The sooner a 'BASE' configuration is quoted - the better...

It IS possible to have a basic configuration to use as a base for testing and development. There are FEW options involved when you look at the HW/SW spec

Agreed - there are the 'newer' and 'older' 2G G5's the latter will run 10.0.3, the former will not (10.3.9) Heres a spec most people dont deviate from:

Dual 2G Mac
OS 10.3.3 (or 10.3.9)
512MB Ram
SATA System HD
SCSI Content Drive
ATTO SCSI Controller
ATI 9800 SE 256MB
USB card (with internal port for dongle)
Miglia Alchemy Capture Card - or Blackmagic SDI capture Card
optional Keyspan USB adaptor

Software: Nothing other than the OS loaded + updates + catalyst.
ATI drivers + control panel
Atto dirvers
Keyspan drivers
Black magic or alchemy drivers
re-namer program (Renamer4Mac)
(VNC software - tech only - OSXvnc + Chicken of the VNC)


Its a pretty simple spec.
Hire companies dont send out machines with other software on..... (what the users put on is down to them - hence why they get wiped when returned.)

Most designers use their own Macs / laptops for editing and content creation - so dont tend to install any software on the servers - (apart from OSXvnc for network access, only when needed)

SO - hardware spec is pretty simple, software spec is simple... Its a basic spec that everyone uses... why not use it as a minimum spec and benchmark for testing?