MBP or iMac? Which is a better solution?
Hey all... I would welcome any input for the community...
I do occasional freelance work but it's not my main source of income (i use a Mac Pro at the company I work for). I've been milking a old iMac G4 Flat-Panel (800MHz/1gig RAM). Now I am in the market to get another system. I mostly do heavy print and web with the occasional 3D and video. I would love a Mac Pro w/30inch display but it's a little out of my range and probably way too much (OK, I'm lying, it's never too much. LOL!). I am however debating between a new 24" iMac (2.8Mhz/4gigsRAM/1terabyte HD) or a maxed out 17" MacBook Pro. The iMac is less expensive and has better spec's BUT the MacBook Pro is portable which is not really necessary for me but would be a nice convenience. I'm not sure what route to go but any suggestions are welcome. It's a tough choice.
Another little thing about the iMac is the graphics card. Is it me or is 256megs on the video card the bare minimum? Don't you think they should have had the 512 option? Any feedback is appreciated.
~e
Whenever anyone asks me what
Whenever anyone asks me what machine to buy, I always say, "Buy the most machine you can for the money".
Both of the machines will work but the Pro will work "better" and, if you are trying to make money with the machine, it will work faster.
--
Shawn King
Host/Executive Producer
Your Mac Life
http://www.yourmaclifeshow.com
Correction?
Am I correct in reading that this is a choice between a MacBook Pro and an IMAC?
If that's the case, and following Shawn's advice, the _iMac_ would be a better choice. (More RAM, More HD space. etc.)
They're both "all in one," so there's no question about if any component (Display, HD, etc.) goes south you'd have to send it all in for repair, and expansion is also pretty much equally difficult.
In addition, am I correct in that the iMac also is able to do screen spanning to a second monitor or projector as opposed to simply mirroring?
So really, the only difference is the iMac's beefier specs and better built in screen real estate as opposed to the MBP's portability.
If portability is not a must, then given the price difference, I would think it would be obvious. And saying that, while the iMac is not portable, it is certainly one of the most /transportable/ desktop machines available. (You wouldn't be able to use it on the train, but packing it up to bring to the occasional demo / presentation / sleepover is definitely do-able.)
I have a MBP, but only because I need to carry it about constantly for my work. But I would suggest to you to go for the iMac and put the money you save aside for a future MacBook purchase if you find portability is needed.
My 2 cents euro. which for you Americans is what, like a buck? ;-)
Went MacBook and never looked back
I had to make the same decision several years ago and went with a laptop. I have never wished I had a desktop computer since making the switch. The only thing I do miss is a large monitor, but I could buy one for the MacBook if I really needed it.
Just one more opinion.