[G4] Which PowerMac

[Joseph B. Gurman]

     If past history and the rumor mill are any indication, the first 
generation 970's will be:

1. only incrementally faster than the current generation of G4's as 
long as they run a 32-bit OS (Jaguar),

2. unable to take advantage of the 64-bit architecture of the 970, 
unless Panther is released well before the autumn target date,

3. unable to take advantage of the possible speed boost from 64-bit 
until 64-bit-savvy applications are available (hence Apple's manic 
drive to get developers to the WWDC), and

4. pretty sad compared with the _following_ generation of machines.

     The best rule of thumb for buying new <any kind of computer> is, 
what do you need _now_? If you need more 
speed/bandwidth/storage/whatever now, buy now. If it can wait for n* 
6 months, there will be a new generation of machines out every 6 
months.

     Diatribes about faster internal communication, better use of DDR 
memory bandwidth, 8X AGP slots, PCI-X, and other features that won't 
affect real work flow significantly can be directed to /dev/null.

						Joe Gurman
-- 
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they go by."
                                                              - 
Douglas Adams, 1952 - 2001

Joseph B. Gurman, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Solar Physics
Branch, Greenbelt MD 20771 USA