iMac or Macbook

[Psyko12]

Hello,

I just registered because I love your reviews, and as the title suggests I'm looking to buy a new computer (which this time will be a Mac, my first Macintosh ever). From the start it was the MacBook Pro that got my attention for macs, I used to be one of the counter-apple people before, but now I'm starting to wonder if I should get an iMac instead.
In thought the choice is simple; desktop or laptop. I however have never owned a laptop. I am quite familiar with using laptops, and I like the idea of being able to take it with me. What I worry about is battery and comfort, that potential battery hassles (having to exercise the battery if I don't move arous as much as I think I might) etc.
I'm also a bit sketchy towards the glossy screen on the MBP, for the times I'm outside my home.

With the iMac however, I like the idea of not having to worry about the battery and just letting it sit.

I know this text probably seems a bit weird, I'm typing all this on an iPod touch, making editing quite painful.


Bottom line:
Option 1: iMac 21". Better processor (I'd get the i7 upgrade), not as good graphics card for the times I want to boot camp for gaming... Maybe a bit better typing experience as well, since I'd get the wired keyboard with numpad...
Option 2: MacBook Pro. Sexier, more portable, better graphics card (1GB), potential battery hassles.

Not sure what exactly I want with to get from this thread, I can assure you that the idea of posting it sounded better in my head. I am having quite a lot of trouble of translating my thoughts into text though. If anyone has anything to say about using either machine I'd love to hear it.

Oh, and I wasn't just kissing ass when I said I love the reviews on this site, they really are great

 

[Blain]

* Both have glossy screens
* Both can be configured with a SSD
* The MBP is a little more limited on CPU speed, memory and storage capacity
* The iMac can be obtained with a sweet 27" display
* An extra battery can add more time to usage on the MBP
* Maybe a MacMini configured with a SSD along with a non-Apple matte finish LCD monitor

Budget... so we can compare "apples to apples" and not "apples to oranges"?

 

[Psyko12]

* Both have glossy screens
* Both can be configured with a SSD
* The MBP is a little more limited on CPU speed, memory and storage capacity
* The iMac can be obtained with a sweet 27" display
* An extra battery can add more time to usage on the MBP
* Maybe a MacMini configured with a SSD along with a non-Apple matte finish LCD monitor

Budget?

Budget? Let's just say quality over quantity. It can cost, however I think the price of the 17" model MBP is a tad much. While I did consider the 27" iMac, I visited a retailer and realized the 27" model is just way too big for my taste. Both the extreme resolution and hugenormous display. I'd contract neck injuries from having to turn my head so often.

As for the glossy displays, I love them. Both for how good they make the computer look, and for the good contrast and color they provide. The reason I'd want a matte laptop screen is because usage conditions are not always optimal when on the go, having a desktop would work well at all times.

I did consider the Mac Mini also, but I didn't like how far behind they are both in terms of processor and graphics. (And lets not lie; the iMac is a beauty for a computer!)

I thought about what I wrote in the first post and I guess I could express my concerns more... Well, a bit rephrased really.
I, as I may have mentioned, love the idea of being able to take my computer with me. What I worry is that in reality I won't do it enough to compensate for a potentially worse typing experience (the sharp edge on the MacBook seems like a turn-off, and iMac keyboard would be at an angle). Plus the iMac has a bigger screen. So I should just get the iMac, right? I can't drop the thought of how nice a MacBook would be.


And yeah, I do feel a bit odd ranting about such first world issues, making it sound like such of a big deal. I guess I'm just of the nerdy kind

Edit:

Budget... so we can compare "apples to apples" and not "apples to oranges"?

I don't understand :/
Is it a bad pun or am I missing something?

 

[Blain]

Apples to oranges = comparing a high-end MBP with a low-end iMac or high-end iMac with a low-end MBP.
Posting a budget evens the playing field so we're all on the same page.

 

[Psyko12]

Apples to oranges = comparing a high-end MBP with a low-end iMac or high-end iMac with a low-end MBP.
Posting a budget evens the playing field so we're all on the same page.

I understand, but I'm deciding between the high end 21" iMac and high end 15". So I guess my budget is the price of the high end 15" MacBook.

It's really more about choosing between the two, rather than choosing by a budget.

 

[TheStu]

I understand, but I'm deciding between the high end 21" iMac and high end 15". So I guess my budget is the price of the high end 15" MacBook.

It's really more about choosing between the two, rather than choosing by a budget.

It comes down to needs. Do you think that you will ever, ever, ever, want to move the computer into the next room or take it with you somewhere?

Yes? MBP
No? iMac

 

[Blain]

A Mac Pro is one thing, but an iMac is fairly portable.

 

[Psyko12]

A Mac Pro is one thing, but an iMac is fairly portable.

