pros/cons of getting a G5
 

I am sure everyone here is aware that Apple is switching to x86 ... which sucks for me b.c I was just about to blow some cash on a G5. I use Linux regularly, and If I bought a mac i would certainly put Linux on the thing.

I may still get one if anyone could fill me in on a few things:
1) Is PPC a better architecture than x86, x86-64? ( desktop and/or server)
2) Will there be a G5 3 Ghz?
3) Does Linux do well on a G5?
4) Is there a good reason to get a PPC vs a x86? I've heard the apples do media like DVDs much better. What about on the Linux side?


At the very least, does anyone have the 30" Apple LCDs working on Linux? Perhaps ill just make a dual AMD box if the G5 wont work on Linux.

Thanks .... and please be objective.

Did you see this?

http://news.com.com/Torvalds+switche...3-5606030.html

Yes, saw that. looks like he is still using it too ( from kernel.org).

Linus doesnt say much about it either, though it does tell me that the big Kihuna himself would be working on ppc developement.

ppc970 has the Altivec instructions which make media rendering much faster and b/c its hardware I should see this on Linux/ppc as well?

Well, I'm not sure...
If x86 weren't so cheap here in Rio, I'd be leaving it. The thing is, 99,99% hw vendors and part suppliers sell x86.
But I have great curiosity to see debian running on ppc.

Read http://www.anandtech.com/mac/showdoc.aspx?i=2436 and judge yourself. I rather buy AMD 64-bit processors instead the costly G5.

I do not think so. IBM really made Apple mad because of their small business policy.

That is not a fair quote also it is too general. Do you mean video editing. Avid is optimized for x86 because Avid developers thought Apple will vanish. Linux does not have any good video editing program, but it does have DVD writing software and MPEG-2 encoders.

For +20 inch LCD displays, look at Dell's 20 inch LCD. Apple displays are incompatible with PC resolutions. You have to hit the resolution dead on to make Apple displays work.

I read many posts of people saying "oooh, Linus switched to a G5 and he loves it. I'll do it to." This is like saying "hey, lets jump off the clif because the other guy did it." I rather look before I leaping.