Imac? - DPChallenge Forums

Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR

10/08/2005 06:31:10 PM · #1

I'm planning to switch from pc to iMac G5 17" 1,8 Ghz. A very big step, I know, but I'm sure I made the right decision, for my study an Apple is the best there is.

The only thing I'm not so sure about is the typical contrast ratio: 400:1 . Is this enough to use it for photo-editing or should I look further for bigger contrast ratio?

SCI 009

Kodak DX6490

10/08/2005 06:36:46 PM · #2

I'm not sure, but I have an iMac, a G4 though, and it works great for photography. I'm pretty sure it depends on what monitor your planning on getting... I could be wrong.

drz01

Pentax K50

10/08/2005 06:37:49 PM · #3

I-Mac is a G5 and the monitor is part of the unit!
See here I-Mac

Message edited by author 2005-10-08 18:39:10.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

10/08/2005 06:39:24 PM · #4

I know drz, but I'd like to know if the contrast is enough, or if I have to get a Powermac with a monitor with bigger contrast, or something else.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

10/08/2005 06:45:06 PM · #5

Originally posted by biteme:

I know drz, but I'd like to know if the contrast is enough, or if I have to get a Powermac with a monitor with bigger contrast, or something else.

That should only be important if you want to go with a CRT monitor rather than the mandatory LCD of the Imac. Otherwise, I think the Imac monitor is probably good enough (though I prefer/use CRTs myself).

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

10/08/2005 07:43:58 PM · #6

hmm. maybe I should have second thoughts?

Simonjw

Canon EOS-30D

10/08/2005 07:45:47 PM · #7

We've got a couple of iMac G5's at work, and the built in LCD monitors are among some of the best I've used.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

10/08/2005 07:47:17 PM · #8

what kind of job do you have?

Simonjw

Canon EOS-30D

10/08/2005 07:50:20 PM · #9

Im a graphic designer by trade, but the iMacs are actually being used for Protools Audio Engineering. Considering that the Apples largest market are generally designers of some sort, they make a huge effort into their display quality. You will not be dissapointed :)

10/08/2005 07:58:03 PM · #10

ok, that sounds quite encouraging! thanx for your input simon :)

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Leica 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 Vario Elmar-T ASPH

10/08/2005 11:03:38 PM · #11

The iMac G5 has the same LCD panel as the Cinema Displays, among the best LCD's Money can buy. I have the 20" Cinema Display and every other monitor I've seen (LCD or CRT) pales in comparison.

MAK

Leica CL

10/08/2005 11:17:57 PM · #12

I have the iMAC G5 17", fill it up with RAM, I have 1GB and it will love you as you love it, its never froze, crashed and the screen is very clear and bright direct from the store, I also got the G4 iBOOK i was so impressed. now the PC is used for games and yahoo chatting with my kids.

You'll love it and never regret it. at first it will be very wierd but plug a windows mouse into it and you will be fine

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

10/08/2005 11:27:44 PM · #13

Originally posted by doctornick:

The iMac G5 has the same LCD panel as the Cinema Displays... I have the 20" Cinema Display and every other monitor I've seen (LCD or CRT) pales in comparison.

Ditto, although some of the larger Dell monitors use the same panel. Most of my images are edited on the 20" Cinema Display. FWIW, if there's any issue at all, it's too much contrast, not too little. Sometimes my edited images will look a little flat on a CRT monitor, or something I thought was black will turn out to be only dark gray because the contrast was too high on my LCD. It's only a subtle difference, though. Part of my job (longtime graphic designer) is heavy retouching in Photoshop. I use a 24" calibrated CRT at the office, but I'd feel pretty comfortable retouching on an iMac or Cinema Display, too.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

10/08/2005 11:58:19 PM · #14

I'm switching too, though from a PC to a Powermac G4 that my dad let me have after he got his Dual Processor G5. I have to up the RAM and add another HD. Right now the PC and the Mac are sharing a monitor via a KVM switch, I can't get them to share the keyboard and mouse yet.

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

10/09/2005 07:36:28 AM · #15

today I've been discussing PC vs. Mac with a friend of mine. He used to own an Imac, but the limitations of software and the comparison of price - quality was too big, so he decided to step back to his pc.

do you guys experience the limitations of software too? is the comparison price - quality indeed too big?

henry_buckle

Canon EOS-20D

10/09/2005 08:04:46 AM · #16

Im considering switching to the G5 20" for reasons i couldnt be bothered explaining.
From what ive seen and heard the Mac monitors are sweet, regardless of the contrast ratio. I used to have a LCD projector with a low contrast ratio but the pictures looked much better than most of the projectors with higher contrast ratio, so im going by that. Worst case scenario is that you can add a monitor later (as far as i know).

