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Date: Sun, 23 Jun 2013 16:19:20 -0400
To: Richard Jay Solomon <richard@goodread.com>
From: "Emile Tobenfeld (a.k.a Dr. T)" <emile@foryourhead.com>
Subject: Re: Replacing or repairing a Mac Pro tower  -- weight vs. power
Cc: "Paul D. Garmon" <garmon@borisfx.com>, "Mike Escola" <mescola@borisfx.com>,
 "Roger C. Ingraham" <rcingraham@ringassociates.com>, AE-List@media-motion.tv,
 IMUG-List@media-motion.tv
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Thanks.

All these options and nomenclature details make me dizzy!

I hadn't even considered a mini, though I am wondering whether I 
should buy an additional  used machine for legacy apps.

I'm used to the rendering times an 8 core (albiiet 2007)) machine 
with an SSD drive and 16 gig of ram give me. How would a 2013 mini go 
up against that?

One advantage of a laptop is that I could then explore computer-based 
video improv. I currently use 4 mini dvd players and a mixer designed 
for VJ'ing. Can't say I've ever sen a laptop based vj do something I 
envied, but my current rig is a bear to set up and take down.

At 2:16 PM -0400 6/23/13, Richard Jay Solomon wrote:
>I like our two MacMinis. My 2012, 2.5 Ghz Intel Core i5, all solid 
>state version takes up to 16 Gb of RAM (recommended for you), has 
>Firewire, comes with built-in Mountain Lion (cannot be downgraded to 
>Snow Leopard, or run Classic, but can run MS Windows if you really 
>need it).  It has room for one additional SSD or HD, but I opted for 
>external drives since they are more flexible in emergencies and for 
>Time Machine.
>
>The machine is small enough that we took the two minis + an external 
>3Tb HD to Florida this winter for a month, borrowing a couple of 
>Dell monitors and keyboards from Maureen's brother. All machines 
>have an Airport Extreme a/b/g/n built-in.
>
>Minor downside because of Mtn. Lion is that I had to upgrade to 
>Photoshop CS6 and MS Office (2008 is good enough) and a few 
>utilities. The latest version of Mtn. Lion (10.8.4) is quite stable; 
>earlier versions had problems with sound and Skype, but I prefer 
>iChat (Messages) anyway for working remote screens. Screen output is 
>HDMI and/or DVI. I use both. VGA adaptors also work.\

Which type does my 2007 Mac Pro have. All I know is that I have 
cables to run My Acer H233H monitors off of it.

>
>BTW, SS drives run like a bat-outta-hell. Instant starts and 
>bootups. I also have a MacBook Air for traveling. All SSD. My Mini 
>doesn't have an optical drive, but the add-on drive for my MacAir 
>works with it, and USB or Firewire optical drives are a dime-a-dozen.
>
>I have an older G5 PPC tower, worthless on the 2d hand market, but I 
>use it as a server, for massive backup HDs, and a personal "cloud" 
>with VPN -- works great for that. Also, for the times I need Classic 
>to drive some old SCSI peripherals like my film writer and special 
>scanners, the G5 switches to Classic easily. Since it's a PowerPC, I 
>can run Leopard, Tiger and OS 9 on it.

My older G4 tower's hard disk went --- the repair guy didn't think it 
was worth fixing bur I'm not so sure of that. I have a G3 in the 
closet that I could probably revive if I need classic.

>
>Maureen has a 2011 MacMini running Snow Leopard. I don't recommend 
>upgrading to Mtn Lion -- mine and friend's experiences are that's a 
>disaster, and you really can't go back to Snow Leopard because Mtn 
>Lion burns the ROM.
>
>I just upgraded her machine to a total of 8Gb RAM and a combined 
>750Gb HD/SSD hybrid. Other than breaking a temperature sensor in the 
>process (which oddly enough fixed her optical drive!), it was not 
>hard inserting the new drive and the RAM. I got the broken part via 
>the web for a nominal charge and now the machine runs faster without 
>periodically repairing the catalog munge problem. Nothing like lots 
>of memory and a huge, superfast drive. And since Quicken 2004 still 
>works with Snow Leopard, we didn't need to upgrade. When necessary, 
>I use remote access or screen sharing from my Mini or MacBook to run 
>older programs, either on the G5 PPC or Maureen's Snow Leopard 
>Intel. I have gigabit Ethernet on all the machines. Remote access is 
>completely transparent.

You'll have to show me this some time. Gotta go buy groceries.

>
>Richard
>
>On Jun 23, 2013, at 1:02 PM, Emile Tobenfeld (a.k.a Dr. T) wrote:
>
>>  Hi,
>>
>>  My MacPro (8 proc from 2007) has been spontaneously rebooting 
>>itself whenever i try to do anything on it.  The last time this 
>>happened (September 2012) it cost days of hair-pulling and I 
>>eventually discovered that the problem went away if I put all my 
>>ram in a card connected to the top slot.
>>
>>  I'm told this is a 'could be anything' problem, and my inclination 
>>is to stop throwing good money (and time) after bad and get a new 
>>machine. Lugging a borrowed mac pro  up the stairs makes me think 
>>I'd be better off with a lighter weight machine.
>>
>>  Mike E expressed the opinion that a top of the line mac laptop 
>>would give me the power I'm used to plus the benefits of having a 
>>laptop. I'd have to deal with the migration issues -- in particular 
>>Quicken 2007 ->(presumably) ibank4. I could consider adding one of 
>>the new towers (smaller and presumably lighter) when they come out 
>>if i need more crunching power.
>>
>>  The two main things I do with the machine are developing code for 
>>Boris FX and my own highly personalized video production. I do no 
>>3D modeling (does not fit my aesthetic) so the 3D GL issues that 
>>would concern most of you on these lists are not an issue. (Indeed 
>>almost all my production is still in SD(!) as my VJ mixing gear 
>>only supports SD.
>>
>>  One issue for me is the ability to capture SD footage through 
>>firewire -- I have a lot of PD-100 tapes I'm not ready to throw in 
>>the trash yet.   SD preview through Firewire is likewise desirable.
>>
>>  I look forward to your opinions as I ponder my next moves. I'm 
>>leaning towards getting the most powerful mac laptop around 
>>(haven't yet researched this)
>>
>>  Thanks.
>>
>>  --
>>  -- Emile
>>
>>  If you can walk, you can surely DANCE
>>
>>  My photography can be viewed at 
>>http://www.flickr.com/photos/22231918@N06/collections/72157603627170351/
>>
>>  My videos can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/Tobenfeld
>>
>>
>>


-- 
-- Emile

If you can walk, you can surely DANCE

My photography can be viewed at 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22231918@N06/collections/72157603627170351/

My videos can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/Tobenfeld