PC Life Span. What comes next?

HaroldC wrote on 3/30/2007, 5:18 PM

I got my system about five years ago. At that time it was pretty much top of the line as to hardware; a 2.66 P4 CPU, 512 MB RAM, 120 GB of harddrive. Since then it has served me very well. I've done a couple of hardware upgrades. Added more RAM, another harddrive, added more firewire and usb ports. But I have to be realistic about the computer. It is nearing the end of its life span.

I've been thinking of getting another system. The choice is going back with a PC but building it from scratch. Making it so that it has plenty of room for upgrades and expansion. I am leaning to going back with XP. Presently there seems to be to many problems of compatibility with Vista. I would likely use the OEM version of XP on the current computer then remove it from the current computer.

But to tell the truth I'm also thinking seriously about going with a Mac. One of the big Mac's with a pair of dual core Xenon processors. Though there are some security concerns with Macs, they are very slight compared to PC's. The Mac is also generally considered to just have a better OS. Though I have no personal experience with it. Then I would have a PC and Mac. That is until the PC gives up the ghost.

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 3/30/2007, 6:44 PM

If you're going to run Vegas on it then you will be using Boot Camp and running Windows XP on your Mac, so it will still be a PC anyway.

Better OS? Technically maybe. But from my point of view they both "just plain work" so it doesn't matter. I look at the UI and when i look at a Mac i see a nightmare of bizarre things conspiring to make every activity as incoherent and arcane as possible. I look at Windows and see simple, plain functionality. *shrug* my personal opinion, i'm sure. It just baffles me that Mac users go through so much more toil and effort to accomplish the same tasks, and seem bizarrely happy about it too.

But, if you're running Vegas on a Mac then you'll be using Windows anyway, so it's kinda moot.

HaroldC wrote on 3/31/2007, 4:43 PM

Certainly I've gotten good performance with my pc. Though I don't have any experience with a Mac, I have not been particularly frustrated either. I have not pressed the limits of either the hardware or the software. As to building a pc does anyone have any advice. There are some parts which I may or may not be able to salvage from my current system. My system uses EIDE HD. I would probably bite the bullet and use SATA internal drives. The biggest expense would be the processor. Does anyone have any advice as to processors? My computer is used primarily for internet and video. At this point I can't really afford to have a system devoted solely for video work.

Harold

Chienworks wrote on 3/31/2007, 7:30 PM

Try to use as few pieces from your current PC as possible. That way you should be able to end up with two completely functional units. Keep using the old one for internet access and the new one just for editing.

My old one sits in the corner doing animation work pretty much 24/7. After i built my new PC i only had to buy another DVD cheap burner to put in the old one. As it turned out, i tend to do my internet work pretty much only with my laptop.