|
|
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
|
|
