Hmm... iMac or MacBook?

[Mr. MacBook]

Im most likely going to get a macbook, but the 20 inch iMac is really appealing to me... i went to the apple store yesterday and it caught my eye playing on a quiet screen without an ugly rectangle with stickers on it. The screen's glossy display looks really nice with Tiger.

I'm not going to be using this for much gaming, what do you think?

 

[Allotriophagy]

Clearly the question is "Will you need to move around with your computer a lot?" and if the answer is yes, then the decision is obvious.

 

[kwood]

Personally I prefer to have both. As in I would buy a Macbook and buy a 20 inch display (not necessarily Apple) to plug into. You could have the portability when you needed it, and the screen real estate when it is required.

 

[LordTurtle]

Go the iMac

Hi there,

I am currently selling my Macbook after 1/2 a year. I like yourself were considering the macbook vs imac, but choose the macbook because I loved the screen and thought I needed the portability.

Well after 7 months the verdict for me ...
- screen looks fantastic for watching DVD movies but horrible for reading text
- too much reflective caused lots of eyestrain
- used it on my lap about 10 times, got sick of having to plug in the mouse because the trackpad is difficult to use in that position
- also generally only used it in 2 places in the house and 1 or twice at work, so didnt really get need the portability
- graphics card sucks, hdd not bad for 5400
- great for surfing and word processing, but anything that starts to use the processors causes it the fire up the fans

So now I am going the whole hogg and getting 24" imac ...
- go and compare the 20" to 24" screens in an AppleCentre
- the 24" screen is far superior in clarity and contrast to the 20"
- one powercord still (just like my macbook on my study desk)
- larger screen, better graphics, better hdd, better inbuilt speakers, etc

So if you cant justify the need to actually take it out of your house, go the imac!

 

[Phtosynthesis]

I'm in the same position as you guys. I recently sold my iBook because it had kernel panics and whatnot. As of a week ago, I was really looking into the Macbook, but lately i've noticed how much I really don't need the portability. I honestly never left the house with it, and never left my room with it either. Another thing that changed my mind was the fact that laptops do get scuffed up from being moved around. In the end, I will be getting an iMac, when they start shipping with Leopard. I really would like do some small gaming, which I couldn't do with my iBook, and now i'll have something to put on my desk in the corner of my room. I think it'll be a nice change.

I'm just not sure on whether to get the 17" or the 20". I'll be doing some work in Photoshop and probably games like The Sims. Does anyone think I should go with something larger than 17" for what i'll need to be doing?

 

[nazmac21]

Get the MacBook because of the portability and when you save enough money you could buy an iMac for your desktop needs (and keep your MacBook too).

 

[psycoswimmer]

If you don't have a need for a dedicated graphics card, then I'd say go with the Macbook (make sure it is a superdrive model w/ 1 GB of RAM) and an external display. You get the best of both worlds (especially if you have no need for a graphics card).

 

[wizwaz3]

I say go iMac. It has much more power overall, it's got a nice and large display, and it's relatively portable. If you needed to move it, say to go to a hotel or in-laws, it would be pretty easy. Unless you REALLY need portability, go with the iMac. With the lower specs of the Macbook, it will be obsolete faster than the iMac.

 

[tivoboy]

get both

Get both, and if you buy my brand new 13" macbook one month old, you'll save some serious money1!!

 

[roland.g]

get the iMac. I think the HD space and screen size go further than portability. Then again I'm not a huge fan of laptops.

 

[dr427]

I am on the other end. I started with an iMac 20" (wouldn't even consider the 17" now) and then bought a MBP and now between my wife and I fighting over the MBP I and thinking of selling the iMac for a MB refurb.

So really it depends on the location of the iMac. Mine is upstairs and sorta a hassle where the laptop is great to sit in front of the tv. I think I would miss the 20" real estate, but the portability is more appealing. And I have one of each now. My only hold back is the printer and external hard drive networking, so you might want to consider those two things as well.

 

[KyjL]

iMac.

It's got more oomph in it for less, you won't need to worry about a battery, and MacBooks are not designed for the desktop (sounds like a rather crap reason, but it makes sense when you use a laptop). Unless if you're specifically getting it for portability (which I'm guessing not), you'll waste more money for less power, a smaller screen, and for an ability you'll never use.

I'm a stoodent, and I only use my laptop when I'm away at home or occasionally in class. Other than that it sits in my backpack collecting dust, which is pretty often.

 

[Cult Follower]

I'd get a MacBook I love mine. Portability is always good.

 

[kildraik]

If you need the power of an iMac, but need the potability of a Macbook, then sacrifice a little more and get a Macbook Pro. You can't go wrong there.

 

[Cybergypsy]

Went from macbook to 24" Imac.....now back to a HP that is even more awesome them my imac and has more toys....HP iq770!!!!