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Rating: 
Summary: You might want to check this first :
Review: My advice : Listen to a G4 first when you consider buying one; as it seems, not all of them are equally noisy. Other than that, the new G4 series is great; real workhorses and OS X also is fantastic.
Rating:
Summary: Not bad but not great
Review: Apple has fallen behind the curve because Motorolla is falling apart. The guy who led the PowerPC development now works for Intel. IBM will step in soon to save the day and put Apple back on track (or so I pray), but what until then? Well this machine is okay, but before you buy you should know the good and bad. Apple like any company spews out a lot of marketing garbage and too many people take it at face value. Go read this review on the slightly faster 1.25 DP machines coming out soon:
[URL] These guys are some of the top CPU reviewers out there and they give Apple a fair run against Intel and AMD computers and let you know where Apple does well and where it does poorly.
Rating: 
Summary: Another Powermac
Review: Apple is really touting their architectural improvements to the powermac line. Assuming you already know a thing or two about Powermacs, here's some things you might like to know... 1) Its loud. I have a Quicksilver and when I got that I was upset by how loud it was. This new MDD Powermac I got makes the Quicksilver seem quiet. I use mine for recording projects, so I keep it in the closet, as is standard industry procedure, but if you plan on keeping it next to your desk, be aware that this thing is like working next to a hairdryer. Points off for that. 2) Its really fast. I was skeptical about the new architectural changes Apple is advertising. I was happy to see that they have finally supported DDR (double data rate) RAM, a faster bus, and ATA 100, but I was also worried that the improvements would be offset by the L3 cache, which is half the size of the previous dual-1ghz model. I can very unscientifically say that you shouldn't worry about that too much. This thing is blazing compared to my single-processor 867 mhz (which has double the L3 cache) in situations where I am only using one processor on the new one. The difference to me seems more than a slightly faster processor could account for. 3) Supports 2 optical drives. That is very convenient, though Apple charges too much for a second drive. I'd recommend adding one later. 4) Only sort-of supports OS 9. Apple seems intent on burying OS 9 prematurely. "I'm not quite dead yet!" For average users, this won't matter much, but music and graphics professionals beware. There is no Software Install CD provided for OS 9. Instead, there's a Software Restore CD that will let you install OS 9 (non-customized) only after booting to OS X and only on a drive or partition that already includes OS X. Those of us dependant on Pro Tools or Quark also depend on OS 9. Their companies are developing OS X version, but won't release them until they are tried and true. The computer won't boot from previous OS 9 install CDs either. So if you want an OS 9 exclusive drive or partition, you can only do it by installing OS X, then "restoring" OS 9, then booting into OS 9, then deleting OS X manually, then manually customizing OS 9. UGH!! 5) Price. ...I think both this and the dual-867mhz model are a great value. 6) Jaguar (OS 10.2). It is definitely a big improvement over the previous OS X and I look forward to using it when Pro Tools supports it. 7) Support and warantee. 3 months phone support and 1 year parts is [not great]. Apple should stand behind their products more. 8) They look cool. Actually, I think they are ulglier than the Quicksilver models and I for one would take a superior unit in a beige box any day. What do you want a computer for anyway? Please take these comments for what they are. I am not a Mac zealot, as I depend on PCs as well. I think both platforms have big advantages and inexcusable faults. In the end, I prefer Macs and I'd highly recommend these machines to anyone who needs power and great functionality, and doesn't mind the deafening fans!
Rating:
Summary: Transition time for OS, but great machine
Review: I agree with everything "Anothermonkey" said in his review, but thought I should add a few notes. First, it seems most reviewers on this board are either die-hard Mac fans or their equivalently unbalanced detractors on the anti-Mac front. I use both platforms, and find each to have its points. Overall, this is a fantastic machine. The design is elegant from inside to outside, with every detail having been painstakingly thought through. It's as elegant as a computer could be, both in terms of hardware and software and their integration. It is also enormously powerful, although the fan inside could probably reach take-off velocity if given enough space. With the side panel closed and safely tucked under my desk, the noise is bearable, but don't try talking on the phone while powering up with the side opened -- you won't be able to hear a thing over the fan noise. OS 10 is a stable, beautiful, and superfast system, integrated well with these new machines. However, shy of the main software on the design front, there are lots of things you might want to use (or already currently are) that are not OS 10 compatible. In the short term, be prepared for some pain as you figure out how to navigate through what you can and cannot use with OS 10 (including basic peripherals). Hopefully by early next year, this will have improved. Also, this system is especially well-designed for international users. OS 10 can boot up in 20 languages, and the computer can be plugged in to nearly any voltage around the world. With several languages used at home, anyone can boot up in their desired language, and all (this really amazes me) the apple software that comes with the machine changes languages accordingly. Simple, clean, and elegant. My old Powermac 7500 lasted nearly 8 years thanks to its advanced design and easy upgradability (it still beats my new PC at work). These new 1 GHz+ models seem destined for the same -- a great investment. If you're looking for a cheap machine to handle emailing and surfing, or if you need a wide variety of games etc., stick to the PC platform. But if you appreciate design and detail, you want serious power and a great machine that will hold its own in your office for many years, then seriously consider a new Powermac.
Rating:
Summary: Very Well Done
Review: I'm also a Mac and PC user and also agree with the reviews below. The noise issue is the only reason I took off a star. Earlier models had a bad board that made the CPU fan run faster than it needed. In case you didn't know, the CPU fan changes speed to suit the cooling needs of the CPUs (a very nice Apple-ish touch). My CPU fan is very quite 98% of the time. The loudest noise comes from the power supply fans. There are replacement after-market fans available, but I don't think I'm going to need it. Yep - it's louder than my old G3, but not as loud as the new high-end Dells we have at work. The box comes wired and ready for 4 hard drives and two optical drives. There were even some hard drive mounting screws in redundant holes just waiting for me to add my 120 gig WD. RAM is easy to add as well - buy a gig. I use 18004memory.com. Comes with all the software you need. Made a DVD the same day I opened the box. Moving to OS X was a great opportunity for me to upgrade my other hardware and cut the cord on a lot of pre-1997 junk I had been clinging to. Dive into Aqua with both feet, the water's fine!
Rating:
Summary: Fast. but really noisy
Review: I've been a Mac fan since the PB 180, but had gone PC for a while. I came back to the Mac with this DP G4 and love it. It's fast and has all of the goodies. We made a DVD of my son's first year with iMovie and made a DVD our families love. You can't do that on a PC without a lof of expensive software and hardware. My only issue is the noise.
Rating:
Summary: Fast. but really noisy
Review: I've been a Mac fan since the PB 180, but had gone PC for a while. I came back to the Mac with this DP G4 and love it. It's fast and has all of the goodies. We made a DVD of my son's first year with iMovie and made a DVD our families love. You can't do that on a PC without a lof of expensive software and hardware. My only issue is the noise.
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