How OLD are your macs?

G5MacMan

G5MacMan

Member
Greetings, just wondering how old the Macs are in peoples studio / workflows etc . Currently rocking some late 2012 models here.
 
I have a 2010-2012 12 core Mac Pro at home, still kicking (I use it for audio work mainly). Bought it pretty cheap on eBay around 2016. Though obviously can’t really be updated further. Also have some even older models (g3, g4, g5) that all technically work.

At my current job they had a pretty crappy 2014ish iMac that I had them replace with an m1 Mac mini, which is completely adequate for my prepress work. Our biggest slowdowns are entirely to do with our decision to put everything on Sharepoint.
 
The new M1/M2/M3 chips are absolutely insane alien tech. A base M2 Mac Mini will exceed the performance of literally almost any Intel-based Mac. They are insane. Only caveat to my statement is the GPU's performance on the base model. It doesn't quite stack up against a discrete GPU, but it's actually kinda close.

Base M2 Mac Minis are $500 on Best Buy at the moment.

Our designer stations are still ~$4000 Intel iMac 5K's. Still waiting for pro versions of the iMac. Bit concerned the GPU's won't be able to provide enough power where we need it to.
 
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PricelineNegotiator said:
The new M1/M2/M3 chips are absolutely insane alien tech. A base M2 Mac Mini will exceed the performance of literally almost any Intel-based Mac. They are insane. Only caveat to my statement is the GPU's performance on the base model. It doesn't quite stack up against a discrete GPU, but it's actually kinda close.

Base M2 Mac Minis are $500 on Best Buy at the moment.

Our designer stations are still ~$4000 Intel iMac 5K's. Still waiting for pro versions of the iMac. Bit concerned the GPU's won't be able to provide enough power where we need it to.
Click to expand...
Performance out of the m series Macs is certainly pretty good for most people. I would buy one for home, though just finished a divorce and frankly, my old system works so I’m not in a big hurry.

I feel like the biggest advantage to an M series mac is the heat, noise, and power specs. My old Mac Pro works just fine with enough power for my stuff - but it will cook a small room, makes fan noise, and sucks down power. I could buy a MacBook today that runs circles around it, has battery life all day, without noise, and with minimal heat output. Graphics performance is not a big selling point for my work, fortunately.
 
kslight said:
Performance out of the m series Macs is certainly pretty good for most people. I would buy one for home, though just finished a divorce and frankly, my old system works so I’m not in a big hurry.

I feel like the biggest advantage to an M series mac is the heat, noise, and power specs. My old Mac Pro works just fine with enough power for my stuff - but it will cook a small room, makes fan noise, and sucks down power. I could buy a MacBook today that runs circles around it, has battery life all day, without noise, and with minimal heat output. Graphics performance is not a big selling point for my work, fortunately.
Click to expand...
Been a Windows guys since forever, biggest gripe about Mac is the Finder tool. Navigating folders, setting networked "aliases/shortcuts, and sidebar shortcuts is clunky and a bit underwhelming versus other levels of polish that Mac has. Windows and Linux both do this well so I'm not sure what the issue is.
 
PricelineNegotiator said:
Been a Windows guys since forever, biggest gripe about Mac is the Finder tool. Navigating folders, setting networked "aliases/shortcuts, and sidebar shortcuts is clunky and a bit underwhelming versus other levels of polish that Mac has. Windows and Linux both do this well so I'm not sure what the issue is.
Click to expand...
Glad it's not just me! Not so much nowadays, but there used to be a real stigma about using PCs, in that long in the tooth print professionals wouldn't take you seriously. It was like having an embarrassing car... :LOL:
 
PricelineNegotiator said:
Been a Windows guys since forever, biggest gripe about Mac is the Finder tool. Navigating folders, setting networked "aliases/shortcuts, and sidebar shortcuts is clunky and a bit underwhelming versus other levels of polish that Mac has. Windows and Linux both do this well so I'm not sure what the issue is.
Click to expand...
I used to be a Windows / DIY PC guy, but at some point maybe around windows xp it became uninteresting / not a good use of my time to fool with. A majority of audio software and hardware sold today and then is Mac optimized, so it was a logical choice to make the switch when that became my focus. Apple certainly makes sharp choices that I don’t care for as well, so I’m certainly not in love with them, pick what works best for you. When it was time for a new computer at work for print work, I tried to get the owner on board for a new PC but she’d never place the order. When I sent her a Mac, she pressed the buy button. Makes little difference to me, for print work.
 
What's embarrassing is the inability to fix the printer drivers/defaults as well. I love seeing/getting an error when I'm printing to a simple office copier, and being notified that the bypass tray is empty. I can't even dismiss the error. And changing printer defaults is horrible too.

I'd also like to forever be able to login via TouchID instead of typing in my password every 10 times.
 
We still have a 2007 G5 Mac Pro running Retrospect to access old tape libraries
Also have 2 2012 iMacs a 2020 iMac and a new Mac Mini
 
We just replace our late 2013 iMacs with M1 Mac Studios paired with Samsung 4K monitors. Overall I really love the new setup, but I don't know if it is due to the Samsung monitors, but when my computer comes out of sleep mode, the position of my tools in the Adobe CC apps always move to the left side of the screen. It's a minor annoyance, but still...I could do without it.
 
PricelineNegotiator said:
What's embarrassing is the inability to fix the printer drivers/defaults as well. I love seeing/getting an error when I'm printing to a simple office copier, and being notified that the bypass tray is empty. I can't even dismiss the error. And changing printer defaults is horrible too.
Click to expand...

Yep Mac's print UI and settings are totally embarrassing.

On Ventura they improved the appearance slightly (in my view) but also added some bizarre options to print presets, which turned the already nearly useless print presets into some utterly confusing mess.
 
riddjim said:
if it is due to the Samsung monitors, but when my computer comes out of sleep mode, the position of my tools in the Adobe CC apps always move to the left side of the screen.
Click to expand...

It's a known issue that many users report. I experience a similar issue too on Mac Studio + Dell 4K monitor. Only in my case only the window that holds document tabs moves downwards. Clicking the green button restores its normal position. Also, I don't use Application Frame - maybe that's why the position of tools remains unaffected.

I know that many people who reported this issue on Adobe forums used external monitors - but I'm not sure it's exclusive to external monitors.
 
Came on board we had two I-macs from 2010. Started by updating to wireless mouse and keyboards. Replaced one with a Mac Mini last year. Still use the old one for outlining fonts that didn't transfer to the new system. Completely happy with the current setup.
 
I work as temporary cover for many commercial printers, both digital and offset litho, covering holidays, sickness, etc.
Most of them have Adobe Creative Suite (1,2,3,4,5 and 6) running on old Macs, alongside modern macs & PCs with Creative Cloud.
The Apple G5 line seems almost indestructible, Apple G5 computers running EFI Command Workstation 5 & 6 with the old dongle keys for Composition and Imposition are almost industry standard along with old copiers/digital printers.
Also you have to remember that many manufacturing companies are still running Microsoft Windows XP either on Virtual Machines on modern PCs or on old PCs.
This is because the original manufacturer of the manufacturing machine or process has ceased trading, but their hardware lives on.
And as the old saying goes, "if it ain't broke don't fix it."
This is a United Kingdom perspective, where there seems to be a reluctance to invest in anything: hardware, software or staff.
I even set up my own website to answer the questions I get at every commercial printer I ever worked for. The same questions all the time. Simply because they do not train their staff and especially in digital shops a high turnover of staff. Am I allowed to mention my website? www.anthonyminchinton.co.uk
 
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