Java for Mac OS X

[Dillinger4]

Will go nice with my power mac g4.
http://developer.apple.com/java/index.html

[Phenix]

How is the Mac working out for you? I was just looking at the iMac and the Power Mac yesterday.

Unfortunately, I made a vow never to drop 2G's or more on a computer again. Also, I remember a 40MHz Mac outperforming a 100MHz IBM compatible PC. It seems like it still is the case that a 1GHz today on a Mac rivals a 2.5GHz configuration on an IBM compatible PC. That's still a 2.5:1 ratio after 10 years.

Have you ever been hit by a virus on the Mac?
Have you played with or needed other OS emulation to support software unavailable on the Mac?

[Dillinger4]

Well i dont have a G4 but i was considering buying one within the year. They are a bit expensive though considering the flat panels have to be purchased separately. I do get confused about Mhz's and Ghz's from processor to processor. The G4's come with a 1Ghz processer while the more expensive ones come with two processors. But is a 1Ghz G4 processor as fast or faster as a 2.5Ghz Intel or Amd?

[Phenix]

The speed of an application depends on more than just the processor speed (cpu). But the 2.5:1 ratio seems to still hold. How else could Apple be marketing a 1GHz as almost top of the line while 2.5GHz on the IBM compatible side is about top of the line? But I definitely recall the 40MHz Mac comparing well if not better than the 100MHz IBM compatible back when 100MHZ was near the top of the line 10 years ago. Yes, I'm running a 100MHz Pentium I (no typo), before they were known as I's. I would like to find some benchmark comparisons specifically for image processing. The Java link you provided says Java runs much faster on Mac OS. But I'd like to have an OpenGL test.

Also, I learned this weekend that you can use your existing VGA monitor until you are ready to shell out some more cash for the sweet flat screens. Some configurations come with the support built-in, while others would have an additional add-on (to convert to use the low-end VGA).

I decided that it is time to upgrade when my machine could not run the code in the book "3D Game Engine Design" fast enough. But I didn't make a move yet. Now I'd like DVD on a computer so that I can get all the extras from a DVD instead of what you get from a home theater system. On the one hand, we have DVD RW commercially available (but I was trying to hold out until we get the 17GB? or so, that is professionally available) -- the public seems to be "only" at 4.7GB. Now I'm learning about DVD + and - R and + and - RW. Apple seems to be going only with - which is the most consistent DVD format.

Oh, and I have had two scares in the past month when my PC didn't want to pass the BIOS screens on boot. Although, compressed air in the back fan seemed to do the trick. Not to mention, my 2x CDRW on write mode is starting to sound shamefully slow when I hear about 48x write....starting to sound...

...I'm pretty much ready for the conversion/upgrade.

[Dillinger4]

Sounds like it's time for a new computer for you. Im running a Gateway G6-400 PII 400Mhz 320Mb SD-RAM(Originally came with 64Mb) with an old 3dfx Voo Doo card(I think the first one). While the computer runs fine watching dvds can be a annoying experience. Also while simultaneously running DreamWeaver and Fireworks i ran out of memory. How do i run out of memory when i have 320mb of it? How much memory do i need? I suspect it is windows 98 falling to do its job since every time i close my windows media player the OS fails to deallocate it from memory and i have to ctrl-alt-delete to get rid of it. I would like to wait till some advancments are made before shelling out a couple of grand on a new computer. The 17 inch G4 Power Book is sweet though. I thought the following was really a nice touch......

Futuristic backlit keyboard with ambient light sensor
Another first from Apple featured on the new 17-inch PowerBook G4: a unique fiber optic backlit keyboard with laser-etched keys that’s right out of the future. A light sensor automatically adjusts the keyboard and screen brightness based on the available ambient light. In low light, for example, the PowerBook G4 automatically lowers its display backlight and turns on the backlit keyboard. Then light-emitting fiber optic strands located under the keyboard come to life and illuminate the backlit keyboard so you can continue to work, unaffected by the change in ambient light.