switching from software to hardware, considering switching from pc to mac.... advise please

[Gadzooks]

One app that's great for macs while gaming is SMCFancontrol. It's on versiontracker, but allows you to set a higher minimum fan setting so that you won't have any heat issues. I crank the fans up a bit when I game on my macs and they stay plenty cool. The default settings are nice and quiet but when listening to game sounds I don't care if the fan is a touch louder but keeping everything barely warm to the touch.

Does SMCFancontrol come with the mac operating system or is it an extra thing? sounds great!

It's freeware, it's very cool.

http://homepage.mac.com/holtmann/eid...ge5/page5.html


Is the authors page - he has the source up too, if anyone wants to tinker.

Only for Intel macs, tho, I can only use it on my Mini - but I saw a refurb dual Xeon MacPro tower for $2k...hrm...

[TEEJ]

the new line is all intel based

man, the more i talk to people about it and research it, the more i not only want to buy 4 imacs.... but i want to buy a bunch of stock in apple. even with the economy doing so poor, apple is still going up... and hasn't really ever had a dip. my roth IRA is up to 21k and i have some other money i wanted to invest, and apple is looking to have more growth and less volatility than gold and precious metal funds.

4 regular keyboards and 1 wireless or kvm'd keyboard makes me never have to switch, just reach for the proper keyboard if i want to individually control any alt. i'm thinking 4 trackballs arranged with the keyboards is the way to do mouse movement too.

i came to the realization lately that the purpose of money is to allow you to do the things you like. other than that it's just a number in a computer somewhere... insignificant until you live outside the means that your contribution to society allows. so i might as well go with what my initial gut feeling told me to do and get 4 imacs. unfortunately i'm on an aircraft carrier cutting circles in the ocean for another 6 to 8 weeks... but the day i get back i'm making 6-7000$ dissapear. i'll be sure to take pictures of my setup and let you know how everything works. thanks for the advice guys.

[Undeadish]

Macs suck. Nuff said. ESPECIALLY the imacs.

[Gadzooks]

the new line is all intel based

man, the more i talk to people about it and research it, the more i not only want to buy 4 imacs.... but i want to buy a bunch of stock in apple. even with the economy doing so poor, apple is still going up... and hasn't really ever had a dip. my roth IRA is up to 21k and i have some other money i wanted to invest, and apple is looking to have more growth and less volatility than gold and precious metal funds.

4 regular keyboards and 1 wireless or kvm'd keyboard makes me never have to switch, just reach for the proper keyboard if i want to individually control any alt. i'm thinking 4 trackballs arranged with the keyboards is the way to do mouse movement too.

i came to the realization lately that the purpose of money is to allow you to do the things you like. other than that it's just a number in a computer somewhere... insignificant until you live outside the means that your contribution to society allows. so i might as well go with what my initial gut feeling told me to do and get 4 imacs. unfortunately i'm on an aircraft carrier cutting circles in the ocean for another 6 to 8 weeks... but the day i get back i'm making 6-7000$ dissapear. i'll be sure to take pictures of my setup and let you know how everything works. thanks for the advice guys.

Look into Synergy when you get your gear set up - it's a very cool server/client setup that combines your monitors and keyboards in a virtual KVM - you assign a master screen, and then arrange your other displays around it, so if you move your mouse from the main screen to the edge, the mouse will appear on the other display, and the keyboard switches to that computer. It's a Windows app, but the Mac version runs very well - if it broadcasted keyboard input, it would be perfect.

http://www.altuit.com/webs/altuit2/S...SX/default.htm


It's a little wonky to set up, but once up, it's rock solid. You won't need 4 keyboards and trackballs with it.

I still want a Tower though - a 24" iMac is about the same as a dual Xeon Mac Pro (refurb from Apple), and that, from a LOT of reports I've read, will run 5 copies of WoW just fine - I'll add another 23" HD Cinema to a dual head video card, and I'm set. Another 23" would be great for my Photoshop/Zbrush/illustration duties, as well - and I can write it off.

Now, to raise $3000...I can do it by Xmas, prolly. Maybe just in time for WotLK!

[TEEJ]

Macs suck. Nuff said. ESPECIALLY the imacs.

any specific reason? or just /flame on