Apple Power Mac Desktop M8841LL/A (1.42-GHz DP PowerPC G4, 512 MB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive, DVD-RW/CD-RW Drive)

We recently upgraded our computer network at the Indiana Literacy Foundation, and the G4 server is at the heart of it. Now, of course for comparison, you have to realise that this is the first upgrade in years, and our old server was a PowerMac 6100. Fast in its day, that day is a distant memory.

We are so happy with the G4. We run a 4D database system that once took an incredible amount of time to process (we would literally click a request and then go get coffee, and it might be done when we returned). Now, it is appears almost instantaneous. Productivity has skyrocketed (and will be much better when I've debugged the 4D upgrade).

Beyond the speed, there are a few features I must comment upon as being above-and-beyond in the G4 server design. I like the fact that it has two power supplies -- if one fails, the other will keep going so that we can arrange downtime at our convenience, and not at the whims of gremlins in the machine. Also, it has a unique fold-down design that makes adding, swapping and repairing things inside a snap. Just unplug the back, lift up the latch, and it's open (no screws to lose inside the machine, no difficult snap-apart manipulations required). There is a security lack that can be padlocked or otherwise secured to make sure the that the internal pieces are safe from unwarranted removal.

We have a small LAN, consisting of the server, 6 other Mac computers, and two printers. This server is serving us well.

It is a very expensive computer, and you should only get it if you know what you're getting into. But I'd wait until they come out with their new OS, codename panther before I got a new mac. By then, I'm sure they'll have a better computer along to go with their new OS. Panther will hopefully come out sometime this year, I think I heard October.

I guess all technology is that way though. The second you buy it, it gets old, and the thing you got is cheaper. So beware that if you're getting this because it's the top of the line, well it isn't going to stay that way for long, and I'd personally wait until they come with their new chips.

Now let me first tell you that I am not new to MAC but I have been involved in the PC world since 1983 and never had much to do with the MACs until I found a 233 iMac cheap and bought it for a toy. Well it became the center of my attention and I soon bought a Powerbook G4 Titanium 400. Sweet machine as well but we are here to discuss the 1.42 PowerMac Dual G4 Processors.

The case is heavy, 50 pounds heavy but made very well and has easy access for making upgrades or simple maintenance. I installed another optical drive and another hard drive. The machine has 2 ATA 33 ports, 2 ATA 66 ports, 2 ATA 100 ports and room for 2 Optical drives, 2 hard drives in the back near the ATA 100 and 2 drives up front near the ATA 66 ports. It has 4 OPEN PCI slots. These are restricted to 33 Mhz but it increases the possibilities of upgrading to a new level. The Memory is easily upgraded as I dropped in another 512 meg and there is room for 2 more 512 megs for a total of 2 gigs of RAM.
The machine is faster than the 400 G4 that I had been using to render my movies and photos with. So much faster that I no longer have time to go and fix my lunch. I find myself spending more time on the computer than normal but I am being more productive with my time and may actually get ahead of myself and have nothing to do but watch a movie on the Mac while playing around on the net.
Virtual PC now runs Windows 98 about as fast as a 400 or 500 Mhz PC and it is quite nice to have for that software that you have had for 10 years and just can't part with.
Only problem I have with the machine is that my wife and 9 year old are taking it over as she is involved in scrapbooking and photography while he just loves the cinematic features in Warcraft III on the 19" Cornea DVI LCD. I told him Warcraft will run on the PC but he says it is not as much fun on the PC as it crashes some times and the graphics are not as good.
If you get this computer, then get the big screen. You will not be disappointed. One thing I noticed while at the Apple store, the screens look so small in the big rooms and counters they have them displayed on, but when you get them home they are huge and beautiful.
Do I love my new Mac? Yes..