Has anyone ditched their iMac for a MacBook Pro? Does one need both?

[Johnontheweb]

Hi,

My ageing iMac is needing an update, but I find I use it for a file and printer server more than anything else... I'm on the MBP 90% of the time for all apps (Video, etc.)... Thoughts? Keep both? Dump the iMac?

 

[Mikael H]

Perhaps a headless Mac Mini could be an alternative to a more-or-less always on iMac for the purposes you state? It's expensive for a storage solution (unless you're ok with hanging some Thunderbolt or USB storage off it, depending on your needs), but keeps the macOS interface if that's with what you're familiar.

A middle-of-the-road solution might be something from Synology.
The cheapest - but most demanding - alternative would be a small GNU/Linux or BSD-based server.

 

[redheeler]

You haven't mentioned whether or not you need your MacBook Pro out of necessity because you are away from your iMac most of the time, so I can't make a recommendation on what you should do.

I personally prefer having both, and will use my 27" iMac over the 15" rMBP whenever I can. It helps that the iMac is a couple years newer than the rMBP and has a Retina display, with an older non-Retina iMac the display quality of the iMac would be noticeably worse.

 

[mmomega]

This one needs both... I guess need is subjective, but this one is happy to be fortunate enough to be able to own both and have a use for both.

 

[priitv8]

I switched from MBP to iMac.
More computing power for less money + big 5K screen.
So for my usecase (Aperture. FCPX, Handbrake, Luminar) performance outweighs portability.
I don't need the latter at all, in fact.

 

[user_xyz]

Hi,

My ageing iMac is needing an update, but I find I use it for a file and printer server more than anything else... I'm on the MBP 90% of the time for all apps (Video, etc.)... Thoughts? Keep both? Dump the iMac?

You could get a macbook Pro and a 27' monitor plus keyboard/mouse for home use.
When you are mobile just take the macbook!
That's what I would do.

ETA: I have a new Mac mini/2 powerful Win 10 boxes and a Dell XPS when I need to go mobile.

 

[tarsins]

For casual programming and browsing I tend to lounge on the sofa/in bed with my MBP. For serious development, particularly if it involves graphics, I'll use my iMac with its 34" ultrawide monitor along with the standard 27" display.

 

[Fishrrman]

One may not "need" both a laptop and desktop Mac, but things are sure nicer when you keep both of them around !

 

[TesstheFirst]

I am almost in same boat but need to dump my very slow outdated iMac from 2011. Could I use it as just a monitor in the future buying a MacBook Pro and not having to upgrade iOS continually? I couldn't imagine it's worth very much trade in value.

Thoughts?

Hi,

My ageing iMac is needing an update, but I find I use it for a file and printer server more than anything else... I'm on the MBP 90% of the time for all apps (Video, etc.)... Thoughts? Keep both? Dump the iMac?

 

[krazzix]

Expensive high end iMac for power, work and games. Cheap MacBook Air for casual stuff (and mostly used by SO)

 

[dotnet]

I ditched my Mac Pro for a MacBook Pro. That was over 10 years ago.

 

[Kevbasscat]

You know, there are perks to being retired. I really don't "need" either, but as @Fishrrman said, it sure is nice having that convenience. That 27" 5k screen is eye heroine to me, and the power for video and audio recording and editing. Then when traveling or lounging, the 15" MBP is wonderful, portable and powerful enough to even record live shows I play, so although I could live without either, they make my quality of life just plain better, and after working my whole life I deserve better frankly. Need is a subjective term, your quality of life should be on top of the priority list, unless you're a martyr, lol. Actually I have two iMacs, 3 MBP's, a Mac Mini, and a whole lot of other mac computers, phones, iPads, iPhones yada yada, but I rarely buy new. Refurb is enabling, if you will.

 

[BlueTide]

For me, for photo/video use it comes down to display size, really. MBP is nicer when lounging around and browsing, but the media stuff is nicer on a bigger screen. For a good while I just docked this MBP and called it a day. In theory, performance would be better on a desktop too, but given how limited iMacs are on GPU front anyway, I didn't find the difference to be that meaningful.

 

[1050792]

MBP screen is too small when crucial work is needed. To be honest I feel like the MBP is more of a browsing machine.

 

[Porkchop Sandwich]

I went the 'laptop + lg 5k' route as my primary and came to regret it, fast. Stability was lacking at a time that if I lost my computer, if even for a day here or there, I stood to lose everything (extraordinary circumstances).

I remedied that by acquiring a spankin' new iMac for pc of mind. It's the best pc of kit, save the mac pro's that I haven't experience with so can't comment, that Apple offers when it comes to stability and reliability.

Coming from mbp's for daily use, it was (and still is) refreshing to work on a desktop again, bc there simply is no comparison in my view. But, that means you're chained to a desk, though..ugh!!

Never mind the naysayer's that suggest a new 21" iMac is somehow a 'subpar' iMac..b/c that's just silly. I wouldn't trade mine for anything, plus, it doesn't look horribly disproportionate setting atop a standard desk. Comment's not intended to dog the 27" by saying that b/c in some aspects, it is indeed a bit of a better value, but certainly not in all..that paints with too broad a stroke to suggest such a thing imo. For some, the 21" is the right tool for the job and at the end of the day, that's what matters.

Coming from a laptop, of any size, the 21" is roomy..at other times however, the extra screen space is nice on the 27" (eg: multiple docs)

Hard to go wrong with an iMac.