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#1
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Is the new iMac G5 a good studio computer?
I've been dabbling in home recording of scores for low-budget silent
film DVD releases. So far I've been dealing with the noise of my tower Mac G4's fan by putting the musicians at the other end of the room and using gate filters on every track to cut background noise during silences. I thought about getting a quiet box for the CPU, but those cost a third the price of a newer, faster, quieter computer. I'd been considering the new liquid-cooled dual G5 towers, but the newly announced iMac G5 boasts about its quiet fans, and both processor speed and bus speed are four to six times faster than my current G4. I've got a Firewire 828mkII so I shouldn't need a slot to add an audio card. And the all-in-one iMac will be much more portable than the tower for carrying around to set-up in rooms with better acoustics and better pianos than my home office. It looks to be better as a computer than the laptops, since those still have G4 processors. Is there a down side to the G5 iMac that I'm not seeing? (And no, I'm not trying to start a flame war about Mac/Windows, switching would cost over $8k in software alone...) Rodney Sauer Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra www.mont-alto.com |
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#2
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Liquid-cooled G5 tower is a great computer and I have one in my studio
(dual 2Gigahertz). It is quieter than the G4 tower that it replaced. However, it does have a variable fan ... it is usually pretty quiet but it can get loud, as it spins faster the warmer it gets. If it gets warm in your room you will probably want to put it in an equipment closet or a separate room. Only bummer I can think of is that one of the firewire ports is on the front of the tower. i use Protools and the G4 definitely feels sluggish compared to the G5 ... would be hard to go back -- Jordan |
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#3
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Liquid-cooled G5 tower is a great computer and I have one in my studio
(dual 2Gigahertz). It is quieter than the G4 tower that it replaced. However, it does have a variable fan ... it is usually pretty quiet but it can get loud, as it spins faster the warmer it gets. If it gets warm in your room you will probably want to put it in an equipment closet or a separate room. Only bummer I can think of is that one of the firewire ports is on the front of the tower. i use Protools and the G4 definitely feels sluggish compared to the G5 ... would be hard to go back -- Jordan |
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#4
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On Wed, 8 Sep 2004 20:12:26 -0400, Jordan Leff wrote
(in article ): Liquid-cooled G5 tower is a great computer and I have one in my studio (dual 2Gigahertz). It is quieter than the G4 tower that it replaced. However, it does have a variable fan ... it is usually pretty quiet but it can get loud, as it spins faster the warmer it gets. If it gets warm in your room you will probably want to put it in an equipment closet or a separate room. Only bummer I can think of is that one of the firewire ports is on the front of the tower. i use Protools and the G4 definitely feels sluggish compared to the G5 .. would be hard to go back -- Jordan Dude, The G5 imac. I don't think it's what you're describing. Regards, Ty Ford -- Ty Ford's equipment reviews, audio samples, rates and other audiocentric stuff are at www.tyford.com |
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#5
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On Wed, 8 Sep 2004 20:12:26 -0400, Jordan Leff wrote
(in article ): Liquid-cooled G5 tower is a great computer and I have one in my studio (dual 2Gigahertz). It is quieter than the G4 tower that it replaced. However, it does have a variable fan ... it is usually pretty quiet but it can get loud, as it spins faster the warmer it gets. If it gets warm in your room you will probably want to put it in an equipment closet or a separate room. Only bummer I can think of is that one of the firewire ports is on the front of the tower. i use Protools and the G4 definitely feels sluggish compared to the G5 .. would be hard to go back -- Jordan Dude, The G5 imac. I don't think it's what you're describing. Regards, Ty Ford -- Ty Ford's equipment reviews, audio samples, rates and other audiocentric stuff are at www.tyford.com |
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#6
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#7
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#8
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Rodney Sauer wrote: Is there a down side to the G5 iMac that I'm not seeing? (And no, I'm not trying to start a flame war about Mac/Windows, switching would cost over $8k in software alone...) None that are apparent right now. It _really_ got my attention. It may not be a portable laptop but it is eminently transportable. Anybody know if it can be powered by DC? Bob -- "Things should be described as simply as possible, but no simpler." A. Einstein |
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#9
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Rodney Sauer wrote: Is there a down side to the G5 iMac that I'm not seeing? (And no, I'm not trying to start a flame war about Mac/Windows, switching would cost over $8k in software alone...) None that are apparent right now. It _really_ got my attention. It may not be a portable laptop but it is eminently transportable. Anybody know if it can be powered by DC? Bob -- "Things should be described as simply as possible, but no simpler." A. Einstein |
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#10
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Bob Cain wrote in message ...