Hehe, I've been thinking the very same thing, but essentially I wouldn't call anything with a power cord portable.

What is the typing experience on a MacBook Pro like? Or the keyboard that comes with the iMac?
And most importantly: How much fiddeling is there to keeping a MacBook battery in shape, ie not only using the charger?

 

[mfenn]

What is it that you actually want to do with the computer? That in large part determines what you need. The reason we ask about budget is because that determines what you can get. Knowing those two things (what you need and what you can get) is the basis for a solid recommendation. There is a method to our madness around here.

I bring this up because you can get the 13" MBP and Thunderbolt display for about the same price as the high end 15" MBP. You lose some performance, but you get the portability of a laptop with the usability of a fixed display/kb/mouse. As for 27" display, trust me, once you get used to it, you will wonder how you got by for so long with a small screen. I use a 30" at work, and it makes me incredibly productive.

As for the MBP keyboard, I typed my entire master's thesis on one and it was fine.

 

[Psyko12]

As for the MBP keyboard, I typed my entire master's thesis on one and it was fine.

Sounds convincing enough to me
I more or less decided to stop worrying about it and getting the MacBook over the iMac. What I still can't decide on is what machine to get, and it depends on glossy lo-res against matte hi-res.

Either I get the high end 15" early 2011, with a much better graphics card and somewhat better processor...
...or I buy this years low end 15" model, with the antiglare option.

The high end one is from a reseller (well known, trusted one) so it can't be customized... They both cost the same, as far as budget goes. (not sure of the heading or value, or what ever that currency term is, but 15990 SEK)

Naturally this comes down to what I'll use the machine for. I want to be able to play some heavier games like crysis 2 through boot camp, which I know both can, thanks to YouTube. Secondly it's future proofing. I've had the same stock desktop PC since 2005, only upgraded the RAM. I really don't want to have to buy a new computer in two years because Apple don't support my processor anymore, something like that. (gaming is second priority, I realize it's not gonna last long as a gaming machine)

 

[Psyko12]

As for the MBP keyboard, I typed my entire master's thesis on one and it was fine.

Sounds convincing enough to me
I more or less decided to stop worrying about it and getting the MacBook over the iMac. What I still can't decide on is what machine to get, and it depends on glossy lo-res against matte hi-res.

Either I get the high end 15" early 2011, with a much better graphics card and somewhat better processor...
...or I buy this years low end 15" model, with the antiglare option.

The high end one is from a reseller (well known, trusted one) so it can't be customized... They both cost the same, as far as budget goes. (not sure of the heading or value, or what ever that currency term is, but 15990 SEK)

Naturally this comes down to what I'll use the machine for. I want to be able to play some heavier games like crysis 2 through boot camp, which I know both can, thanks to YouTube. Secondly it's future proofing. I've had the same stock desktop PC since 2005, only upgraded the RAM. I really don't want to have to buy a new computer in two years because Apple don't support my processor anymore, something like that. (gaming is second priority, I realize it's not gonna last long as a gaming machine)

 

[Arkaign]

Depending on your technical experience or desires, you could do a hackintosh. I run OSX Lion on my newest HP notebook that I got for $800, which has i7 sandy bridge, 8gb ddr3, 1tb hard drive, bluray, 17.3" 1080p, radeon 6770, usb3, etc. I added a 120gb ssd to it that I run OSX off of, it's crazy fast. I only use OSX once in a while, but it's nice to have. But yeah, there's no way on earth I could get anything remotely close to those specs from Apple at that price. And for what? A nicer case and an Apple logo?

Now a MBA on the other hand, there's really no equal to it imho for what it is.

EDIT: Yep, just specced a MBP as close as I could to this HP, and it's $2,799. So, an extra $2,000? And it still doesn't have bluray (admittedly, I rarely use this).

 

[mfenn]

gaming is second priority, I realize it's not gonna last long as a gaming machine)

You got that right. The 6770M can play Crysis 2, for suitably small values of play, but it is going to be hopelessly outdated in a year. I know that you know this, but if gaming is any sort of priority, a desktop PC is really the only way to go.

 

[Remobz]

A Mac Pro is one thing, but an iMac is fairly portable.

Good point.

 

[TheStu]

You got that right. The 6770M can play Crysis 2, for suitably small values of play, but it is going to be hopelessly outdated in a year. I know that you know this, but if gaming is any sort of priority, a desktop PC is really the only way to go.

I love this phrasing. Have a , I'm probably going to go ahead and start using that without realizing it.

 

[mfenn]

I love this phrasing. Have a , I'm probably going to go ahead and start using that without realizing it.

Alright, got a quote in a sig! And in a mod's sig no less. :whiste: