Apple just updated Imacs....now I dont know what to get...

[Shutterbug]

I had planned on getting a refurbished Aluminum Macbook and then plugging in a mouse and keyboard. Then also plugging an external monitor into it to have the screen size I wanted plus something I could calibrate for printing. Then at the same time with it being a Macbook I could take it places if I needed to.

Now with the $1500 24" Imac that was anounced today, I dont know now.

With the Macbook I would have limited connections, I usually have my camera and external harddrive and other things plugged into my current laptop. Plus there is the extra cost of buying a monitor.

With the Imac I would have more connections. Plus a 24" screen already. Plus less of a desktop footprint(I have limited space).
I would lose though the portability aspect. Plus from what I have read, its hard to get the Imacs properly calibrated for printing.

And no I am not going to buy a windows pc.

 

[Golf4food]

Tough decision. I love our 20" iMac and a 24" would be awesome, but I'd also really love a Macbook for portability and couch surfing.

 

[BorisMD]

Well, that's a tough call.

I have both, so I'll give you my experience.

1. With the iMac, you get a great computer, and a great monitor. But, when you're tired of the computer, or the computer goes out of date, you lose the nice monitor. On the other hand, for working at a desktop, you get a way better computer package. The price is hard to beat, too.

2. The laptop is nice, but you pay a price for portability. If you don't really need a full computer for portability, you can get an iPod touch and that will do your mobile surfing and email anywhere there is wifi just fine.

3. Just to muddy the water a bit more, another nice option is the a nice 24" monitor $800 and a new mac mini, with the larger harddrive for $700. The mini is easily replaced as it is outdated, and you still get a great monitor.

You spend your time looking at the monitor, so that's an important consideration. The new portables have nice monitors, so it's less of an issue than it used to be.

It's a tough question. I use my laptop daily, and my iMac only occasionally, but it's also the central family use machine. The only thing I don't like about my laptop is that it only has the 15" screen, and more real estate would be nice. Also, the color of the bright reds don't render well with the glossy monitor. I take the thing anywhere I'm going to be sitting for a long time. If I have to go sit at the doctor's office for a long time, I bring it and log on to the wifi and surf DIS photo stuff

If you are going to use an external monitor with the laptop, you can run both screens with different content -- allowing you to do some work on one screen while showing other work on the other screen. That adds the expense of another monitor and the appropriate cables.

I doubt I've cleared things up much, just added my perspectives.

Regards,

Boris

 

[ssanders79]

Go for the laptop.

I started out owning a few different desktops (mac & pc) and after owning two different laptops (both dell) I will never go back. The portability is my number one reason.

I have a setup in my office where I have a 20" monitor that I can plug my laptop (dell xps m1210) into with a bluetooth mouse and keyboard. My laser printer and all in one color/scanner/copier/fax are connected to my network so I can print or scan from any location within my wifi connection.

You can then get a usb hub so you just need to plug in one cable. The only other thing I plug in are external speakers.

On top of all that get a second power supply so you can leave one at your desk and the other can be stored in your travel case.

 

[Shutterbug]

Thanks for the replies everyone.
I think I am going to pull the trigger on the Imac.

I thought about the laptop but after looking more, the screen is just too small for what I want. Then I just dont have the space to also plug in an extra monitor with a USB hub. Plus from past experiences some devices dont work well with hubs and need to be plugged directly into the computer.

 

[fitzperry]

Thanks for the replies everyone.
I think I am going to pull the trigger on the Imac.

I thought about the laptop but after looking more, the screen is just too small for what I want. Then I just dont have the space to also plug in an extra monitor with a USB hub. Plus from past experiences some devices dont work well with hubs and need to be plugged directly into the computer.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but I don't understand why you'd need a USB hub to plug in the external display. I think the new Macbooks have a mini-display port, so you plug the monitor into an adaptor which plugs into the computer. I used my Macbook Air that way with no problems at all. I now have the last generation Macbook Pro, and my external monitor plugs directly into the computer.

 

[Shutterbug]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but I don't understand why you'd need a USB hub to plug in the external display. I think the new Macbooks have a mini-display port, so you plug the monitor into an adaptor which plugs into the computer. I used my Macbook Air that way with no problems at all. I now have the last generation Macbook Pro, and my external monitor plugs directly into the computer.

yeah you are misunderstanding but thats probably my fault while typing out my reply while heading out the door..lol

What I meant to say was, between having also a monitor of the size I want, plus also having to get an eternal hub to plug in what I want, there is just going to me more clutter than what I care to have.

I like (and want) the all in one packaging of the Imac.

And if it turns out mobility is something that I do end up needing after awhile, well I see a refurb mac air is just $999

 

[fitzperry]

yeah you are misunderstanding but thats probably my fault while typing out my reply while heading out the door..lol

What I meant to say was, between having also a monitor of the size I want, plus also having to get an eternal hub to plug in what I want, there is just going to me more clutter than what I care to have.

I like (and want) the all in one packaging of the Imac.

And if it turns out mobility is something that I do end up needing after awhile, well I see a refurb mac air is just $999

Gotcha.

The new iMacs look great. Hope you enjoy it!

And I'll add a plug for the Macbook Air--we love ours. We were going to sell it when I upgraded to the Macbook Pro, but I can't seem to separate my husband from it. Also, the display on the Air is far superior to the one on the new 13" Macbooks. Neither is big enough for serious photo work, but you would probably enjoy viewing your pictures much more on the Air.

 

[bostran1]

If you're looking to save some coin, you can still buy the older version of the iMacs both in Apple Stores and online. Then you could maybe get the ultimate 24" iMac instead of a midrange one. Just my two cents. If you're looking at new iMacs, I would go with the $1799 version at the least. The other two use the same "onboard" graphics chips as the iMacs. If you're using it for photography (really if using Aperture or another higher-end photo program, you'll be fine with iPhoto) the extra GPU power will be important.