Itunes Question

Jason1 · 09-26-2005, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GameMaster

Preferences > Advanced > Importing > Import Using: MP3 Encoder

Go back to library, highlight all songs that are in AAC. The click Advanced > Convert Selection to MP3

Yea, thats exactly what I did, thanks.

Stonecutter · 09-26-2005, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason1

Yea, thats exactly what I did, thanks.

That's cancer for your audio quality, you know.

GameMaster · 09-26-2005, 10:54 PM

An audiophile is one who is concerned with achieving high-quality results in the recording and playback of music.

gekko · 09-26-2005, 10:55 PM

Get a 15" PowerBook. Heaven.

Anyway, automator would've worked so well for this, it's not even funny.

jeepnut · 09-27-2005, 02:27 AM

I'm considering a 15inch powerbook. However, the intel switch has me a little worried. I'm wondering if I should wait for the new processors or go ahead and get one of the last PowerPCs.

jeepnut · 10-02-2005, 03:29 PM

What? None of the mac nerds around here want to respond to my post?

GameMaster · 10-02-2005, 05:00 PM

I would actually get one of the last PowerPCs. They've been using that processor for a good while now and have pretty much hammered out all the dents. My first Mac was a Performa 6200 which I think was made around the same time they had just started using the PowerPC processor and it was quite a buggy machine. That was partly due to OS 7 though. Anyway, my point is that the PowerPC processor is pretty much optimized for Macs while the Intel processor is unmapped territory, so to speak. I don't think Apple will have buggy computers or anything but I'm certain there'll be some issues for the at least the first year or two until they have it all figured out and perfected.

Xantar · 10-02-2005, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeepnut

I'm considering a 15inch powerbook. However, the intel switch has me a little worried. I'm wondering if I should wait for the new processors or go ahead and get one of the last PowerPCs.

Oh fine, I'll answer since you're being pushy.

The way I see it, this is the same dilemma that you always face as a computer buyer. There will always be something better a year from now. I'm betting that eventually, the Intel based Macs will outstrip current Power PC computers. But that's later. This is now. Moore's law says Macs will be about twice as fast as they are now in about 18 months, and there's no reason to believe the rate will get dramatically faster just because they've switched to a different brand of processor.

So I say as long as it's not just a month or so before Macworld, go ahead and buy the computer now. You'll come to feel jealous of the Intel computers, but hey, that's just the way it goes.

gekko · 10-02-2005, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeepnut

I'm considering a 15inch powerbook. However, the intel switch has me a little worried. I'm wondering if I should wait for the new processors or go ahead and get one of the last PowerPCs.

1) The Intel switch is far away. If you want a Mac, get one.

2) We don't know which products are going to be affected first. Might be consumer models, might be pro models. Might be desktops, might be laptops. Might be servers.

3) Few software programs are compiled for Intel right now. They all run natively on PPC.

4) Every piece of software for the remainder of OS X's life, and most likely OS 11 will be able to run PPC builds. It's no where near out of date (we can still run OS 9).

5) The 15" PowerBook is just so l33t and sexy. I'm using one right now, just not with the drop protection or scrolling touchpad

jeepnut · 10-03-2005, 12:43 AM

If I was buying now, I probably wouldn't be questioning it. However, my purchase is still 4 to 6 maybe more months down the road. I'm not really worried about the processor being fast enough. I know that there will always be faster processors just month's after I get mine and I can deal with that. What I'm really worried about though, is heat and battery life. I hear current Powerbooks will make you wish you had asbestos thighs and that the battery life is acceptable but far less than one would like at about 3 hours. (Even though Apple claims 5.) I'd like to be able to watch a movie on the battery and still have enough juice to do some web-surfing or word-processing before I have to plug back in when traveling. At 3 hours, this would cut it close. In addition, I've read in many reviews that when watching DVDs, battery life is actually closer to 2 and a half hours.

The main reason I would want to wait for the Intel switch is because the Intel processors are supposed to at least partly solve the heat/battery life problem. After all, this is that prime reason that Apple is switching. They can't get the G5 to run cool enough or efficiently enough for laptops.

Anyway, my schedule would put me about 6 or so months from when the first Mactels ship (June 2006). It's my guess and it seems a lot of online sites think so as well, that the first Mactels are likely to be laptops. Specifically the Powerbook line. They do seem to be the most in need of a new brain.

Naturally also, I wouldn't really want to get the first iteration of the new PBs, but part of me wants to wait and see what improvement there is if any. I'm almost sold on getting a Power PC instead of waiting, but I'm just trying to get as many opinions as I can. Thanks for your answers so far.

/me pushes Xantar some more.

gekko · 10-03-2005, 01:03 AM

Macs actually don't upgrade processors as fast, but your point obviously remains the same. Also, since Mac makes many up-and-coming technologies standard, they do last a long time.

As for heat, it's not bad. Never really used Windows laptops on my lap, so I can't compare. But it's not nearly as bad as my PowerBook G3.

As for battery, it is true. Subject to many factors, which is why Apple gets 5. By turning down my brightness right now, I add 30 minutes of battery life. Same thing if you are using AirPort, or Bluetooth, or powering something through USB or FireWire ports. But yes, 3 hours is common.

Intel's mobile line is much much better than the PPC line, which is where the rumors are coming from. But the G5 can run cool enough to go into a notebook, they announced the chip a couple months ago. Doubt we'll see it, but IBM has one.

It's up to you, when you want to get one, get one. I don't think Apple is going to radically redesign the PB line like they did when they switched to the G4. If you get a PowerBook, you'll love it. If you can hold out using Windows for another 6 months until the switch, then do so. I'd recommend getting it as soon as you can. Why? Because the second you get the PB in your hands you'll throw your PC into a dumpster and start saving for a G5

Then you can have both, a PPC and Intel Mac.

Just be wary of when Apple releases new products. MacWorld New York in July and MacWorld San Fran in Feb are the big ones. They have the keynote, announce a OS upgrade and Mac geeks go more crazy than gamers before E3. They also usually upgrade some product lines. Same thing when they drop a product in price, like put the iMacs on sale, it means they're announcing new ones.