Reflections--New Power Mac G4

Optical Drive: Instead of offering DVD and CD-R options, Apple swung the video/audio pendulum all the way from video to audio in the lower end Power Mac models by replacing DVD drives with CD-R drives and offering no BTO option for DVD readers. Video moved fully upscale to the top model with the fabulous new Super Drive which adds the capability to record DVD as well as view it. Having options cost but I wonder why Apple doesn't offer both DVD and CD-R as BTO options on the lower models?

Dual vs Single Processors: After making such big deal about the speed of multiple processors for high end graphics last summer, Apple abandoned them on all but the next to lowest end model, a dual 533. If G4s are scalable like G3s, then the 533 is simply a 400 running on the new higher 133 MHz system bus. The 667 and 733 are brand new CPUs so offering duals, even at a premium, would severely affect the number of Power Macs that Apple could ship in the near term. It will be interesting to see a comparison of the dual 533 with the single 667 or high end single 733 using scripted Photoshop operations on Mac OS 9.0.4 or 9.1. Mac OS X with symmetric multiprocessing will begin shipping with new Power Macs this summer when supplies of the new faster G4 CPUs should be good enough to permit selling dual processing systems with them.

Two Classes: Like the Yikes and Sawtooth models of the original Power Mac G4, the 466/533/dual 533 and the 667/733 form two classes that cannot be crossed at The Apple Store and each class has some unique characteristics. A 466 can be upgraded via BTO to a 533 or dual 533 but not to a 667 or 733. One may also delete the modem for a $50 reduction on the lower class Power Macs but not the higher class. The 533's hard drive is downgradable from 40 GB to 30 GB and the video card is downgradable from the GeForce2 MX to the Rage 128 Pro. One cannot downgrade any feature of the 667 or the 733, at least not at present, but the GeForce2 MX video card may be traded evenly for the Radeon. Does this mean that there is a technical difference between the two classes besides the CPU model or simply that the short term limitations that have been placed on the higher class options are a reaction to the scarcity of the newer G4 CPUs?

Upgrading Older Power Macs: If the G4 CPUs are like the G3s where CPU speed is a ratio of the system bus speed, then the new 466/533/667/733 CPUs running on a 133 MHz will run at 350/400/500/550 MHz on the older 100 MHz system bus unless, of course, the CPU/bus ratio is adjustable upwards. If so, then we may see 700-750 MHz G4 CPUs for older Power Macs in the future. If not, then the CPU upgrade market for older Power Macs will look pretty bleak--Apple may finally have won its struggle to keep the aftermarket upgrade companies from offering CPUs for older Macs that run as fast or faster than current selling models.