Rodney Sauer wrote: Is there a down side to the G5 iMac that I'm not seeing? (And no, I'm not trying to start a flame war about Mac/Windows, switching would cost over $8k in software alone...) None that are apparent right now. It _really_ got my attention. It may not be a portable laptop but it is eminently transportable. Anybody know if it can be powered by DC? It doesn't have a battery, if that's what you mean. I happen to have an electric boat battery and a power inverter, which would presumably power an iMac, but a grounded extension cord is a LOT lighter... if portability were the main factor I'd get a laptop. But 98% of the time it would be sitting on my desk, and the more powerful processor is appealling. And presumably someone will make a carrying case for it. --Rodney |
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#11
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Bob Cain wrote in message ...
Rodney Sauer wrote: Is there a down side to the G5 iMac that I'm not seeing? (And no, I'm not trying to start a flame war about Mac/Windows, switching would cost over $8k in software alone...) None that are apparent right now. It _really_ got my attention. It may not be a portable laptop but it is eminently transportable. Anybody know if it can be powered by DC? It doesn't have a battery, if that's what you mean. I happen to have an electric boat battery and a power inverter, which would presumably power an iMac, but a grounded extension cord is a LOT lighter... if portability were the main factor I'd get a laptop. But 98% of the time it would be sitting on my desk, and the more powerful processor is appealling. And presumably someone will make a carrying case for it. --Rodney |
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#12
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Oh, gotcha, my bad ... I didn't realize there even WAS an Imac G5 ...
but I just went to Apple's website ... and behold there is the new Imac G5. Just called my friend at the local Mac shop here and he says they are about 4-5 weeks from shipping. -- Jordan Dude, The G5 imac. I don't think it's what you're describing. Regards, Ty Ford -- Ty Ford's equipment reviews, audio samples, rates and other audiocentric stuff are at www.tyford.com |
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#13
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Oh, gotcha, my bad ... I didn't realize there even WAS an Imac G5 ...
but I just went to Apple's website ... and behold there is the new Imac G5. Just called my friend at the local Mac shop here and he says they are about 4-5 weeks from shipping. -- Jordan Dude, The G5 imac. I don't think it's what you're describing. Regards, Ty Ford -- Ty Ford's equipment reviews, audio samples, rates and other audiocentric stuff are at www.tyford.com |
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#14
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On Thu, 9 Sep 2004 17:57:48 -0400, Jordan Leff wrote
(in article ) : Oh, gotcha, my bad ... I didn't realize there even WAS an Imac G5 ... but I just went to Apple's website ... and behold there is the new Imac G5. Just called my friend at the local Mac shop here and he says they are about 4-5 weeks from shipping. -- Jordan I just got an apple email about it this week. The pictures I've seen don't show a base. So where's the superdrive and the guts? Ty Ford -- Ty Ford's equipment reviews, audio samples, rates and other audiocentric stuff are at www.tyford.com |
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#15
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On Thu, 9 Sep 2004 17:57:48 -0400, Jordan Leff wrote
(in article ) : Oh, gotcha, my bad ... I didn't realize there even WAS an Imac G5 ... but I just went to Apple's website ... and behold there is the new Imac G5. Just called my friend at the local Mac shop here and he says they are about 4-5 weeks from shipping. -- Jordan I just got an apple email about it this week. The pictures I've seen don't show a base. So where's the superdrive and the guts? Ty Ford -- Ty Ford's equipment reviews, audio samples, rates and other audiocentric stuff are at www.tyford.com |
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#16
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In article ,
Ty Ford wrote: On Thu, 9 Sep 2004 17:57:48 -0400, Jordan Leff wrote (in article ) : Oh, gotcha, my bad ... I didn't realize there even WAS an Imac G5 ... .... I just got an apple email about it this week. The pictures I've seen don't show a base. So where's the superdrive and the guts? http://www.apple.com/imac the whole computer is behind the screen, 2 inches deep total - including Superdrive, loudspeakers etc. There is only a power cord. HTH Marc -- Marc Heusser (remove the obvious: CHEERS and MERICAL...until end to reply via email) |
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#17
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In article ,
