I recently received a lightly use Mac G5 from winning a drawing at my school, ITT Tech. It is a 2004 model with OS X 10.4 and comes with a single 1.8 Ghz processor, 1 GB of RAM, and a 80 GB hard drive. Although it is not one of the more powerful models it still runs very well. It also came with several expensive programs such as Photoshop CS2 and Final Cut Express HD.
(I realize that OS X 10.4 is out of date, I believe I only address parts of OS X that are in the new version as well, correct me if I am wrong. I am not trying to review an out of date system and call it current)
This is my first time using OS X outside of using it in an Apple Store. So far I like OS X, it is a very stable system, much better than anything from Microsoft. At first I found the interface kind of clunky. The part that seemed the hardest to get used to was having the menu bar detached from the windows. I may have a window open at the bottom of the screen and have to go all the way to the top of the screen to access a control. I still find this kind of a pain for any window that is not full screen although it does streamline the system.
Another thing that I do not like about OS X is how locked down it is to customization and some features that I would just expect it to have. I do not get why there is no way to change the cursor built in. I have found some programs that will allow me to do this, but I would have to pay for them. I would really like to change the cursor so if anyone knows how to do this for free please, leave a comment on how to do it.
As a Linux user I am used to being able to customize just about anything to the way I like it and to also be able to find a good program for free just by searching in the package manager. I do not like having to search all around the web trying to find one simple program. Also the support on forums that I find on average does not seem to be very friendly, even hostile, and a lot of the times not helpful. I find that most of the time when I have a Linux problem I find real help from people that know what they are doing, or at least are trying to help, with the occasional person that just wants to start a fight.
As far as the hardware Mac G5, it is well designed and I can tell it is high quality. However there are some things that do not seem well thought out. One of these is the length of the cable on the keyboard and the mouse. It is not long enough unless you have the tower next to the keyboard. I do not have enough space on my desk for this because I already have one desktop computer and a 19 inch widescreen lcd and a 17 inch lcd. The cable is short on the mouse also, but it can be plugged into the usb ports on the keyboard so it works fine. The mouse also has only one button this requires me to control+click if I need to right click. It also does not have a scroll wheel. I believe however that the later versions do not have the single button and now have a scroll wheel.
So in conclusion the Mac G5 is a good computer except for some of the complaints I have. What Apple needs to do to make a even better computer is to unlock the operating system so that it can be customized more and I think that they should ad a package manager, sort of like the app store for the Iphone, as long as it has free software in addition to paid software.
Just to address one of your complaints:
All Apple-branded monitors since the G5 was released have included built-in USB hubs. The keyboard cable is designed to run from the keyboard to the monitor, not to the tower itself. (The mouse is designed, as you realize, to plug into either the left or right side of the keyboard.)
If I remember correctly from when I purchased my G5, Apple did include a USB extension cable in the box for users who needed to plug the keyboard directly into the tower. Since you’re getting this computer second hand, it’s doubtful that the extension cable is still with it, however, I’m pretty sure it was a pack-in originally.
Enjoy your G5.
I recommend learning more about the OS before posting that it doesn’t have this or that. There are some good books out there to read (MacBible, Missing Manual Series etc.) – also plenty of sites to checkout … Macsurfer links to websites/articles which may be of interest in your journey of discovery.
Generally I find the quality of free programs for the Mac to be excellent – versiontracker or macupdate have heaps of stuff to check out.
Remember, it’s just different than what you’re used to … from a historical perspective, Apple designed the GUI with specific criteria in mind … Do some research and you’ll begin to appreciate it for what it is, not be frustrated by what it’s not.
Anyway, good luck and welcome.
The following are excellent resources if you do not have the dough to buy a book.
Macosxhints.com
xlr8yourmac.com
http://www.opensourcemac.org/
http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/
Congratulations on winning a nice prize. Happily, most of your complaints are trivial.
For just a few bucks, a USB extension cord will solve the short keyboard cord problem. If you don’t like Apple’s mouse, you can use just about any third-party mouse.
The menubar at the top just takes a little getting used to. I have 21″ monitor and have increased my mouse sensitivity so that a quick flick of the wrist instantly moves the cursor to the top of the screen. The Mac provides “acceleration” so when you move the mouse rapidly, the cursor actually moves further for a given displacement. Making menu selections should be a snap because you can’t overshoot the menubar.
