Apple Power Mac G5 Desktop M9457LL/A (Dual 2.5-GHz Power PC G5, 512 MB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive)

Rating:
Summary: Desktop supercomputer.
Review: Apple is, quite simply, the best and most innovative computer manufacturer. A recent user survey in PC magazine identified Apple computers as the most reliable and easiest to use computers currently available and and for two years in a row PC magazine has picked Apple's Macintosh G5 as the best multimedia desktop computer. When PC people and PC magazine pick Apple computers as the best maybe potential PC buyers should rethink and seriously consider Apple computers. Now Apple has an even more powerful Macintosh G5 computer with dual 2.5 GHz processors.

Yes, most people use Windows-based PCs, but do you want to be just another member of the PC herd -- with all of the problems and frustrations presented by Windows-based PCs -- or are you looking for a computer which is user friendly, seldom crashes, and is virtually impervious to virus attacks? If these virtues are more important to you than being one of the crowd, please seriously consider buying an Apple computer. The Power Mac G5 is Apple's top-of-the-line computer series and this is the most powerful G5 ever -- essentially a desktop supercomputer. Like all Power Mac G5s this computer is more than twice as fast as a Pentium 4 with the same clock speed and has dual 64-bit processors. All computers will have 64-bit processors some day but very few PCs, except for Mac G5s, have them at this time. If you're looking for a super fast, versatile, easy to use computer (and want to stop worrying abut virus attacks) and are willing to try something off the beaten path, you'll love this new Power Mac G5. If you want the virtues of Apple computers and G5 power at a lower price consider the Power Mac G5s with dual 1.8 GHz or dual 2.0 GHz processors or the new G5 iMacs.

Rating:
Summary: Powerful and quiet
Review: I love this machine. It is supremely powerful, but what makes me love it is its good manners: elegant and silent. If i have a window open in my office (on a very quiet street), I cannot even tell when the computer is on, it is that quiet. Turning it on and off at the monitor is simple and calming, the whole experience of working with it and OSX can enhance your serenity. This is especially valuable when using programs like DVD Studio Pro and FCP, not to mention photoshop. I am very pleased with this computer, and recommend it to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: Some things to consider before you make this purchase
Review: Some things to consider before you make this purchase:

1) You can't find a comparable PeeCee for less. You can find no-name, non-AGP, video card uses system memory, no, fewer or slower FireWire ports, no, fewer or slower USB ports, no gigabit ethernet, no DVD burner, no built-in wireless antenna, no built-in Bluetooth antenna, slower and fewer processors, running XP Home Edition, etc. stripped down machines that sound like Harrier jets taking off for less, but you can't find a comparable machine for less. If you are looking for a comparable machine remember that you can't directly compare clock-rates across different processors. A Celeron will be slower than a Pentium, a "hyper threaded" Pentium will be slower at single processor tasks than a regular Pentium (a 3.x GHZ HT Pentium will be slower than a 2.x GHZ Pentium IV) and they all will be slower than a G5, especially if they are running at the same speed.

2) Dual processors don't do what most people think they do. A lot of programs aren't written to use multiple processors, and even if they were, it wouldn't make much difference. If all that you're concerned about is having the program in the foreground run as fast as possible (spending most of it's time waiting for you), then unless you're running a program that can take advantage of multiple processors (PhotoShop, digital video editing, a number of MP3 players/rippers, a lot of the new games, a number of email programs, etc. do use multiple processors), you really don't need a dual processor machine. BUT, if you like to do multiple things at the same time (browse the web while, your email program is downloading and filtering email, ripping MP3's from a CD you own, playing MP3's, hosting a personal web site, etc. are all running in the background), then dual processors will help because all of the programs in the background will be able to use the second processor and won't steal processing time from the application running in the foreground.

Ray