Ty Ford wrote: On Thu, 9 Sep 2004 17:57:48 -0400, Jordan Leff wrote (in article ) : Oh, gotcha, my bad ... I didn't realize there even WAS an Imac G5 ... .... I just got an apple email about it this week. The pictures I've seen don't show a base. So where's the superdrive and the guts? http://www.apple.com/imac the whole computer is behind the screen, 2 inches deep total - including Superdrive, loudspeakers etc. There is only a power cord. HTH Marc -- Marc Heusser (remove the obvious: CHEERS and MERICAL...until end to reply via email) |
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#18
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Ty Ford wrote:
Jordan Leff wrote: Oh, gotcha, my bad ... I didn't realize there even WAS an Imac G5 ... but I just went to Apple's website ... and behold there is the new Imac G5. Just called my friend at the local Mac shop here and he says they are about 4-5 weeks from shipping. I just got an apple email about it this week. The pictures I've seen don't show a base. So where's the superdrive and the guts? It's built kind of like a fat laptop turned up on its edge; all the guts are in the little bit of case that also presents the monitor screen. Pics can be had at the Apple sites. -- ha |
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#19
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Ty Ford wrote:
Jordan Leff wrote: Oh, gotcha, my bad ... I didn't realize there even WAS an Imac G5 ... but I just went to Apple's website ... and behold there is the new Imac G5. Just called my friend at the local Mac shop here and he says they are about 4-5 weeks from shipping. I just got an apple email about it this week. The pictures I've seen don't show a base. So where's the superdrive and the guts? It's built kind of like a fat laptop turned up on its edge; all the guts are in the little bit of case that also presents the monitor screen. Pics can be had at the Apple sites. -- ha |
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#20
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Marc Heusser wrote:
http://www.apple.com/imac the whole computer is behind the screen, 2 inches deep total - including Superdrive, loudspeakers etc. There is only a power cord. Yep, no external power supply to mess with. Looks interesting. -- ha |
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#21
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Marc Heusser wrote:
http://www.apple.com/imac the whole computer is behind the screen, 2 inches deep total - including Superdrive, loudspeakers etc. There is only a power cord. Yep, no external power supply to mess with. Looks interesting. -- ha |
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#22
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Marc Heusser alid
wrote: http://www.apple.com/imac the whole computer is behind the screen, 2 inches deep total - including Superdrive, loudspeakers etc. ....and power supply. Yep. Amazing! That computer shows how much Apple is cuting edge compared to the average Wintel box. PC's biggest design change was going from horizontal desktops to vertical towers, back in the early 90s... -- Eric (Dero) Desrochers http://homepage.mac.com/dero72 Hiroshima 45, Tchernobyl 86, Windows 95 |
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#23
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Marc Heusser alid
wrote: http://www.apple.com/imac the whole computer is behind the screen, 2 inches deep total - including Superdrive, loudspeakers etc. ....and power supply. Yep. Amazing! That computer shows how much Apple is cuting edge compared to the average Wintel box. PC's biggest design change was going from horizontal desktops to vertical towers, back in the early 90s... -- Eric (Dero) Desrochers http://homepage.mac.com/dero72 Hiroshima 45, Tchernobyl 86, Windows 95 |
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#24
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The guts of the IMac G5 are all behind the screen. The optical drive
is mounted vertically and ejects out the side. All the connectors are on the back. There are no electronics in the stand. The Apple people told me that there were no fans in it at all. Philip Perkins |
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#25
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The guts of the IMac G5 are all behind the screen. The optical drive
is mounted vertically and ejects out the side. All the connectors are on the back. There are no electronics in the stand. The Apple people told me that there were no fans in it at all. Philip Perkins |
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#26
