Apple Power Macintosh G5 - Expert Reviews

Review summary: A blazing machine that stands up to the best of the competition, but we're still annoyed by some of its shortcomings

Pros: DVD drive now supports double-layer discs ; base configuration supports 30-inch Apple Cinema HD monitor ; includes Mac OS 10.4 Tiger and the latest iLife suite ; has higher maximum storage capacity than previous model

Cons: Only one optical drive bay ; no memory card reader and not enough USB ports ; includes only a 30-day trial of iWork

Award: Best Buy!

Review summary: Apple's new G5 isn't nearly as groundbreaking as some of the new Windows PCs covered in our workstation group test in Digit 88, but it's still an extremely impressive machine that can more than match all but the newest of its rivals. It offers ...

Pros: Superb 2D graphics performance coupled with excellent value for money makes this the ultimate desktop Mac.

Cons: It's not flexible enough to upgrade for 3D work, and the base supplied RAM is far too small. Supplied mouse still has only one button.

Verdict: The Radeon 9650 graphics chip's performance was average in our Cinebench tests, but it will run Apple's 30-inch display and it's fine for 2D work. The £300 NVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL card looks interesting, but the lack of PCI Express support and ...

Review summary: Apple has upgraded the Power Mac G5 with Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger and faster parts, but our complaints about limited expandability still apply.

Pros: DVD drive now supports double-layer discs, Base configuration supports 30in. Apple Cinema HD monitor, Includes Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger and the latest iLife suite, Has higher maximum storage capacity than previous model

Cons: Only one optical drive bay, No memory card reader and not enough USB ports, Includes only a 30-day trial of iWork, Telephone support lasts a brief 90 days

Verdict: Apple has upgraded the Power Mac G5 with Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger and faster parts, but our complaints about limited expandability still apply...

Review summary: Apple's latest high-end Power Mac G5 is a blazing machine that stands up without blinking to the best of the competition, but we're still annoyed by some of its shortcomings.

Pros: DVD drive now supports double-layer discs, Base configuration supports 30-inch Apple Cinema HD monitor, Includes Mac OS 10.4 Tiger and the latest iLife suite, Has higher maximum storage capacity than previous model

Cons: Only one optical drive bay, No memory card reader and not enough USB ports

Pros: DVD drive now supports double-layer discs base configuration supports 30in. Apple Cinema HD monitor includes Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger and the latest iLife suite has higher maximum storage capacity than previous model

Cons: Only one optical drive bay no memory card reader and not enough USB ports includes only a 30-day trial of iWork telephone support lasts a brief 90 days

Verdict: Apple has upgraded the Power Mac G5 with Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger and faster parts, but our complaints about limited expandability still apply.