Does "RAW files from Canon digital cameras cannot be downloaded" MATTER??

Question

Need to buy new camera to use with my G5 and iPHoto 5. I desire (1) affordability, (2) more optical zoom than what I've had in past (want to move from 4x to 6x), and (3) compatible with my G5.
I've had 2 canon powershost (my last, the 570, but a kid dropped it). Easy to use. So maybe simliar, or something nicer.
Been studying the Canon web site about their various cameras. For the above reasons I like thePowerShot SX100 IS, about $240. 6x optical zoom.
HOWEVER, in the MAC OSX compatibility section at Canon it has this quote:
* Mac OS X 10.1 and newer come with Image Capture drivers that support most of Canon's digital cameras with USB interfaces. When a compatible camera is connected to a compatible Mac computer running OS X 10.1 and newer, the computer detects the camera and automatically launches Image Capture. This Apple program allows JPEG images in the camera to be downloaded to the Macintosh. NOTE: RAW files from Canon digital cameras cannot be downloaded in OS X via Image Capture. We suggest the use of File Viewer Utility or an external card reader. Also, movie files shot with PowerShot cameras cannot be downloaded in OS X via Image Capture or iPhoto. We suggest the use of ImageBrowser or an external card reader.
Additionally, Image Capture can access JPEG images directly from a CompactFlash card using an OS X-compatible card reader or using a PC Card Adapter in the PC Card slot of an Apple PowerBook.**
This line caught me confused: *RAW files from Canon digital cameras cannot be downloaded*
In the past, I just plugged in the Canon Camera, and iPhoto 5 opened, and I h appily downloaded the picts and off and away I was.
Will this still happen??? And if I'm not getting the "RAW" picts (whatever that is), but just the JPEGS I'm used to, am I not getting "all" the picts, or the best that my camera could be given me for eventually printing?
Am I worrying about nothing?
Finally, any camera suggestions? Under $300 , super picts, 5-10x zoom, and friendly with my Mac
Thanks
JON

Answer 1

Jon
You know, because you ask the question, I'll guess that it won't really matter to you...
Every camera shoots RAW - that's the total information that the sensor on the camera sees, but mid- and lower end cameras process this RAW data into an easy to use format such as jpegs.
Many (but not all) Pros demand that the camera provide all the data to the computer, so that the photographer can process the images him/her self. For most casual and family users this is not an issue. For the serious hobbyist and the Pro it might well be.
For more on Raw have a look at this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rawimageformat
Btw, later versions of iPhoto do work with Some Raw formats.
As to cameras:
I used a Canon S2 IS for a couple of years and found it really good. There's and S3 and an S5 now too. Currently I'm using a Panasonic FZ8. I really like it.
Regards
TD