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Marc Heusser wrote: http://www.apple.com/imac the whole computer is behind the screen, 2 inches deep total - including Superdrive, loudspeakers etc. There is only a power cord. Looks to be from an external adaptor. Hope it's DC. Since I'm mostly invested in PC software for everything I do after recording, which I do remotely with an iBook, I really look forward to the PC equivlent of this in terms of form factor and connectivity. I really don't need the ultraminiaturization required for a laptop and the premium cost associated with that. This form factor is portable enough. If and when anybody sees a PC version, please shout. Bob -- "Things should be described as simply as possible, but no simpler." A. Einstein |
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#27
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Marc Heusser wrote: http://www.apple.com/imac the whole computer is behind the screen, 2 inches deep total - including Superdrive, loudspeakers etc. There is only a power cord. Looks to be from an external adaptor. Hope it's DC. Since I'm mostly invested in PC software for everything I do after recording, which I do remotely with an iBook, I really look forward to the PC equivlent of this in terms of form factor and connectivity. I really don't need the ultraminiaturization required for a laptop and the premium cost associated with that. This form factor is portable enough. If and when anybody sees a PC version, please shout. Bob -- "Things should be described as simply as possible, but no simpler." A. Einstein |
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#28
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hank alrich wrote: Marc Heusser wrote: http://www.apple.com/imac the whole computer is behind the screen, 2 inches deep total - including Superdrive, loudspeakers etc. There is only a power cord. Yep, no external power supply to mess with. Looks interesting. You think it's mains coming in to it? Bob -- "Things should be described as simply as possible, but no simpler." A. Einstein |
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#29
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hank alrich wrote: Marc Heusser wrote: http://www.apple.com/imac the whole computer is behind the screen, 2 inches deep total - including Superdrive, loudspeakers etc. There is only a power cord. Yep, no external power supply to mess with. Looks interesting. You think it's mains coming in to it? Bob -- "Things should be described as simply as possible, but no simpler." A. Einstein |
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#30
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Philip Perkins wrote:
The Apple people told me that there were no fans in it at all. Philip Perkins It have 3 fans, controled dynamically at the OS level. They surely spin at low speed most of the time... -- Eric (Dero) Desrochers http://homepage.mac.com/dero72 Hiroshima 45, Tchernobyl 86, Windows 95 |
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#31
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Philip Perkins wrote:
The Apple people told me that there were no fans in it at all. Philip Perkins It have 3 fans, controled dynamically at the OS level. They surely spin at low speed most of the time... -- Eric (Dero) Desrochers http://homepage.mac.com/dero72 Hiroshima 45, Tchernobyl 86, Windows 95 |
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#32
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Bob Cain wrote:
Since I'm mostly invested in PC software for everything I do after recording, which I do remotely with an iBook, I really look forward to the PC equivlent of this in terms of form factor and connectivity. I really don't need the ultraminiaturization required for a laptop and the premium cost associated with that. This form factor is portable enough. If and when anybody sees a PC version, please shout. Gateway makes a series called the Profile 5 which is not quite as small, but in practice probably takes the same amount of space on the desk (since the iMac G5 requires a stand and sits at an angle): http://products.gateway.com/products...m_id=prf5mxl-d Also, some company I hadn't heard of called MPC makes a thing called the ClientPro All-in-One. It looks even more like an iMac G5: http://www.buympc.com/smallbiz/store...ntpro_aio.html And ENlight, who normally makes cases, makes what looks like either a barebones PC or a combination case and monitor that is a similar form factor: http://us.enlightcorp.com/products/l...cdpc&serial=10 I don't know if any of them have the cool factor that the iMac G5 does, but they are probably pretty close to being as practical. - Logan |
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#33
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Bob Cain wrote:
