“Improving an excellent machine was the happy challenge facing Apple Computer designers as they worked up new versions of the iMac G5 desktop. Against the odds, they have succeeded. Though the changes in the new 17-inch ($1,299) and 20-inch ($1,699) iMacs are relatively small, they help keep it atop the heap as the best consumer desktop around,” Stephen H. Wildstrom writes for BusinessWeek. “The iMac’s operating software, Mac OS X 10.4, better known as Tiger, remains the best and easiest-to-use personal computer operating system, an honor it will retain at least until the next version of Windows ships next fall — and very likely beyond.”
Wildstrom writes, “For Windows users, the Mac interface, while different, is familiar and intuitive enough that learning it poses no great challenges. The main stumbling block will be the need to replace existing software with Mac versions, which are available for nearly all common programs except many games.”
MacDailyNews Take: Just to be perfectly clear: Microsoft has never approached any Mac OS at any time in terms of offering “the best and easiest-to-use personal computer operating system.” In many ways, Mac OS 8 (released July 26, 1997) still surpasses Microsoft’s flagship Windows XP in terms of “ease-of-use.” Looking forward, Apple plans to release Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard right around the release of Microsoft’s stripped-down, ever-slipping Windows Vista, which even Windows’ Stockholm Syndrome sufferers are calling “a train wreck” and “Windows XP SP3” and worse. You want a Mac? Get a Mac. You want a fake Mac that doesn’t work nearly as well? Get a Windows machine. As for the software change: push your software maker to crossgrade your software. You are the customer and the customer is always right. For more, see: Switching from Windows to Mac? Save money by asking to ‘crossgrade’ your software – April 12, 2005
“Front Row is a bit of a gimmick, but as you would expect from Apple, a well-done one. The iMac even includes a hidden magnetic mounting so you can hang the tiny remote on the side of the display when not in use,” Wildstrom writes. “The only serious flaw in the new iMac is that the Power PC-based G5 processor is showing its age.”
MacDailyNews Take: No, it’s not. The G5 is one of the most-advanced processors ever built. Apple’s Power Mac G5 Quad is a massively fast beast. The world’s most cost-effective supercomputing clusters rely on G5 processors in Apple Macs. The G5 is not showing it’s age. That’s a line of B.S. written by someone searching vainly for a flaw because they think they need to include one in their review to appear “fair and balanced.” If you’re going to do that, then please find and use a flaw that actually exists. The iMac G5 is a consumer machine and the processors offered by Apple in the iMac are plenty powerful enough for consumer and even many Pro applications. The G5 is simply not a “serious flaw” for iMac. Period.
Wildstrom continues, “Still, the iMac is fast enough for the most common tasks. This is a computer for home and office use, not heavy-duty video editing or media creation. Provided you don’t need Windows for critical applications, you won’t find anything better — or nearly as good.”
Full article here.
Advertisements: The New iMac G5 – Built-in iSight camera and remote control with Front Row media experience. From $1299. Free shipping.
Apple USB Modem. Easily connect to the Internet using your dial-up service. $49.00.
Related articles:
USA Today: Apple iMac G5 ‘exquisite, handsome, mighty attractive’ – November 17, 2005
Apple’s new iMac G5 a solid all-round performer that also has ‘wow factor’ – November 13, 2005
PC Magazine review gives Apple’s new iMac G5 with Front Row 4.5 out of 5 stars – November 04, 2005
Mac enthusiast Web site offers Front Row, Photo Booth to all Mac users – November 01, 2005
Apple’s brilliant, deceptively simple Front Row software has a bright future and raises questions – October 28, 2005
Apple’s Front Row hits torrent sites, video showing application running on Mac mini – October 25, 2005
NY Times’ Pogue: Apple’s iMac G5 with sleek, virus-free, spyware-free OS earns place in living room – October 20, 2005
Analyst: ‘media companies will call Apple to strike deals, Front Row is Media Center done right’ – October 12, 2005
Apple’s new iMac G5, iTunes 6, iPod video designed to bait Hollywood – October 13, 2005
Apple’s Front Row with Apple Remote and iMac G5: media center done right – October 12, 2005
Apple introduces new thinner iMac G5 with built-in iSight video camera, ‘Front Row’ media experience – October 12, 2005
Switching from Windows to Mac? Save money by asking to ‘crossgrade’ your software – April 12, 2005
Woo!
MDN shouting from the rooftop again. MDN’s diatribe has 374 words. The article contains 864 words. This means that MDN is definitely improving. Now if I could just get all that cotton wool out of my ears…
“That’s a line of B.S. written by someone searching vainly for a flaw because they think they need to include one in their review to appear “fair and balanced.” If you’re going to do that, then please find and use a flaw that actually exists.”
The MDN take is a line of B.S. written by someone searching vainly for a flaw in the review because according to MDN, “fair and balanced” means not including any comments that can possibly be perceived as being at worst neutral towards Apple. Everyone knows that Apple is only capable of good things, so anyone that doesn’t point out every good thing about Apple is obviously full of BS, right MDN?
not surprised anymore,
Your point would have some meaning, except for the minor point that the G5 is not “showing its age” and is certainly not a flaw in the new iMac. MDN is 100% right.
Although, you do have to admit that the prosessor in it is as fast or faster than the majority of consumer windows boxes. If they were looking for something that is showing it’s age it would be the graphics card. Even so for the majority of consumers it is fast enough, but it would have been nice to see an x800 mobility in there. or mabye a GeForce 7800GTX
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People who object to MDN’s takes:
1. Don’t understand this site or how it works.
2. Can’t handle strong views that are stated strongly.
3. Need to STFU and take a hike until they get a clue.
Thank you for reading.
“This is a computer for home and office use, not heavy-duty video editing or media creation.”
