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Yes, but what about the rest of the suite. Is $79 too expensive for everything but Learn to Play?

I wouldn't class this as a major incentive. An annoyance, yes.

Feb 03, 09 - 05:49 pm Comment from: NeverFade

I own a G5 - got it the first day they came out.

It's a powerhouse, that has been running great since I first turned it on. I really wish that the software coming out nowdays would still support the older architecture, because I have no intention of getting a new mac.

Feb 03, 09 - 05:54 pm Comment from: Randian

As usual, the best advice in this case is: Don't buy it. It's just that simple. Vote with your feet and stay away from the suite in droves (to paraphrase Yogi Berra).

But don't bitch about it. Please. It won't do any good at all . . . other than fill space on websites such as these, of course. The world is filled with 'way too much of:

It's too cold in here. It's too hot in here. It's too in-between in here. It's too expensive. It's too cheap. It's too shiny. It's not shiny enough. It's too hard. It's too easy. It's too noisy. It's too quiet. It's too new. It's too old. Ad nauseam, ad infinitum.

Peace, brother. Serenity now. Let the calm enfold you.

This is the same thing we went through with the 68000 to PowerPC change. Or Classic to OS X. Progress often requires the shedding of old skin. That's just life.

I don't think iWeb works on PPC either

It's funny that Apple says that because if you go to
"/Library/Application Support/GarageBand/Learn to Play", and open a lesson (Just browse the folders), it will work on PPC.

BUT, they should provide support out of the box, and not expect users to have to buy a new machine to enjoy extra features. (Or go to weird directories inside your machine ^_^)

Feb 03, 09 - 06:03 pm Comment from: DLMeyer

Come ON, guys. Do you still believe iLife is a product designed to make it super-simple to do amazing things? Oh, sure, it DOES do that ... but that isn't what it was designed for! It was designed to sell Macs. AND, of course, the upgraded software Apple makes the Big Bucks off. You buy iLife because you want to see if you can make great music, or movies, or keep track of your slightly-edited photos. Maybe one in a million prove that they can. More than that, though, move on to Logic, or Final Cut, or Aperture, while many just keep trying. iLife is designed to sell day-dreams. And new Macs.

i have all and buy software for which machine needs it some feature are, I must have, some are well never mind would prob never use if u can keep up with the joneses and wish to then do so if not run what u need n what u want its simple,
Even get use out of old se for hypercard .... whats that i hear some ask thats another era but i don't see what the fuss is just have fun trying to do what u wont with what u got u never know u might surprise yourself

Feb 03, 09 - 06:20 pm Comment from: jocknerd

@Neverfade,

I, too, am the owner of a G5. I do have plans to get a new Mac. However, it seems Apple doesn't want me to. If they did, I would think they would have new desktops. However, they haven't upgraded any desktop machines in nearly one year.

Maybe I should build my own PC and install OS X.

System Requirements

Mac OS X v10.5.6 Leopard or later
Mac computer with an Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor.; iMovie requires an Intel-based Mac, Power Mac G5 (dual 2.0GHz or faster), or iMac G5 (1.9GHz or faster); GarageBand Learn to Play requires an Intel-based Mac with a dual-core processor or better.
512MB of RAM; 1GB recommended. High-definition video requires at least 1GB of RAM.
Approximately 4GB of available disk space.
DVD drive required for installation.
QuickTime 7.5.5 or later (included).
AVCHD video requires a Mac with an Intel-based Core Duo processor or better. Visit iMovie ’09 Camcorder Support for details on digital video device and format support.

Kinda like microsoft doing the same with vista. Newer machines only. Now apple is doing same. Lol

exactly the reason Im returning mine to the store where i bought it. Luckily found out before I opened the box.

Feb 03, 09 - 06:43 pm Comment from: Jubei

If you have the cash, move up to the new Macs. The processor difference between the PPC and INTEL is like night and day. I love the PPC days, but its time to move on.

Feb 03, 09 - 06:59 pm Comment from: CYxodus

@random mac dimwit

Most people go by their first and last name. In your case that would be random dimwit.

Stop whining about dropping Power PC support.
Technology has to move forward.
I still use a G4 based Mac, and I know I have to upgrade soon, because it is showint its age!

This whole PPC ==> Intel thing is very similar to the switch to digital TV. Sometimes you just have to move forward and realize that not everyone is going to upgrade. Some people love the way it was and want/need to hold on to that. But for the vast majority of the people, it's onward and upward. I think Apple has done a great job with the switch and we all knew that the end of their support for PPC had to come sometime. Consumers have known about this whole digital TV switch for quite some time, and for those that are crying foul now b/e they waited till the end to get a coupon, i have no sympathy for because it's been out there for quite some time. Plus, it's not like having a computer or watching TV is a given right or need, they're still technically luxuries.

