Today I set up a custom Linux computer at work. I’d already built myself a computer that, at $900, is literally more powerful by orders of magnitude than a comparable Mac or PC that would cost around $2499. But the computer I was building today is not meant to be a lean, mean multimedia video-crunching sound-processing machine. It’s just supposed to be a general purpose box with a multimedia bias.
The parts:
PC Case = $40
Motherboard = $80
Power = $40
4GB RAM = $30
DVD Drive = $20
500GB Harddrive = $100
Monitor = $90
CPU i3 3ghz = $100
8400GS 512mb Graphics Card = $30
Software = $0
TOTAL = $530
In other words, that’s a full computer set up that is at least AS powerful as the entry level Mac Pro for $2499 (which ships with a 2.8ghz Xeon CPU, not even an i3, but comes with a more powerful GPU, so it evens out). Plus I got a monitor whereas with the Mac Pro the monitor is in addition to the $2499 spent.
This difference was mind boggling to me, so I sat down with the computer to really give it a run for its money, to see when it would finally start to show the difference between the $530 and $2499+ price tag.
And, well, after a day of testing I’ve yet to hit the ceiling. I’ve edited video with Kdenlive, I’ve edited audio, I’ve created motion graphics with Blender, photo and graphic editing with GIMP. Performance was fine, all-around.
I’m sure I could bring the thing to its knees if I really really tried, but it would require finding some uncompressed HD footage with some effects applied to it, etc, and that sort of thing just isn’t done normally and it would bring a Mac Pro to its knees without upgrades as well.
In short, between generic computers and free software, computing just ain’t what it used to be. In the best of ways.
Okay. So now you’ve got me drooling on my keyboard. iMac or U-box? iMac or U-box? Man, oh, man. Decisions, decisions, decisions.
“Oh did I mention there’s a huge learning curve to Linux and for a good 6 months it’ll take you twice as long to do every single task you attempt?”
There, did that help?
I suppose if you grew up with some version of command line useage, whether on a large mainframe computer or an old CPM box, running a totally free (as in doesn’t cost money to acquire legally) and open (as in the user can modify the guts of the OS at will legally) just isn’t as bad as some folks make it out to be. Granted, a GUI is easier for some tasks. But to zap back and forth between them is a real power trip. (Subjectively speaking and from a very geekified perspective.)