This is will be my first time for a Mac aswell so does anyone know what the windows compatibility is using VMware, Virtual PC or Winex?

MAK

Leica CL

Leica 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 Vario Elmar-T ASPH

10/09/2005 08:31:47 AM · #17

I do not see the point of running windows on a mac but if you really want to then virtual PC is available and is about as stable as the real windows OS, you must install the program then instal windows using the program. best option i think would be to keep a windows PC handy and keep the MAC pure.

10/09/2005 12:02:19 PM · #18

RE henry_buckle and biteme: what Windows software do you need that isn't also available (or included) on a Mac? The iLife suite (included), Microsoft Office, and Photoshop should cover most needs.

Also, I'd suggest AppleCare or 3rd party insurance if you're getting a 20" iMac, as those models have had some relaibility issues with the logic board and power supply. While the failure rate may be high by Apple standards (something like 10 - 15%), it's comparable to PC models, so your mileage may vary. If available in your area, you can save money with factory refurbished models (which carry the same warranty as new Macs) or education discounts.

Leica 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 Vario Elmar-T ASPH

10/09/2005 12:08:14 PM · #19

so you can use microsoft office on a Mac? (I know, don't know much about it yet, but it's coming ;))
do I need another version of Adobe (particularry Photoshop) or is my version (PC ofcourse) ok?

I'm planning to go to an Apple store in Holland (nearby) to get myself informed as well, so I'm sure they can give me more information about the insurance. thanx for the tip!

MAK

Leica CL

10/09/2005 12:18:00 PM · #20

Originally posted by biteme:

You will need to buy new software for the MAC but the layout is the same, dont forget to use a windows mouse or you will have no right click button.

petrakka

10/09/2005 12:22:28 PM · #21

man ive got a powerbook g4 and i love it, i used it over my crappy desktop pc most of the time. any important software comes in mac version, i think its weird smaller programs u cant find for mac for the most part. Ill get the imac in a year or 2 probably, but yeah I dont know how you could go to a PC after using a mac. I would totally get it, and the monitors are pretty dang good.

With monitors though you always have to have a printer to see just how it will react to what you are seeing on screen. I worked for like the official photographers at a university in milwaukee and they did all their editing on apple lcd's, and just had their printer settings dialed on how to get the best prints.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

10/09/2005 12:22:57 PM · #22

Originally posted by biteme:

Microsoft offers Office for the Mac, I've not used it, but if you absolutely need MSOffice and can't use another software package to edit office files, you can get it.

Look at your Photoshop discs, my PS Elements disc has both the Mac and PC versions on it. If it doesn't, maybe Adobe will let you trade-in your PC license for a Mac license. I haven't done that with Adobe software, but I have with other applications like MatLab.

henry_buckle

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

10/09/2005 12:28:00 PM · #23

Originally posted by scalvert:

RE henry_buckle and biteme: what Windows software do you need that isn't also available (or included) on a Mac? The iLife suite (included), Microsoft Office, and Photoshop should cover most needs.

Unfortunately I sometimes have to provide technical assistance after hours and its a lot easier to give assistance when you can see the menus in front of you. I may also need to remote into our Domain Controller (win 2k3).

Plus as its my first Mac i just dont want to be kicking myself cause i cant use a small obscure utility.

10/09/2005 12:28:44 PM · #24

There are Mac versions of Microsoft Office (actually better regarded than the Windows version) and Photoshop. The Windows versions will not work on a Mac unless you use emulation software like Virtual PC (which defeats the whole purpose of using a Mac). The documents themselves are cross-platform, though (a Word document created on a PC is the same as one created on a Mac). Some software companies offer trade-in policies or crossgrades from Windows to Mac versions, but I doubt Microsoft and Adobe are among them.

There are options for people on a budget. Apple's iWork software is comparable to (maybe better than Microsoft Word and Powerpoint, and will import and export both formats. Apple's included basic word processor (TextEdit) will also open and save most Word documents. Adobe Photoshop Elements 3 offers much of the full version's functionality for less than $100 USD, and free image editors like GIMP are available. The included iPhoto application is great for camera transfers and organization, and includes fairly extensive image editing functions of its own.