This too can be misleading. Someone who is interested in doing “cool” video for themselves or a small business, might think it might be too much for the iMac.
I use these iMac’s with Final Cut all the time with no problem. Blows away the systems I used just 2 years ago. I even use Motion on an iMac and it works acceptably.
Bork,
You seem to not quite comprehend the difference between an opinion and a provable fact. Considering the inability to achieve the speeds that were promised years ago for the G5, I think the author has a valid point. As he mentions later, the speed factor in no way diminishes the iMac’s ability as a consumer desktop. In any case, it’s still his opinion, which I believe is still legal to have. Granted, your opinion may differ, but it’s not fair for MacDailyPropaganda to impugn motives that are probably nowhere near the truth.
MW: Few – Few people here use their own brains to think with.
Umm…MDN…how can you PICTURE yourselves in a world of reality that includes “the G5 is not showing its age” as an accurate statement?
The rebuttal is that dual-dual-core quad processor G5 PowerMacs are fast. Whoopty doo. A cluster node of G4s would probably be even faster. Doesn’t mean the G5 isn’t showing its age. Aven Steve Jobs agrees it is long in the tooth and too slow (never made it to 3.0Ghz production like Jobs said it would by summer before this past summer).
Damn…just accept it. Apple is about to upgrade to the G6. Be chill Honey-Bunny.
I took the authors comment about age to mean that the specific processors on the iMac are showing their age. I did not take it to mean that the G5 processors in general are showing their age. I think the author is looking at long term use of the machine (although he did not state this). I have thought this before. I want a computer to last for a long time when I buy it. I am still using an 800MHz G4 iMac, and will continue to use it for another year or so. I would like to see some processing power on the iMac that will be usable for a while. This is why I’ll be looking more at PowerMacs than iMacs when it comes time to get a new machine.
People who object to Other People’s comments:
1. Don’t understand this site or how it works.
2. Can’t handle strong views that are stated strongly.
3. Need to STFU and take a hike until they get a clue.
Thank you for reading.
This site is a gem. If you don’t see it that way, don’t visit.
Thank you, MDN, for never beating around the bush, not being politically correct, and for calling it as you see it.
I may not always agree (in this case I do agree on all points), but I really do appreciate MDN.
Don’t ever change to appease the weak-minded!
i use an 867 mhz G4 for pro applications. i make my living shooting and editin video and have produced 2 TV shows and even an infomercial with the machine i have. to say that the G5 can handle pro app’s ok is ludicrous. i would give my left nut for a new iMac and hope to get one soon (without my nut being involved).
It’s also not accurate to criticise the G5 for video editing. I’m using my G4 867 to make half hour video’s of holidays and it does the job. Not fast, but still functionable.
I’m sure the iMac is quite nice at doing home movies and that should have been pointed out. As well as iLife and how easy it is to use, still.
these critics are so ….critical., jeesh.
“The main stumbling block will be the need to replace existing software with Mac versions, which are available for nearly all common programs except many games.”
For those of you still wondering why Apple switched to Intel, there is your answer. The strategy is brilliant and is unfolding before our very eyes.
“”The only serious flaw in the new iMac is that the Power PC-based G5 processor is showing its age.”
Which must be exactly the reason that all the game console developers are basing their platforms on the G5.
“Which must be exactly the reason that all the game console developers are basing their platforms on the G5.”
By “all” you mean “one,” right? And the most important computer platform is leaving it, so how exactly does your logic follow?
Jobs was absolutely correct for switching to Intel; not for getting faster processors, but in order to shape the discussion.
Apple does not make processors. Neither do they make graphics cards. Yet all of the above discussion was about hardware Apple doesn’t make.
Its the OS, Stupid.
When Apple makes the switch the only thing left to dicuss will be the OS. It’s the OS that makes a Mac, a Mac. It isn’t the processor, or the graphics card, or the optical drive, etc.
Why MDN’s take is valid: the word “serious” in “serious flaw.” Take out “serious” and I bet the take would have been on the switch to Intel.
I didn’t read the article but I bet Wildstrom skipped the security issue.
“Tiger, remains the best and easiest-to-use personal computer operating system, an honor it will retain at least until the next version of Windows ships next fall — and very likely beyond.”
Word.
“Microsoft has never approached any Mac OS at any time”
Ummm, nope. Windows 95 kicked butt compared to OS 7 (or whatever was out then) OS 7-9 crashed A LOT. Couldn’t minimize windows. Good riddance.
“This is a computer for home and office use, not heavy-duty video editing or media creation”
You’ve got to be kidding me. That is ridiculous. The G5 ROCKS THE HOUSE.
MDN: “The G5 is not showing it’s age.”
Gee…I guess I missed that part about Steve Jobs saying PowerPCs basically suck so that is why we are abandoning the PowerPC ASAP to go to Intel.
If Steve had the choice he would be selling Intels right now on every Apple computer.
The G5 is showing its age and MDN is showing its blind ignorance.
Can´t wait until January to see what Apple has new for us!!!
Agree – Mac OS7-9 totally sucked. Crash, crash, crash.
8 wasn´t so bad, but 9 crash, crash , crash. Freeze, restart, Freeze, restart, Freeze, restart.
MDN, how can a Mac OS be “the best and easiest-to-use personal computer operating system.” if it was crashing all the time???
Crash, crash.crash.
I own Macs and PCs. the Pcs (windows xp) work fine. No problems, no crashes, no viruses, no adware.
The classic Mac OS didn’t crash if you understood how to manage extensions and rebuild the desktop. That said, Mac OS X is infinitely more stable than the classic Mac OS. Windows never was better and easier-to-use than a Mac. Not even close.
What´s cool about MDN adding it nonsensical 2cents is nobody centers on the article anymore, just MDN’s 2 cents.