Your G5 is probably great, and it "would" run probably serveral year still, but that won't be your issue.

What will become your issue is when the next round of FCP Studio, iLife, iWork and other 3rd party SW launches as Intel-only.

Eventually, unless you want to use SW and specific program file formats that are no longer compatible with the new Intel-only SW, you will need to upgrade your system.

Now-a-Days it is now the HW that is becoming too slow or unreliable, it's the storage space issue, and most importantly, SW that does not hold to old HW standards.

@Passerby,

Amen.

I certainly did not look at the requirements of "Learn to Play" before I decided that the suite is one to get.

Feb 03, 09 - 08:14 pm Comment from: Frank

Meh, so I miss out on piano/guitar lessons and cannot import AVCHD with my 2.0 DP G5. The rest of the suite works very well and trumps the negatives. My G5 can go on for couple more years.

Feb 03, 09 - 08:42 pm Comment from: ElderNorm

@jocknerd,
"Maybe I should build my own PC and install OS X."

ER..... maybe..... you should build your own Mac and install OSX. ???? Just a thought.

en

@intel n powerpc n pre powerpc 68030

You are an idiot. Did you even read what you wrote? Chances are that because of the grammar, nobody else did either.

Feb 03, 09 - 09:02 pm Comment from: Brau

I bought the last of the G5s (Quad 2.5GHZ) and I don't mind new features being available on new hardware only *IF* the reason is solely hardware based and those limitations are CLEARLY INDICATED. What burns my butt is when Apple drops support or features simply out of lack of will to implement them and then doesn't disclose.

Why is GarageBand still a Universal Application if it only runs on the Intel based Macs?

Is Apple losing focus, and forgetting open standards, device independence, top-down design, etc. to get to market quicker to meet market expectations, etc.? You went to UNIX for a reason, please maintain the paradigm, and don't fall off the wagon like DOS did...

Is Apple falling prey to how various hardware architectures require supporting hardware, business bases, special interests, etc. and leaning more towards a "more supported hardware base?" - Intel - versus its original altruistic standard; elegance?

I've heard that the latest PPC designs can smoke any Intel hardware architecture. Stay tuned...

Go Apple!

Bill

Feb 03, 09 - 10:17 pm Comment from: hardmanb

I have a G4 iMac purchased in Sept of 2002, and have been waiting over a year for the new refresh of the iMac, which should be announced in March to June of this year. I'm running OS X 10.4.11, as newer systems require more than 800mhz.

It's been a great machine for 6 1/2 years, finishing out my law practice and into my retirement. No problems and no expense. I figure that's about as good a computer experience as you can get.

But I'm really looking forward to a new 24" desktop that will run Snow Leopard and be another good experience for the next five years or so. Since the G4 just won't stop, it will go to my wife, as all she does is email and web surfing. Then we can junk her three year old Dell, which is virus-plagued and has been to the consultant's at least once a year. I've had Macs since the 128k in 1984, including the first Powerbook 100...and they never stop...they just get eventually retired in favor of better and more powerful new toys. Hopefully with the new iMac, I will be able to better coordinate my conversion to a digital lifestyle.

God bless Apple, and best wishes for Steve.

Feb 03, 09 - 10:39 pm Comment from: bjh

Most of you folks miss the point.

It's all very well to say that the purpose of iLife is to sell Macs. Or not to buy it if you don't have an intel Mac. That's fine and dandy. But what is not acceptable is that APPLE DID NOT SAY that 'Learn to Play' is Intel only. I bought it on the day it was released, only to realize that it wouldn't work on my Dual 2.0 G5, which still is an excellent machine.

Apple, did you ever hear of Truth in Advertising ?

Feb 03, 09 - 11:15 pm Comment from: Dialtone

>I don't think iWeb works on PPC either

iWeb works fine on a PPC. We use it every day on one of the early G5 iMacs.

MacSpeech Dictate however only works on Intel

Feb 03, 09 - 11:16 pm Comment from: Cubert

By the requirements, it seems that you can use Garageband on a PPC but just not the Learn to Play feature (although see "edoreld's" post above). I can also do without iMovie as I don't have a video camera and you can do photo slideshows in iPhoto. iWeb I need and I don't see a Intel only requirement for that. As long as iWeb and iPhoto will work on my G4, I'm happy.

And the reason for me not upgrading my G4 - $$$

Feb 04, 09 - 04:47 am Comment from: CourtJester

Older equipment always gets left behind. It inevitable. Its part of modern life. Its pointless moaning.

I am annoyed my HiFi CD player will not play BlueRay disks. I am very disappointed that my 4 year old camcorder will not work in AVCHD mode and insists on still on DV tape. I hate the fact that my old eMac wont connect to my WiFi network unless I buy an Airport card or a third party dongle.

