The new Mac Mini Intel Duo
 

Apple seems to be ahead of schedule on the Intel switch, although one of the Minis has the Intel Solo. I've had to research this recently because the wife is planning a new Mac purchase. It has become abundantly clear that she needs a high-HP machine for home use. She's been surviving with an older PowerBook at home and uses a G5 Power Mac at work.

The problem has been that she can't decide whether she should wait for the Power Mac G5 to get the Intel Duo Core or should she just get a PowerPC Power Mac G5 now? The usual thinking would be to wait and get the latest and greatest but she is running Adobe software that is running slow on the Intel machines because the programs are written for the PowerPC's. The word is that Adobe won't be releasing the updated versions for Intel for another 18 to 24 months. She needs something soon.

Any opinions on whether to wait or stick with the current Power Mac G5, which is a dual core processor anyway. It seems to me that the Intel Duo Core is mostly intended to get the rest of the Mac line up to par with the current Power Mac G5 dual-core. We're kind of stumped on this one. :dunno:

mac mini
 

I picked up the new dual core mini today at the local apple store. For it's intended purpose I think it will work just fine. If I needed serious power for Adobe products and needed a computer today I think I'd have to lean towards the G5. The G5 will serve her well for a long enough. Apple has too many PowerMAC machines out there to drop software support for them anytime soon.

:iagree: I agree.

Thanks guys. The wife is stressing about it because she's afraid to buy the current Power Mac G5 and then be left out in the wind when the Intel revolution is completed. You are right in that Adobe will still write for both.

If you want serious power, you should seriously consider a dual-core PC.

The Pemtium D 800 and 900 series are solid chips. You could also go the AMd route with their X2 series. Those things have an onboard memory controllers. That allows them to keep up with the Intel offerings despite still using only DDR1 memory.

but the smoothness of an apple can;t be compared to a windows pc. it just works more intuitive. And speed..... i can wait for those 4 extra seconds :)

She's a Mac person and is pretty much committed to it. That's what works best in her world and the standard in the design world. It's going to be a Mac but I'm a PC guy so.... :D My Intel P4 3.0 (800) is still running great.