I could probably build a PC with a reasonable spec (Intel core 2 duo, 2Gb ram, ASUS P5B etc) for about £650.

OR I could look for a used Mac like a G4 on eBay for about £500-£600.

I wouldn't go the G4 route.

Have you considered a Mac Mini? You'd probably want to buy an external firewire drive for it to get the cheaper 3.5" drives (which is what I've done), but otherwise it will do everything you need. I have it (1.66 core duo, 2 gigs RAM), a 250 gb firewire drive, Samsung 19" LCD and an old (G4) USB keyboard and cheap Labtec 3-button optical scroll mouse. I have about US$1300 in it. (Plus, it comes with 802.11g and bluetooth built in).

The G4 will be horribly slow with modern software, a Core2 duo will be an order of magnitude faster. No way would I get an old mac for image processing. Photoshop will take as much power as you can throw at it, which is especially important if you shoot RAW.

You may wanna take a look at this article also http://www.vnunet.com …rth-mac-malware-continues
I changed over to Mac almost a year ago and don´t regret it at all

Being a Mac user and lover myself I want to say go with the Mac. However, when it comes to computers or technology of any kind it is hard to reccomend going backwards. Buying a used computer isnt really goinig to get you anywhere you will ultimatly want to be. PC's can be purchased for realitivly cheap, but I subscribe to the theory of you get what you pay for. My acutal sugestion would be to save you pennies.....or whatever you have, Im not sure what the funny little symbol is sorry....anyhow save your money and buy something new. Like I said I would go Mac, I made the switch a year ago or so and am so glad I did. I am running a MacBook Pro and love it. I am saving for a MacPro soon, but anyway like someone else said if you go with a new Mac and still have Windows software you want to run, you can run Windows on the new Mac's. you will however have to get a new copy of CS2 for Mac if you want to run it on a Mac that does not have Windows loaded on it.

Gotta agree, used camera sure, used lenses, definitely!
Used computer.. hell no!

With the system you want, and the lack of need for one of those silly expensive graphics cards,. you could get a very nice Dual core PC with 2GB of RAM and enough hard dive space to get you started comfortably..

Ok, CyberDyneSystems, either you have A LOT of free time or you have been a member of this forum since the day it started. I just noticed you have 23,593 posts. Sorry doesnt have anything to do with this thread, but that is just silly rediculous.

OK. Thank you all for your advice. If Mac users are saying don't go for a used G4 then I think I'll respect that.

Sooooo save up for a couple of months for a new Mac, or build a PC. Hmmmmm. Decisions decisions.

Save for the new Mac, and like magic you get a PC that comes with it!! All you need is an Windows OS disc and a copy of Boot Camp.
Not sure if Vista works on the Mac yet I have not tired this. If anyone has any input on that, would be good to know

My dad just upgraded his PC (a PIII, 500MHZ, 256MB RAM) with an ASUS MB, AMD 64 X2 3600+ CPU, and 1GB DDR2 667 RAM with a new PSU for $260. While this isn't the best out there it sure flies for the money. Another $60-$75 for an extra 1GB RAM and your set.

for that money you could get a dual G5 powermac. I paid £500 for my current one (dual 1.8 ) and performance wise it's a bit nippier than the intel imacs and mini we have in our studio.