ok so i have decided..... kinda

[otispunkmeyer]

the imac and mbp will be similarly spec'd up..... 2Gb, 2.33 C2D, 250gb HDD (160 in mbp), 256mb X1600, (Wireless KBM wanted for both)

ill be buying a logitech VX revolution which is blutooth so i dont have to waste 1 of the 2 USB ports on the MBP.

storage really isnt an issue since i have a 400gb external drive and honestly its all i need.

i already have a 20inch Dell 2005FPW so its just a case of either havine dual 20's or a laptop that can kinda become a workstation when i get home (ie wireless kbm, 20 inch tft....use like a normal desktop)

1) i really cant decide whats best for my use, i'll be taking it back to uni with me and i just cant tell whether ill be the type who'll take the mbp everywhere or be the type who buys a lappy and then cant be fussed with lugging it round. it would be nice to sit in the labs an work on my own machine, and its easy to just fold the lid when i wanna shoot off home for the weekend.

i have had a large desktop at uni the past 2 years and while i appreciate the power, i hated packing it up and wished i had a lappy. friends with laptops lamented the slow performance and wished they had a desktop. ideally id have both, but im not that rich.

i sold my rig since it was basically i high end gaming machine being used at most to type work on.

2) if i plump for the imac, i can buy that here in the UK, it comes to just under £1200 with the discount i get by ordering through my university

3) if i go for the MBP, its too expensive here even with the discount, but my mum is going shopping in NYC soon so i could take advantage of the £ > $ and at the moment its looking to be about £1300, then theres the small problem of smuggling it in a suitcase.

sorry for the long post, but seriously what do you think i should go for? whats gonna give me the best value, whats gonna get me the most usage?

 

[TheStu]

The VX Revolution is not, repeat not bluetooth (/me looks at the MX on his desk).

Since they are very similar machines, you will be getting roughly the same performance out of both. I know that with the exception of games, I have 0 performamce speed issues on my MacBook, but I came from a relatively slow processor (2.4GHz P4 Northwood, which was slower than my Athlon XP @ 2.4GHz).

I personally plan on getting an iMac in addition to my laptop, but I have a more portable laptop so this way i would have a dedicated desk machine, and one I can just sync my laptop and use it for school.

But, like I said, the VX Revolution is not a bluetooth mouse. No one seems to make really nice bluetooth mice. I know that Microsoft is coming out with a new keyboard/mouse combo that looks intersting, but it is something like $300 and is geared for Vista, so no idea how much of it will work under OS X.

 

[alimoalem]

go for the MBP, you won't regret it. and with equal performance for 100 pounds more, i think it's a deal for you. laptops usually cost more than just a hundred more for equal performance

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: TheStu
The VX Revolution is not, repeat not bluetooth (/me looks at the MX on his desk).

Since they are very similar machines, you will be getting roughly the same performance out of both. I know that with the exception of games, I have 0 performamce speed issues on my MacBook, but I came from a relatively slow processor (2.4GHz P4 Northwood, which was slower than my Athlon XP @ 2.4GHz).

I personally plan on getting an iMac in addition to my laptop, but I have a more portable laptop so this way i would have a dedicated desk machine, and one I can just sync my laptop and use it for school.

But, like I said, the VX Revolution is not a bluetooth mouse. No one seems to make really nice bluetooth mice. I know that Microsoft is coming out with a new keyboard/mouse combo that looks intersting, but it is something like $300 and is geared for Vista, so no idea how much of it will work under OS X.

my bad, i was on about the MX revolution not the VX sorry

one is the shruken version for people on the move and the other is the big pimp daddy
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2007/02/08/logitech_mx_revolution_mouse/1.html

they say its BT and logitech support the mouse fully in both OS's

and snap, im using a 2.4 northwood at the moment, with some l33t RDRAM

 

[VooDooAddict]

Interesting situation.

For equal $$ the laptop sounds like the better deal.

If the 20" iMac was significantly cheaper I'd say go for it as the taking home portability will be simple. Just get an LCD carrying case and it will be simple to transport home. Near matching Dual 20" Displays is a nice work environment.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer

Originally posted by: TheStu
The VX Revolution is not, repeat not bluetooth (/me looks at the MX on his desk).

Since they are very similar machines, you will be getting roughly the same performance out of both. I know that with the exception of games, I have 0 performamce speed issues on my MacBook, but I came from a relatively slow processor (2.4GHz P4 Northwood, which was slower than my Athlon XP @ 2.4GHz).