You don’t have to search the whole web for Mac Applications. One site will do. I user http://www.versiontracker.com. Or you may prefer http://www.macupdate.com.
I admit that Apple doesn’t provide many hooks for customization, but I guess that’s the tradeoff for insuring a consistent experience. While you can’t replace the cursor, you can adjust its size via the Mouse and Trackpad panel of the Universal Access system preference.
Lest you think I’m a complete Apple apologist, I too have my pet peeves. For example I find that often the dock gets in my way no matter where I position it. And there is no way to hide the dock so it won’t automatically pop out when I inadvertently brush up against the screen edge.
But for every annoyance, I find 10 delightful things that make me glad I use a Mac.
The menu bar at the top is the more correct user interface. Why? Because edges are “infinitely wide”, that is you can push the mouse far and yet the cursor will stay at the target. That’s why Mac OS X’s Dock or Windows’s Start bar at the bottom of the screen is very valuable. Similarly, Mac OS X’s menu bar at the top works better than trying to place your cursor on a what, 20-pixel wide?, menu at the top of a window.
You cannot judge a method based on what you are trained to use first, but rather on whether the method makes sense for someone new to using any computer. I have an older sister who never used a computer and I am teaching her to use her Windows PC. She constantly missed the target because she’s not used to the eye-hand coordination yet. It’s easier on my Mac since she can just push the mouse far up and hit the menu target.
So the Mac is not perfect. Don’t worry about it. And just ignore the fanbois; they can’t help themselves. You do know that Mac does Unix. You can even set up an X desktop and install programs using a package manager.
Have a look at the fink project or macports if you wanna go more like Linux. If you would like a good read on the ins and outs of the Mac try rixstep. Rixstep make some fantastic tools for the Mac and a lot of them are free. They also like to criticise Apple for their shortcomings.
Why not dual boot OS X and Linux? You could even install Linux to an external disk and run through the G5. OS X has lots of ways of changing things. Finding them is part of the fun. You can make changes from Terminal using the command line or by editing preference files. If you can get a free utility to do something chances are it is just using some hidden setting. Find that setting and change it yourself.
While others have pointed out the keyboard USB port and the ports found on Apple monitors, the G5 came with a USB extension cable which from the sounds of things was not included when it was given to you. It’s provided specifically when you do not use an Apple monitor.
Over time you’ll learn the web sites and available resources time and experience will fix most of the issues you listed.
Just keep in mind that OS X is NOT Linux and not meant to be! It’s closed by design in a number of areas, unless you have the right tools and knowledge, so that it’s constant and easy to use once you learn it. I would love it to be more customizable but you and I are not typical users.
Enjoy!
First, let me begin by saying… Welcome to Macintosh! My experiences with Mac users are opposite yours, that I’ve found a vibrant and helpful community since first buying into the platform back in 1989. I have seen in recent years, however, more hostile Mac users in some areas on the internet; but mostly from those new to the platform. Old timers are generally more than happy to spread the gospel that is Macintosh.
Regarding the menu bar at the top, over time I think you will find this makes far more sense. A key concept behind the Mac OS is consistency. When controls are located in the same place, it quickly becomes second nature how to operate an application. For example, you can readily tell which application is in the foreground simply by looking at the menu bar; not to mention that many menus and corresponding commands are the same for every application. Note that most menu commands have a corresponding keystroke, and you can use a utility such as QuicKeys to configure a keystroke for those that do not. I rarely access a menu command using the mouse.
Also, know that a long time Mac user tends to have many windows of many apps open at once at various sizes, thus it saves valuable display space having but one menu. (WindowShade is a handy utility to peek under a window. I use it as often as Exposé.)
With the advent of Mac OS X, it is stunning how much power lies under the hood of all its spit and polish. Though Apple tends to make many decisions for you and hide any underlying complexity, most things can be customized though hidden (undocumented) preferences or by using a *nix utility. IMHO, it is by far the best mix of simplicity and power available for any computing platform, having something to offer both newbies and power users alike. Read Mac related books voraciously and don’t be afraid to experiment. But, when all else fails, search the internet — with a little digging, most likely you’ll find a solution.