And my old 1951 Matchless motorcycle still requires me to use the kick-start, even though I bought a new battery only last month.

Feb 04, 09 - 08:36 am Comment from: DanielM

@jocknerd re

"I, too, am the owner of a G5. I do have plans to get a new Mac. However, it seems Apple doesn't want me to. If they did, I would think they would have new desktops. However, they haven't upgraded any desktop machines in nearly one year.

Maybe I should build my own PC and install OS X."

Right now and for the past couple of years, Apple has introduced a dozen or so Macs that would blow your G5 out of the water. What are you waiting for? Oh, but they haven't upgraded any DT's in nearly a year. Bull.

How about the Mac Pro Quads? Still haven't nearly reached their potential. But hey, you are smarter than anybody else. After all, you are one of the few people that can build their own PC and install OS X. So what the Fk are you complain complaining about.

Or are you one of those who expect that your 1983 TV should be upgraded free of charge so that you can receive HD or the shoes you are wearing should be resoled every year for the same price?

Feb 04, 09 - 08:45 am Comment from: jocknerd

@DanielM,

How about the Mac Pro Quads? They are over 1 year old. Why would I pay $3000 for a 1 year old Mac? Sorry. Show me some new ones. Besides, I've bought two laptops in the last three years. Both are Intel based. But I won't buy any machine that hasn't been upgraded in a year. Apple needs to decide if its in the hardware business or not. If it is, then release some damn desktop hardware. Otherwise, license your OS to other companies who will release some desktop machines.

Feb 04, 09 - 10:03 am Comment from: bjh

@CourtJester
You missed the point. Of course Apple can release software that doesn't run on older machines. But they should tell you that !
That's my main beef.

Of course, one can also argue that they shouldn't support older machines. Well, that's fine - to a point. What message does it send to purchasers of new equipment ? "Buy our new Macs because we'll sell new software that runs on them. For four years".

And then there's the simple economics question. By not supporting G5's, they are simply ignoring a significant segment of their existing customer base. Seems pretty stupid to me, really. Unless you believe that GarageBand is sufficient to make someone pony up for a new (but outdated) Intel Mac Pro.

@bjh
Are the system requirements not on the box? They are on the Apple Store. They are saying some features will not work w/o an intel processor.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB966?mco=MzA3MDc5Mg

Mac computer with an Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor.; iMovie requires an Intel-based Mac, Power Mac G5 (dual 2.0GHz or faster), or iMac G5 (1.9GHz or faster); GarageBand Learn to Play requires an Intel-based Mac with a dual-core processor or better.

@Ha
You have it backwards. Microsoft tries to support all the hardware it has ever made and overextends itself. Technology marches on.

"This whole PPC ==> Intel thing is very similar to the switch to digital TV."

No it isn't. Analog TV was around for more than sixty — count 'em, 60!) years.

The FCC dumped CBS color TV for NBC color TV after having accepted it as the new standard, because NBC's was compatible with black and white broadcasts but CBS's wasn't.

The switch to this form digital TV, not compatible with analog broadcasts, is as wrong as Apple dumping its PowerPC customers.

The common denomimator is greed, TV by the government's frequency auction, Apple by reselling everything it markets yet again.

Though I love Macs as much as anybody else, I feel that Intel Macs are not as reliable as their PowerPC kin, so I may have to find an exit strategy from the platform if Apple drops PowerPC support entirely.

Amiga, here I come

Feb 04, 09 - 01:19 pm Comment from: Asmodeus

@edoreld- hey, you're right... the lessons run on a G4 (mine is a 1.8ghz Sonnet-upgraded), if a little stuttery (is that a word?).

@Asmodeus

Yeah, I think they go a little bit slower (By the way sluttery exists, just checked google ),but it's better than not having them at all ^_^

Weird though

Feb 04, 09 - 02:37 pm Comment from: DanielM

Re system requirements:

And as posted here:
http://www.apple.com/ilife/systemrequirements.html

Feb 04, 09 - 05:42 pm Comment from: AlanAudio

When GarageBand was first launched, the system requirements were such that only a relatively recent ( at that time ) Mac was able to run it. It's a very demanding application and needs quite a meaty computer.

The new version also needs a recent Mac. Nothing has changed. GarageBand still requires a reasonably powerful Mac.

Feb 04, 09 - 10:24 pm Comment from: rccoffee

I just bought another Mac and the first thing that I did was remove Garage Band, i-Web, I-Movie and i-DVD. The only thing I kept was i-Photo and I don't use it. I am going to try Picasa for Mac and see if it is better.

I don't want my photos kept by Events but from whom I received the photos. The store wanted me to buy the new version of .Mac and kept going down in price but I wouldn't take it if it was free.