I personally plan on getting an iMac in addition to my laptop, but I have a more portable laptop so this way i would have a dedicated desk machine, and one I can just sync my laptop and use it for school.

But, like I said, the VX Revolution is not a bluetooth mouse. No one seems to make really nice bluetooth mice. I know that Microsoft is coming out with a new keyboard/mouse combo that looks intersting, but it is something like $300 and is geared for Vista, so no idea how much of it will work under OS X.

my bad, i was on about the MX revolution not the VX sorry

one is the shruken version for people on the move and the other is the big pimp daddy
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2007/02/08/logitech_mx_revolution_mouse/1.html

they say its BT and logitech support the mouse fully in both OS's

and snap, im using a 2.4 northwood at the moment, with some l33t RDRAM

it isn't listed on logitech's website as being bluetooth, but hey I could be wrong. I just know that the VX Rev is not bluetooth. just to be sure, I had OS X look for bluetooth devices, and all it found was my phone. So, no bluetooth on either model which really peeves me. I complained about this in an earlier thread, my argument being that if they are going to charge $80+ for this mouse (logitech MSRP) then the likelihood of a person that bought a $500 laptop sans bluetooth is sort of slim. The kind of person that is willing to drop that kind of cash on a laptop mouse is much more likely to have bluetooth, and they can still bundle the dongle, but that would have freed up my already limited USB ports. Now, don't get me wrong, the trackpad on teh macbooks are a trackpad user's dream. Really large, with intuitive support (right click by tapping two fingers, and scroll by using two fingers) but sometimes you just need a mouse.

Anyway, it does have full OS X support, but frankly, it works pretty well out of the box. I recently reformatted OS X when I installed vista, and I forgot to reinstall the logitech control center. Didn't even notice. The advantage of the control center is that you can program each of the buttons to perform a specific task in a specific program.

i would recommend either of the Revolutions without hesitation as they are both incredibly comfortable and great mice.

I just wish they had bluetooth.

 

[manly]

Stu - do you prefer the MX or VX Revolution and why?

 

[TheStu]

I personally prefer the VX Revolution, which I am fairly certain is the small one that I own. It fits a little better in my hand (and I have large hands too) and I like the absence of the side wheel that is on the larger model. It is very smooth on picking up movement, and works on darn near any surface, even glass.

 

[TMoney468]

I have the VX Revolution too, and the main reason I prefer it over the MX is that the VX uses a single AA battery which lasts up to 3 months, whereas the MX is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

 

[manly]

Originally posted by: TMoney468
I have the VX Revolution too, and the main reason I prefer it over the MX is that the VX uses a single AA battery which lasts up to 3 months, whereas the MX is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

That's pretty awesome considering my old MX700 gets about a week on 2 AAs, and I don't even use it heavily.

It sounds like I'll be getting the VX.

 

[Fraggable]

So... Have you considered a Mac Mini + Macbook? If you don't game then you don't need a ton of power, and you have all the storage you need on an external drive.

I don't know about prices over there, but here with my student discount:

15.4" 2.33GHz 2GB MBP - $2299
or
20" Imac 2.16GHz 2GB - $1850

Or for 2 systems:

1.66GHz mini 1GB 120GB- $692 (add your 20" monitor)
+
2.0GHz macbook 2GB 120GB HDD - $1491
=
$2183

Seems to me like you can afford 2 systems. The mac mini uses a 2.5" HDD so it may not feel like a true desktop, but add enough RAM and it will be fine.
If you customize the systems with as little RAM as possible and add your own memory from Newegg you'll save a bundle.

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: Fraggable
So... Have you considered a Mac Mini + Macbook? If you don't game then you don't need a ton of power, and you have all the storage you need on an external drive.

I don't know about prices over there, but here with my student discount:

15.4" 2.33GHz 2GB MBP - $2299
or
20" Imac 2.16GHz 2GB - $1850

Or for 2 systems:

1.66GHz mini 1GB 120GB- $692 (add your 20" monitor)
+
2.0GHz macbook 2GB 120GB HDD - $1491
=
$2183

Seems to me like you can afford 2 systems. The mac mini uses a 2.5" HDD so it may not feel like a true desktop, but add enough RAM and it will be fine.
If you customize the systems with as little RAM as possible and add your own memory from Newegg you'll save a bundle.

i think the MBP is still a better option (of course upgrading ram on your own). it can become a hassle with 2 systems...you have to keep backing up stuff to both systems in case you needed to use something and the other wasn't available. why buy 2 cooking knives when you can just buy a better single one?