Re: [APML] computer video card

["Taras R. Hnatyshyn" <tarashnat@earthlink.net>]

Jerry,

This is the kind of statement that I see on all the Microsoft supported
press. If you look at the objective media (not the pro-Mac or Pro-PC 
stuff)
you will find that similarly configured machines cost about the same.

Also, 100 software titles doing the same thing, most of them poorly, is
not much of an advantage. Most of the major commercial stuff is 
available
on both platforms.

Pros for staying with a PC:

- you don't have to buy new versions of your software (but if you are 
running
software on multiple machines you should check the software license if 
that's
allowable)
- you don't need to relearn the computer's interface
- more choice in video cards
- most specialist astro-focused image processing software/shareware is 
PC only
at this time

Pros for switching to Mac

- with the current G5 models you can go up to 8 GB of RAM
- FireWire built in
- you can run PC software with Virtual PC in a pinch (though this 
option is
usually slow and the current version isn't compatible with the G5's yet)
- built in (Gigabit) and easier to set up networking
- access to UNIX software on internet and many LINUX programs can be 
adapted,
too (most need to be compiled, but the system software comes with the 
developer
tools, though they are not installed)
- no need to worry about DLL conflicts

On both platforms, I would expect the dual processor models to shine on
Photoshop, compared to their single processor brethren.

In Kirk's case, I would not expect him to fork over for another 
Photoshop
license, just to switch to the Mac, unless the advantages of that 
platform
in other areas are going to give him more.

Taras

On Jan 29, 2004, at 2:58 PM, Jerry Lodriguss wrote:

>
> Hi Kirk,
>
> There are no advantages of a Mac over a PC, unless you want to pay 
> more for exactly the same hardware for the Mac name.
>
> And you can get about 100 times more selection in software for the PC.
>
> Jerry
>
>
>
> At 01:21 PM 1/29/2004 -0600, you wrote:
>> Hello Bobby & Jerry,
>>
>> I have been meaning to ask about this topic.  I have an older PC 
>> similar to
>> Bobby's.  I am thinking about getting the Artixscan 120 format 
>> scanner in
>> the future.  I currently use the Polaroid 35plus with a USB 
>> connection.  My
>> computer doesn't have a fire wire connection because Windows 98 
>> doesn't
>> support it (that's according to the directions with the fire wire 
>> card that
>> came with the Polaroid machine and trying it anyway).  So I am 
>> talking to my
>> wife about leaving the existing computer for her use and having a 
>> dedicated
>> imaging machine for me.  I have asked our computer guy here at work 
>> and our
>> graphics person for recommendations and they are both steering me 
>> towards a
>> Mac.  I have noticed that my PC really slows down when I start 
>> working on
>> files over 100mb.  I don't need any files that large for internet 
>> stuff but
>> I like to make prints and that's where I am trying to go with this.  
>> I want
>> to get into the digital darkroom to process land based photos and
>> astrophotos.  I will initially send the files out for printing.  
>> Doing my
>> own printing may or may not happen in the future.  I am not really
>> interested in games.  What are the advantages of the Mac over the 
>> type of
>> machine Bobby has found at Dell?
>>
>> Kirk Carbo
>>
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >From: Jerry Lodriguss [mailto:jerryapml@astropix.com]
>> >Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2004 12:29 PM
>> >To: Discussion of Film Astrophotography
>> >Subject: Re: [APML] computer video card
>> >
>> >
>> >Hi Bobby,
>> >
>> >The integrated video on the motherboard will probably be fine for
>> >Photoshop. If you play games, it would be a different story.
>> >You can always
>> >try it and then add a video card later, but if all you need it for is
>> >Photoshop, you probably won't need to.
>> >
>> >The 2.8 gigahertz machine should be much faster for Photoshop
>> >tasks (and
>> >everything else) than your 500 megahertz machine.
>> >
>> >Jerry
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >At 12:13 PM 1/29/2004 -0600, you wrote:
>> >>Dell has a pretty good offer on a Deminsion 4600. Here's
>> >what's included:
>> >>DimensionTM  4600
>> >>  Intel ® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.8GHz w/533MHz FSB
>> >>   Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
>> >>   SPECIAL OFFER! 512MB at 333Mhz DDR SDRAM for the price of 256MB
>> >>   FREE UPGRADE! 80GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive
>> >>$399 after rebate but sale ends today (no monitor; includes
>> >DVD player and
>> >>2nd
>> >>Bay CD Burner    Free shipping.
>> >>
>> >>Here's my question: Will the native video card (Extreme graphics 
>> card;
>> >>integrated) be just a good for Photoshop work as the $70
>> >upgrade to a 128MB
>> >>nvida GForce 4 graphics card. This machine will be networked
>> >to my other
>> >>desktop which has all my scanners going and I will not use
>> >this machine for
>> >>anything except image editing.
>> >>Also, will  this machine be much faster than my Dell Pentium
>> >III XPS T500
>> >>with 512 MB ram?
>> >>Bobby Middleton
>> >>


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