🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <steveg-3012952025010001@192.0.2.1>, steveg@cnct.com (Just
Steve) wrote:

> In article <4bt6dj$n7@steel.interlog.com>, fotta@interlog.com (F.Otta) wrote:
> >I'm need of a MAC, new or used to augment my PC-based workstation. I
> >will need to use the standard Desktop Publishing apps (Quark, PShop,
> >Illustrator). The machine doesn't need to be state-of-the-art, just a
> >solid, workhorse. 
> 
> Fair enough. If you're going to be working with those programs, though,
> you'll want a PowerMac. Buying an 040 Mac today is financial suicide, and
> the time you save with a PowerMac will more than offset the time spent
> waiting for the 040 to do its thing. And don't forget -- Copland ("System
> 8") will run ONLY on PowerMacs that have the PowerPC chip from the
> factory. An 040 Mac that has been upgraded with a PowerPC upgrade card
> will not work.
> 


<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Stuff Omitted>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

It would be nice if everyone could afford a new Power PC Mac with all the
trimmings. The fact is, you  can still work effectively with these
programs on a 68040 machine. 

I use PageMaker 6.0, which is generally comparable to Quark, Illustrator
5.5, and Photoshop 3.0.5 on a lowly Mac LC475 with only 12 MB of physical
RAM, plus RamDoubler. It also has a full Meg of VRAM and has been upgraded
to a full 68040 processor. Everything works just fine, although of course
I pay a speed penalty vs. a PPC. I only use Photoshop for Web graphics,
which are relatively small and low-res. For this purpose, it works
perfectly. 

If I were moving to more professional DTP equipment right now, I would not
necessarily go for a PowerPC Mac. A Quadra 700 or 800 is still an
awesomely powerful machine, and they are selling quite cheaply at the
moment. A cheaper computer means more money available for RAM, big
monitor, scanner, etc. A given investment in RAM goes much farther on a
68040 machine than it does on a PPC. All the programs mentioned come with
both 680x0 and PPC versions in the same box, so you can readily upgrade to
a PPC later on with no software penalty.

I don't care about Copland not supporting 68040 computers, as I will
certainly be ready for a new  PPC computer long before it comes out. 

That said, I agree that a PPC Mac would certainly be desirable. Just don't
automatically write off 68040 machines as too slow for effective use--it
ain't  necessarily so.

Happy New Year!      :->

-- 
Bill Sveinson
sveinson@islandnet.com
Victoria, BC, CANADA