It's so tempting guys. I have a "REAL" job now. I'm a graphic composer for a fairly decently circulated newspaper !_!

But congrats out of the way... it's time to buy myself something nice.

Here's what I'd do in an ideal situation...

Trade in my 17" G4 for a new Macbook. Yeah, the 13 incher. White one. Why? 17" is too damned impractical for a notebook PC.
Secondly... I'd buy a new iMac. 20", because I vowed to never buy something smaller ever again.

(has anyone else wondered why the MacBook Pro's have a higher res than the 17" iMac?)

So... that's irresponsible of me. To the max. What I really need is a camera. I'm probably going to buy a camera. If I don't... I'm dumb as sin.

BUT... if I did purchase a new iMac; is that even a smart idea?
Who thinks that when the new "Mac Pro's" (new tower system) comes out that it's going to cost less than the G5's did?
Like... hopefully, considerably less.

I just feel really nervous about buying an iMac again (haven't since the decidedly green G3 machines), and I felt that I was left in the dust almost the day I bought it-- as far as tech went.

Uh... there's a question somewhere in here, I'm sure of it.

"Trade in my 17" G4 for a new Macbook. Yeah, the 13 incher. White one. Why? 17" is too damned impractical for a notebook PC.
Secondly... I'd buy a new iMac. 20", because I vowed to never buy something smaller ever again."

Why do you need two computers?

"What I really need is a camera. I'm probably going to buy a camera. If I don't... I'm dumb as sin."

Why do you have to own a camera? You can't borrow or rent?

"BUT... if I did purchase a new iMac; is that even a smart idea?"

Depends on your potential use.

"Who thinks that when the new "Mac Pro's" (new tower system) comes out that it's going to cost less than the G5's did?
Like... hopefully, considerably less."

Almost definitely not. The actual price of computer systems generally has remained constant while speeds improve.

"I just feel really nervous about buying an iMac again (haven't since the decidedly green G3 machines), and I felt that I was left in the dust almost the day I bought it-- as far as tech went."

Yep.

Uh, thanks... Evan.

Uh, indeed.

And yes, I do need a camera. Right now, I live 20 min's away from the nearest town, and only one other friend has a HALF-WAY decent cam. He's in Banff now for three months, with the cam. That's about 5 hrs away.

Nearest town where I could actually rent is 1 hr away. Edmonton. Coupled with gas, and how often I'd have to drive back and fourth, and how far I am from work now, I cannot afford that right now.
And as it turns out, I won't be buying anything any time soon as far as career work goes.

It's summer. Time to freakin' live like it.

(PS. I feel that after what feels like half my life, I've advanced past the time for cheaper camcorders. Time for an upgrade).