[rescue] PowerMac recommendations?

[Tim H.]

On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 11:36:01 -0400
Joshua Boyd <jdboyd at jdboyd.net> wrote:
<SNIP> 
> But seriously, what's wrong with using linux of Intel here?  For the
> sort of things you describe, a pair of notebooks computers and a cheap
> rack mount machine sound best.  Any notebook with USB and a USB audio
> device for the output, and any notebook that can run your presentation
> software smoothly for the video output, and a modest rackmount machine
> with a hardware MPEG or MJPEG encoder PCI card for the video capture.  I
> agree a different platform would be nice, but if the budget is really
> tight... 
> 
> Also, what are you planning on doing with the captured services?  Web
> archive?  Burn DVDs?  If not those two tasks, then whats wrong with just
> using video tapes?
> 
> And another also, would an audio appliance do the task instead of a
> computer?
> 
> And how do you plan to control all of this with only one console anyway,
> if you did go the single computer route?
>  
> > What is the best sub-$500 method of getting SVideo into a modern Mac?
> 
> Possibly a firewire converter.  There are quite a number for less than
> $500.  
> 
<MORE SNIPPAGE>

I don't have the space for lots of machines, and I was thinking that using a
Mac would greatly increase the Just Works percentage.  Since all the Macs are
now dual display out of the box I was planning on a single flat panel at the
operator location, and the projector on the other output.  

As far as why, the video will initially be archived on CD or DVD, providing
the capability of copy on demand, eventually I would like to move to a web
accessable archive.

Other people have recomended a DV camera, I already have a Sony PTZ camera
mounted in the church.  That was something else I need to do, control the
camera, but that is what appears to be a fairly simple serial interface, and I
don't think that will add much load to the system.

Budget is an issue, especially when I can do it with a couple PCs for probably
a smaller total cost than a single Mac, but the Mac is Better(tm) and I have
to fit in around an 8 channel light board, a 16 channel audio board, all the
accompanying EQ, Compressor/Limiter, 2 CD players, A couple Cassette decks, a
VCR, and another body to help twiddle knobs, all without being an eyesore or
displacing more than 7 people worth of floor space in the back of the
sanctuary.  I considered using an Xserve, putting it away in the amp closet,
but that did break the budget, even though it had lots of cool factor.  

The purported quietness of the G5 sounds nice, does anyone happen to have
heard a G5 and a dual G4 in a situation where they can give a subjective noise
impression (that question of course leaves out anyone with a Challenge under
their desk:-))

Tim