I highly recommend that you purchase OS X 10.5 (Leopard) and apply the free updates to bring it up to OSX 10.5.5
Very much worth it! Any review should be of a current operating system. I wouldn’t review a 4-5 year old PC with Windows 2000 and call it a review of the Windows experience.
But I will say welcome to make. You will find many of the experiences different but you will see the difference in about 6 months after you have had no system crashes running it 24/7 and no virus of file loss. I haven’t lost a single file or had a virus since my first Mac in 1991 (Quadra 660 AV)
The previous posters are correct regards the ‘extension’ USB cable provided with the G5. Im using mine at home to connect the keyboard to the tower, which is on the floor by the desk. Any old USB extension cable should work fine, as well as any old USB mouse. I presently have a MS wireless mouse plugged into mine, working fine (all 3 buttons, scroll etc, actually works better without the MS drivers installed).
Having had a reasonable Linux background myself (ie starting with Debian Hamm / Slink, RH4, Gentoo pre-v1, and newer etc) I found one of the NICEST things about OS X is that it STOPPED me playing with things like cursors, customised desktops, and continuously installing latest dev releases of KDE etc etc. I started actually using my home computers to actually do and create things, not just continually fiddling with the OS. Fun in its own right, but not particularly productive.
Being able to literally just plug in my Deskjet and hit the print button and have it work (perfectly) was kinda nice. No hunting the net for the latest NVIDIA drivers and hoping they wouldnt b0rk the system this time around. No frying monitors due to getting the vsync wrong in the xconfig. No having to recompile the kernel AGAIN because I forgot some obscure flag to enable my xyz piece of hardware.
Plus I didnt have to maintain dual-boot with Windows, just so the missus could use the thing. The Mac turned her from a computer-hater to someone who actively chased ME out the door to go buy a MacBook Pro recently.
Some of the links people have provided are good for s/w starting points. Fink is supposedly quite nice for X stuff, but to be honest, I usually find the best way to exist in a specific computing environment is to immerse yourself into it, and its way of thinking, rather than trying to hold onto past practises, habits, and thought patterns. Thats the only way you really figure out which works best for you and your purposes.
Enjoy and good luck.
RobInNZ
PS. I realise that a lot of my Linux comments are ‘old-hat’ and that Ubuntu and ilk are somewhat more sophisticated in terms of hardware auto-detection, installability, usability, and that there is a lot more available in terms of hardware drivers these days, etc. But the basic premise that I was pointing out still holds true.
My comments around ‘immersing yourself’ were also along the lines of throwing yourself in, and only resorting to an alternative (or the norm) if really need be. And doing it for a few months. After doing this you tend to discover quite rapidly if an OS, its environment, and culture gels or not.
Thank you all for the feedback you have given me, I found a lot of it helpful. I don’t have an Apple monitor or one with USB ports, but I had an extra extension cable. I am also planning on getting a new mouse sometime. I am not sure if I want to upgrade to the newest version of OS X or not, if anyone has a really good reason why I would want to upgrade, please let me know.
I tried Fink as suggested, it works good for some programs, but it is missing some of the programs I would like. I also tried to compile some programs, but anything with very many dependencies are not really worth taking the time to install. I have been able to find many of the programs that I want anyways, or a similar one. If I really need one of the ones I can’t find I just need to move my hands to my other keyboard and mouse and use my Ubuntu Box.
I have read parts of some books on OS X, the Virtual Library for ITT Tech has thirty or so on it. I will read more later.
I can’t believe how many views this post has received in a little over a day. I started with 343 total views on my blog before I made this post and I am now to nearly a thousand.
Please, continue to leave more feedback.
It’s a different experience using a Mac, I find most people manage to make the transition well and become Mac lovers, not just users, but if you find the change too much or limiting or whatever (or can’t get what you need from Fink or MacPorts), you do have an option. Terrasoft still offers Yellow Dog Linux, a PowerPC based Linux distribution (based on CentOS I believe so YMMV). Set it up as a dual-boot!
Welcome! You’ve got an awesome machine that is still useful after how many years? I recently purchased 30 used G4 iBooks for my elementary level students and the laptops have been amazing. The kids love them.