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Offspring992

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 15, 2007
89
1
Here's my situation. I currently have a 1st gen MacBook (black) that I purchased when I graduated high school back in 2006. I've been using it ever since, and now that it's starting to show its age, I'm looking to upgrade. The last few months I've been going back and forth on whether or not I want a 13" MBP, a 15" MBP, or a 21.5" iMac. I'm majoring in Geography and next semester I'm taking Cartography and Illustrator is the software we will be using for projects. The main reasons why I'm considering an iMac over a MBP are as follows:

1. My MacBook hardly ever leaves my desk. 95 percent of the time, it's at home on my desk because the battery doesn't last long enough to get anything done. Even when I am at home, I never use it around my house because one of my roommates has a dog that constantly knocks things over and I wouldn't want to get water, beer, or whatever kind of beverage is sitting in my living room to spill over my computer. When I do leave to go back home, it's only for 2 or 3 days at a time, and even then I usually end up using either my Mom or my Dad's iMac anyway.

2. While on campus, if I need access to a computer, I'm never more than 2 minutes away from one. The cartography lab uses Mac Pros with 24 ACDs, the library has 4 levels of computers on them, we have a dedicated computer lab that uses both Dells with Vista as well as 24" iMacs. I also have a 32 gig iPod touch that I use regularly on the campus Wi-Fi if I'm not by a computer and I need to look something up. I've even got Wi-Fi at work that my iPod can connect to as well.

3. The iMac's display is in a league of its own. Despite how crisp the MBP displays are, they don't even come close to the iMac's. Editing in Garageband and Logic on the new iMac vs my 13" MacBook is a night and day difference. Not only that, the height at which the iMac sits on my desk is perfect (my roommate got one about 2 weeks ago and I got a chance to test it out). I'm constantly leaning over to look at anything and type on my MacBook, and after an extended period of time it starts to strain my eyes.

Even though Intel is going to release new processors in 2 weeks, I don't think that would really matter to me since I don't really use a lot of apps that would use everything that the new processors have to offer anyway. What I'm getting at here is this: Has anyone switched from a MacBook to an iMac and not regretted it?
 
they just updated the imacs, so dont worry about the new processors. Is the geography program really graphics intensive? If it is or you can afford it i would go with the upgraded version of the 21in. Especially if the macbook is giving you eyestrain. Just remember that you will lose the portability. But it sounds like you want an imac, so maybe just keep your macbook for emergency cases and purchase the new imac. ;)
 
i had a 15"macbook pro bought last year and bought the 27" imac! the laptop is fine for out and about and the portability side of things as its basically a portable copy of my imac. but i find the imac much nicer for long term viewing and usage.
 
Unless you're getting the quad-core iMacs, I wouldn't bother.

Grab a 13inch Macbook Pro and a decent 24 inch LCD panel. Though that does work out a bit more expensive...
 
I have! I had a 2.4 unibody MBP for a year with a the LED 24 inch display which was good, until i needed more processing power for CAD and such. It aso spent all its time at home, as it was too heavy to carry on a 30 min walk into uni! I love the screen and the performance of my i7 is awesome! i can draw one one side of the screen while watching a movie on the other side! lol!

I will be purchasing a dell mini v10 to hackintosh-as like you, i leave every few weeks to go home from campus.
 
Given a choice between a laptop or a desktop, I always prefer the desktop for intense data entry/processing. As you noted, desktop screens are better, desktop keyboard/mouse ergonomics is better, and desktop computers generally offer more power/speed for the buck (for any given generation).

The current iMac is a great choice if the specs fit your needs. The screens are brilliant.

Of course, it's nice to have both, if you can afford it! :)
 
Thanks for the input everyone. I forgot to mention that I also currently have a Dell mini 10v that is hackintoshed running Snow Leopard, although it hasn't had much use yet. I'm awfully close to making a decision. I'm thinking the $1499 21.5" would suit my needs however this morning I also considered why I should get a MBP instead. My roommate with the dog is graduating in May so I wouldn't have to worry about his dog after he moves out meaning I would be much more prone to using it around the house. Also, knowing that I would have a battery that lasts 5-7 hours I would probably bring it to campus quite a bit more and not even bother using the campus computers. Also, the Geography major is not very graphically intensive. Eventually I am going to have to dual boot and get Windows so I can use a program called arcGIS. Regardless, I think I'm going to wait until next semester starts and determine my needs are.
 
3. The iMac's display is in a league of its own.

Yes, a league that includes a yellow tinge and flickering currently.

I went back and forth between keeping my laptop (that I use 95% of the time as a desktop) and getting a 27" i7 and selling the laptop...

...I bought the i7 but after 3 replacements decided to hold off for a few months. I realized that while I rarely take my laptop out of the house/office. Its nice to have when I want to. My laptop basically does everything I need it to (maybe not as fast) and I know this may sound crazy but I prefer my 22" monitor to 27". I think its just a little too big.
 
The iMac's display is in a league of its own. Despite how crisp the MBP displays are, they don't even come close to the iMac's.

The newer Mac Book Pro's have an LED backlit display which is much better than what you have now.

I find it interesting that you mention using the iPod Touch sort of as a portable computer. My guess is that we will see the Apple tablet in January which will more than suffice for many people who want something mobile as well as a desktop Mac.

Since you are "only" getting a 21 inch Mac you can't be too concerned about power. I would give strong consideration to a MacBook Pro 13-inch and an external display of some sort for more flexibility.

To make the decision even more fun I expect new MBP's in January also because Intel's Arrandale Procs are coming out. Too bad Arrandale is only tow hardware procs and two virtual procs (hyperthreading), that makes it a lot less interesting to me. But I digress...
 
I also bought a Macbook White in 2006 but I always wanted an iMac. this year I decided to get my iMac so I sold my Macbook to my roommate and I got my 21.5 iMac. Not regretted at all. Even though I had enough money to buy an iMac and kept the Macbook, I would still sell it cause it was "off-date". I want a portable computer but that is for when I finish college, for my work and it is gonna to be a MBP, the new ones not yet released. Im saving for that, in March 2011 :D
 
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