Since I'm mostly invested in PC software for everything I do after recording, which I do remotely with an iBook, I really look forward to the PC equivlent of this in terms of form factor and connectivity. I really don't need the ultraminiaturization required for a laptop and the premium cost associated with that. This form factor is portable enough. If and when anybody sees a PC version, please shout. Gateway makes a series called the Profile 5 which is not quite as small, but in practice probably takes the same amount of space on the desk (since the iMac G5 requires a stand and sits at an angle): http://products.gateway.com/products...m_id=prf5mxl-d Also, some company I hadn't heard of called MPC makes a thing called the ClientPro All-in-One. It looks even more like an iMac G5: http://www.buympc.com/smallbiz/store...ntpro_aio.html And ENlight, who normally makes cases, makes what looks like either a barebones PC or a combination case and monitor that is a similar form factor: http://us.enlightcorp.com/products/l...cdpc&serial=10 I don't know if any of them have the cool factor that the iMac G5 does, but they are probably pretty close to being as practical. - Logan |
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#34
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That computer shows how much Apple is cuting edge compared to the
average Wintel box. PC's biggest design change was going from horizontal desktops to vertical towers, back in the early 90s... BRBR I'd say that computer demonstrates Apple's commitment to design, but nothing else. I'm an apple user- I have three currently- but I'm constantly annoyed by the omission of features for design reasons- form over fnction if you will. No CDR tray eject button on the front of the towers?... 3 PCI slots?... Lame little speakers (compared to the Dell my brother has) in the Powerbooks... remember the fanless G4 Cube which cooked itself to death in the name of style? I like the way my pro tools systems run on my macs, but I sure wish Steve Jobs would listen to the complaints of his customers and stop acting as though all we care about is how the box looks. Joe Egan EMP Colchester, VT www.eganmedia.com |
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#35
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That computer shows how much Apple is cuting edge compared to the
average Wintel box. PC's biggest design change was going from horizontal desktops to vertical towers, back in the early 90s... BRBR I'd say that computer demonstrates Apple's commitment to design, but nothing else. I'm an apple user- I have three currently- but I'm constantly annoyed by the omission of features for design reasons- form over fnction if you will. No CDR tray eject button on the front of the towers?... 3 PCI slots?... Lame little speakers (compared to the Dell my brother has) in the Powerbooks... remember the fanless G4 Cube which cooked itself to death in the name of style? I like the way my pro tools systems run on my macs, but I sure wish Steve Jobs would listen to the complaints of his customers and stop acting as though all we care about is how the box looks. Joe Egan EMP Colchester, VT www.eganmedia.com |
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#37
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In article ,
(hank alrich) wrote: It's built kind of like a fat laptop turned up on its edge; all the guts are in the little bit of case that also presents the monitor screen. Pics can be had at the Apple sites. Imagine this thing rack mounted in one of those flip-up mixer racks. It just would need an external rack DVD/CD drive and a keyboard drawer. Could be cool. -- your know the routine - remove nyetspam Rhythm City - Chicago's Premier Rhythm and Blues - http://www.rhythm-city.com |
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#38
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On Thu, 9 Sep 2004 22:26:53 -0400, Philip Perkins wrote
(in article ) : The guts of the IMac G5 are all behind the screen. The optical drive is mounted vertically and ejects out the side. All the connectors are on the back. There are no electronics in the stand. The Apple people told me that there were no fans in it at all. Philip Perkins Hmm, internal power supply. How's that going to work for S/N if it's used for audio? Apple already took a hit for how poorly they implemented the power supply in the G5 tower (one of which I own). Regards, Ty Ford -- Ty Ford's equipment reviews, audio samples, rates and other audiocentric stuff are at www.tyford.com |
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#39
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On Thu, 9 Sep 2004 22:26:53 -0400, Philip Perkins wrote
(in article ) : The guts of the IMac G5 are all behind the screen. The optical drive is mounted vertically and ejects out the side. All the connectors are on the back. There are no electronics in the stand. The Apple people told me that there were no fans in it at all. Philip Perkins Hmm, internal power supply. How's that going to work for S/N if it's used for audio? Apple already took a hit for how poorly they implemented the power supply in the G5 tower (one of which I own). Regards, Ty Ford -- Ty Ford's equipment reviews, audio samples, rates and other audiocentric stuff are at www.tyford.com |
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#40
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