New computer thoughts...

[Warped9]

Presently I'm using a five year old eMac with 1.42GHz processor and 2GB RAM. It works absolutely fine with no problems. So the only real reason for a new computer is I just want one.

That said a new iMac with a larger screen would be appreciated when I do my photo imaging stuff along with Photoshop and Illustrator and possibly CAD and 3D. I'm considering a 21.5 iMac. Anyone who has one of the current iMacs your feedback is appreciated.

I do have one question. I presently have Adobe CS4 Master Suite on my eMac. Will it also work on an Intel Mac or would I have to get CS5?

 

[Deks]

I don't do Mac's or Apple for that matter... however, your Adobe CS4 Master Suite will work on an Intel Mac.
It's just a brand difference when it comes to the CPU, nothing else, so it should work fine.

 

[Lindley]

eMacs used PowerPC processors, right? In that case, older programs would run under Rosetta. However, Rosetta hasn't been supported in the most recent OSX versions.

It seems likely that Adobe would supply a Universal Binary patch for CS4, though. Check on that. If they do, you're fine.

 

[Warped9]

^^ I understand that some older programs wouldn't work on an Intel Mac. Then again the only programs I'm really concerned about are the aforementioned CS4 and a little program I have called SnapzPro which allows me to get screen grabs, video sequences and audio tracks off dvd. I suspect that SnapzPro would be available for an Intel Mac.

The other small consideration is that if I purchase one now or very soon I can get an upgrade from Snow Leopard to Lion for free from Apple. Presently I'm running Leopard 10.5.8 on my eMac because Snow Leopard is only for Intel Macs.

 

[spinnerlys]

CS4 is Universal Binary, thus it will run on 10.6 and 10.7.

And the 21.5" iMac will suffice your needs, but get the one with the best GPU, as you use GPU intensive applications.

You can upgrade RAM later for cheaper via buying the correct RAM (204-pin DDR3 1333MHz SO-DIMM) from Amazon, OWC or Newegg.

If you purchase now, you probably get an iMac with 10.7 (Lion) on it, so hurry, if you still want 10.6 (and a free upgrade to Lion)

 

[Saturn0660]

I've got a 21.5" iMac also.. Had an old g5 iMac 17"

However, if you go Lion they have removed Universal Support from it. So, you'll need to get the update.

 

[Warped9]

I've got a 21.5" iMac also.. Had an old g5 iMac 17"

However, if you go Lion they have removed Universal Support from it. So, you'll need to get the update.

Which update? Update to Adobe Creative Suite or update to Lion?

 

[Saturn0660]

I've got a 21.5" iMac also.. Had an old g5 iMac 17"

However, if you go Lion they have removed Universal Support from it. So, you'll need to get the update.

Which update? Update to Adobe Creative Suite or update to Lion?

Lion dumped it.. So, if what you have still uses PowerPC you'll need to upgrade it.

 

[Warped9]

I've got a 21.5" iMac also.. Had an old g5 iMac 17"

However, if you go Lion they have removed Universal Support from it. So, you'll need to get the update.

Which update? Update to Adobe Creative Suite or update to Lion?

Lion dumped it.. So, if what you have still uses PowerPC you'll need to upgrade it.

You still haven't answered my question. Are you saying I have to get the updated Adobe Master Suite as in the CS5 version? Or are you saying I need an update for Lion or an update for Universal Support? Which is it?

 

[Saturn0660]

Which update? Update to Adobe Creative Suite or update to Lion?

Lion dumped it.. So, if what you have still uses PowerPC you'll need to upgrade it.

You still haven't answered my question. Are you saying I have to get the updated Adobe Master Suite as in the CS5 version? Or are you saying I need an update for Lion or an update for Universal Support? Which is it?

What i'm telling you is that IF you wanna use Lion you will have to update your Adobe as it won't work in Lion. Being the ver. you have is for PowerPC.

 

[Warped9]

Okay now I understand better. Thanks.

I've also been reading forums on Apple, MacRumurs and MacNN and lots of folks seem to run CS4 just fine on an Intel Mac with Lion.

 

[Warped9]

So today I brought home my new computer and transferred all my old stuff from my old eMac to my new 21.5" iMac.

Everything seems to be working fine including my Adobe Master Suite CS4.

 

[Warped9]

Well everything is not quite smooth. My HP PSC 1210 AIO printer won't work at all and I can't find a driver for it either to work with Snow Leopard.

Also my Snapz Pro X 2.3.1 is messed a bit. It reverted to demo mode even though I had a fully licensed version working on my previous computer. I'm trying to find where my license code could be stored on my old computer to re-register Snapz Pro on my new iMac.

 

[Warped9]

I could be one of the luckiest schmucks alive! I tried something really simple. I went to my old eMac's Hard Drive/Users/(your name)/Library/Preferences and simply copied the original plist file com.ambrosiasw.snapz.plist and replaced the plist file in the same location on my new iMac...and it worked!

Snapz Pro is no longer running in demo mode and has reverted to full working mode.

Awesome!

I also got the print function of my printer work by running Software Update while the printer was powered on. But alas I can't get the copy function to work.

 

[Sean Aaron]

I could be one of the luckiest schmucks alive! I tried something really simple. I went to my old eMac's Hard Drive/Users/(your name)/Library/Preferences and simply copied the original plist file com.ambrosiasw.snapz.plist and replaced the plist file in the same location on my new iMac...and it worked!

If you did need a new license, Ambrosia Software is responsive to email requests and as long as you can provide your previous valid key and explain you've upgraded your machine I've found them to be very good about supplying a new key.

 

[Warped9]

I'm really liking this new Apple Magic Mouse considering I was a touch skeptical about it before. It feels so intuitive with you just swiping your finger or fingers across it to do your bidding, It works just like those tablets and PDAs where you just swipe across the screen.

 

[Sean Aaron]

Yeah and with Lion it will be even more like using iPhone/iPad. I'll probably upgrade to Lion this week actually.

 

[spinnerlys]

Also have a look at BetterTouchTool for more custom gestures for your MM.

 

[Warped9]

My iMac came with Snow Leopard, but Apple currently has an offer where if you purchase a machine between certain dates you can be eligible for a free upgrade to Lion. I qualified and did the upgrade yesterday. Mind you it can be slow downloading almost 4 gigs of OS, but now I've got it and it seems pretty cool.

 

[spinnerlys]

My iMac came with Snow Leopard, but Apple currently has an offer where if you purchase a machine between certain dates you can be eligible for a free upgrade to Lion. I qualified and did the upgrade yesterday. Mind you it can be slow downloading almost 4 gigs of OS, but now I've got it and it seems pretty cool.

Good luck with Lion, I had on my home iMac for two weeks (on another dedicated partition for it, so I can revert back), and it was buggy as hell in my experience, especially application switching via CMD+TAB or Mission Control or the Dock, and since I use a lot of applications, I can have up to 25 of them running, it is really a drag. And that Spaces has been neutered to Mission Control is another big fucking minus, thus I reverted back to Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, as it is still stable and fits my workflows better.
I just hope, that I can get 2011 iMacs and MBPs still in 2012 or so as refurbs, so I can run 10.6, as 10.7 is definitely aimed at consumers and leaves behind many professionals using Spaces.
Sorry for the rant, I had to let it out. Again and again.