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MacBook Pro + Cinema Display vs 27" iMac

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dmw16

Diamond Member
Currently I have a late-2010 15" MBP and a 27" Cinema Display. The laptop made sense because I was traveling a lot and liked to be able to take my machine with me. However I'm no longer traveling and now my laptop stays on my desk connected to my display. I run dual screens but rarely use any the MBP screen as the 27" display is plenty of screen space.

As I've been cleaning out my closet I got to thinking...what if I were to sell my MBP and my Cinema Display and replace it with a base model 27" iMac? A refurb can be had for $1429. What do you guys figure a 15" MBP and Cinema display are worth? I'm trying to decide if it's worth the trouble.

Thanks.
 
That's a tough call, because with the iMac you an add a secondary display. Although you can just upgrade your MBP and you'll have close to the iMac specs. Mac of all Trades shot me an offer of $900 for my Unibody 15" (First Gen). You could come out on top. Your 27" Cinema is still worth a pretty penny.
 
I personally think the iMac's aren't a great option, because of lack of upgrades. Not to mention, once you're done with it and want to upgrade everything other than the screen, then you have to go through the process of separating the monitor and rest of the system anyway.

I think laptop + 27" is the perfect combination these days.

Your 15" MBP + 27" screen is probably worth at least $2200-2300. Unless you're really VERY sure about not needing a laptop, you should just give yourself an 'iMac feel' by using a bluetooth keyboard and trackpad!
 
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I would keep the setup you have. One reason I don't like the iMac is because i like to spend extra on a really good screen and then keep it for years through multiple upgrades. Your current setup is like that now, and you would lose that ability if you went iMac.
 
Thanks for the thoughts guys.

Spidey, it isn't so much about the feel. I already use a Magic Trackpad and wireless keyboard. It's more a question of having $2200-$2300 tied up in hardware that for my needs could be done by $1400 worth of hardware.

I don't game or anything like that and really just use my machine for a little photo and video editing (very basic stuff) web surfing and office applications.

I'm just kicking around ideas at this point.
 
I had this thought a couple of months ago but with 13" MBA + 27" ACD. I eventually went away from this idea because of similar thoughts by others. Now I just want to get rid of both and get a 13" MBP or something similar
 
disports said:
I had this thought a couple of months ago but with 13" MBA + 27" ACD. I eventually went away from this idea because of similar thoughts by others. Now I just want to get rid of both and get a 13" MBP or something similar
Click to expand...
Its a never ending cycle 🙂

I've gone from mbp -> old macbook + desktop -> mbp + 30" LCD -> only mbp -> now mba + 23" LCD
 
wantedSpidy said:
Its a never ending cycle 🙂

I've gone from mbp -> old macbook + desktop -> mbp + 30" LCD -> only mbp -> now mba + 23" LCD
Click to expand...

I know, it's quite ridiculous isn't it? I'm hoping that having just a MBP or whatever solution I go with will keep me glued to my laptop less and I'm sure I can also adapt to having a smaller screen. It's just a matter of convenience.
 
silverpig said:
I would keep the setup you have. One reason I don't like the iMac is because i like to spend extra on a really good screen and then keep it for years through multiple upgrades. Your current setup is like that now, and you would lose that ability if you went iMac.
Click to expand...

Yup, having the external display is nice for flexibility.. What about selling the mbp and getting a Mac mini?
And/or selling the cinema display and getting a cheaper LED/LCD...
 
dawks said:
Yup, having the external display is nice for flexibility.. What about selling the mbp and getting a Mac mini?
And/or selling the cinema display and getting a cheaper LED/LCD...
Click to expand...

It might be hard for the OP to go from a 27" LED IPS panel to anything but that. Unfortunately most of the other displays on the market that are on the level of the 27" LED Display are just as expensive (though they would have more ports)
 
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