Hello everyone im looking for my first Mac computer and am tossed between MacBook air 11 or 13 or buying the new base I Mac 21.5 I'm looking dogie the best value for my money I like to do photos maybe video an it need to be fast any suggestions any one ?
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Air or I mac
- Thread starter Berardi3
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MacBook Airs:
extremely portable
slower processors than the iMac
SSD is faster than the iMac's traditional hard drive, but less storage capacity
memory can't be upgraded after purchase
no Thunderbolt ports
iMacs:
not very portable
faster processors than the Air
traditional hard drive is slower than the Air's SSD, but has more storage capability
memory can be upgraded after purchase
has Thunderbolt ports
Either machine is capable of photos and videos.
The iMac is going to have a faster processor, so it's going to be faster at CPU intensive tasks, like converting/export video. For me, I don't do these tasks often.
The Airs have the solid-state drives, which are insanely quick. This can make the Air feel like a faster-overall system when doing normal daily tasks, like surfing the web, email, iTunes, etc.
There's really no clear-cut answer. You're going to have to figure out if you need something portable or not, and if you want a Mac with a faster processor or a faster hard drive.
For me, the slower processor of the Air was outweighed by the very fast SSD. I'll gladly wait longer for the Air to complete CPU intensive tasks that I do a few times a month in exchange for doing the tasks I do daily much quicker than any other Mac I've ever used.
extremely portable
slower processors than the iMac
SSD is faster than the iMac's traditional hard drive, but less storage capacity
memory can't be upgraded after purchase
no Thunderbolt ports
iMacs:
not very portable
faster processors than the Air
traditional hard drive is slower than the Air's SSD, but has more storage capability
memory can be upgraded after purchase
has Thunderbolt ports
Either machine is capable of photos and videos.
The iMac is going to have a faster processor, so it's going to be faster at CPU intensive tasks, like converting/export video. For me, I don't do these tasks often.
The Airs have the solid-state drives, which are insanely quick. This can make the Air feel like a faster-overall system when doing normal daily tasks, like surfing the web, email, iTunes, etc.
There's really no clear-cut answer. You're going to have to figure out if you need something portable or not, and if you want a Mac with a faster processor or a faster hard drive.
For me, the slower processor of the Air was outweighed by the very fast SSD. I'll gladly wait longer for the Air to complete CPU intensive tasks that I do a few times a month in exchange for doing the tasks I do daily much quicker than any other Mac I've ever used.
Well, if you don't need edit away from home the iMac would be better just cause of it's specs and screen size. The macbook air would work if you needed to edit on-the-go. Also if you have a large amount of photos/videos the iMac could hold it all. With the mba you most likely would need to bring along a portable external hdd.
You forgot to add that the iMac has a much much much bigger screen which, besides everything else, is of much higher quality than than any MBA.
OP in every aspect the iMac is the better value for money - faster, bigger screen, more convenient even for trivial tasks like writing and browsing, let alone picture editing. You have to decide whether you need a laptop or a desktop.
I've decided to go for both, as it turned out I cannot give up the ergonomics of a desktop computer while at home.
One is a desktop, the other is an ultraportable.
If you need a portable computer, get the Air. If not, the iMac is a far better value. It's pretty simple.
If you need a portable computer, get the Air. If not, the iMac is a far better value. It's pretty simple.