Imac or Macbook Air

[Ratatapa]

Hi Everyone I'm new in apple computers still so I wanted to know what you guys think

I currently have an Imac 2010 refurbished 500gig HDD with 8gig Ram and I3 CPU

That Mac is great but that's it lol

I was planning to sell it maybe to get the new macbook air.

What I currently have at my home

Ipad2 JB
Imac 2010 (that i plan maybe to sell)
Macbook Pro 2009 (that is the job's not mine)


Stuff I would do with it
Go on the internet
Word stuff
Games Like diablo 3 if the GFX in it is good.

What you guys think?

 

[Ratatapa]

Forgot to add The Imac is connected to a 1TO USB HDD and I also have a 1TO NAS

 

[foiden]

Oddly enough, the Macbook Air (particularly this gen with the 320M) will very much likely play Diablo 3 up to a certain setting depending on which model you go with. Obviously an 11-inch stock Air won't get the details of a 13-inch Ultimate Air.

However, of course the iMac will handle all of those things well. Just remember that the Air will not be able to run these games at anywhere near high detail settings comfortably. Maybe medium settings, but not high. (I'm only using Starcraft 2 as a benchmark here) The real question depends on whether it's the micro-size and weight you're going for and wondering if the possible drop in performance over a similarly priced iMac would be too much to not handle those things.

 

[Ratatapa]

Well it's fun to be able to bring it anywhere I want to play my games also

I know I have and Ipad for that already but Ipad can't run Mac games

Also for gaming the Imac is pretty pricey I know that the air will surley be pricey to play too

Orz

 

[jlblodgett]

Has Diablo 3 been released? Is it even set for release? I am not sure that the MBA will run Diablo 3 -- not well, at least.


I own an iMac. I own a few apple notebooks (no MBA yet). I have owned an iPad in the past.

The iMac is a workhorse machine. It has the processor and graphics power to do everything you want to do. It has a large monitor which makes working on it very easy. While it has a small footprint on your desk - it is still a desktop machine, and not very portable, really.

The MBA is a portable computer. It does not have the iMac's graphics capability or processor capability. It is not designed to be a workhorse. It is designed to be a pick it up and go, work on it everywhere, type of machine. If you need something portable - a laptop is a great solution.

The iPad is a consumer machine. By that I mean - it is really designed for consumption. Going someplace and getting something. It is not really designed for input. Yes, it has an on screen keyboard but it is not really the same for any serious inputting of information. If you are going to be typing (you said you do word stuff) then you want a physical keyboard, not an on the screen keyboard. Yes, you can connect a bluetooth keyboard - but at that point you've really got a low power laptop, not an iPad. Also keep in mind that while the web is constantly evolving, there are still a lot of websites that DO require flash - and the iPad doesn't do flash.



You have to decide what you want to use the computer for. Is it going to spend most of its life sitting on one dedicated place (i.e. a desk) where you will go to work on it? If so - keep your iMac. Are you going to go from place to place to work on the computer? Coffee shop? Library? Car/Train? Work from the couch? Work from the bed? Taking it to class? Then maybe the MBA is a better solution for you.

 

[WillEH]

Nope, as far as I know, Blizzard haven't released a date it's coming out.

Has Diablo 3 been released? Is it even set for release? I am not sure that the MBA will run Diablo 3 -- not well, at least.


I own an iMac. I own a few apple notebooks (no MBA yet). I have owned an iPad in the past.

The iMac is a workhorse machine. It has the processor and graphics power to do everything you want to do. It has a large monitor which makes working on it very easy. While it has a small footprint on your desk - it is still a desktop machine, and not very portable, really.

The MBA is a portable computer. It does not have the iMac's graphics capability or processor capability. It is not designed to be a workhorse. It is designed to be a pick it up and go, work on it everywhere, type of machine. If you need something portable - a laptop is a great solution.

The iPad is a consumer machine. By that I mean - it is really designed for consumption. Going someplace and getting something. It is not really designed for input. Yes, it has an on screen keyboard but it is not really the same for any serious inputting of information. If you are going to be typing (you said you do word stuff) then you want a physical keyboard, not an on the screen keyboard. Yes, you can connect a bluetooth keyboard - but at that point you've really got a low power laptop, not an iPad. Also keep in mind that while the web is constantly evolving, there are still a lot of websites that DO require flash - and the iPad doesn't do flash.



You have to decide what you want to use the computer for. Is it going to spend most of its life sitting on one dedicated place (i.e. a desk) where you will go to work on it? If so - keep your iMac. Are you going to go from place to place to work on the computer? Coffee shop? Library? Car/Train? Work from the couch? Work from the bed? Taking it to class? Then maybe the MBA is a better solution for you.

 

[Spankey]

If gaming is your concern it seems like a Macbook Pro would suit your needs better.

 

[Young Spade]

I'm assuming you can't use the MBP for leisure activities because it's owned by the company?

But anyway, you're selling a powerful, stationary system for a portable, not as powerful system that will ultimately be... well worse than what you have now.

If you want a portable solution and you can't use the Pro outside of work, I would say to save up and buy a new air when they come out. If you can't keep the Pro or you have to give ti back for some reason, you will at least still have a portable machine given you buy a new Air.

But if you're looking to save money, you can get a current Gen Air, upgraded, for a low price seeing as there are hundreds of them on Ebay... that's what I'd do anyway.

 

[Ratatapa]

I dont need 3 'computers'

Portable I already have my Ipad2 and i love it

So guess i'll keep my Imac for gaming and personal **** and Ipad2 for the road

 

[Young Spade]

I dont need 3 'computers'

Portable I already have my Ipad2 and i love it

So guess i'll keep my Imac for gaming and personal **** and Ipad2 for the road

That sounds like a good idea; each of those machines should last you at least another 2 years if you don't get bit by the bug.

 

[PaulWog]

Nope, as far as I know, Blizzard haven't released a date it's coming out.

Blizzard hasn't announced a specific date, however they have made a few announcements.

1. The public beta is aimed to start in Q3 of this year.
2. The non-disclosure agreement is to end at the end of July (this month). Whenever Blizzard's non-disclosure agreements end, their public betas always immediately commence.
3. Blizzard has stated that they aim for a 6-month public beta period before their release. (When beta ends, they always release their games right away).
4. Blizzard has stated that they aim to release in 2011, however they are not guaranteeing a 2011 release. (This conflicts with their 6-month beta intentions, but looking at both pieces of the puzzle, it gives us a time-frame to look at).

What does this all mean? The game is likely to be released within 6 months from the end of this month. Possibly sooner. Obviously there's the possibility of later, though given the circumstances and the evidence above, it's likely they won't delay any further.

Just thought I'd throw that out there

 

[KillerTree]

If you want to play Diablo 3 I would keep the iMac.

 

[Scarrus]

If you want to play Diablo 3 I would keep the iMac.

^This

 

[KylePowers]

I don't particularly game, but I thought I'd chime in.

Currently I'm doing the 2011 iMac / iPad 2 combo. It's been okay, but I miss the whole computing experience whilst bumming around my home (bed, couch, etc.). So I think I may sell my iPad 2 and spring for a base 13in MBA.

I think that's the ultimate option. I mean, an iMac can handle most things thrown at it... definitely more so than an MBA... and an MBA can do a lot more things than an iPad 2, with little sacrifice to its portability (presuming touchscreen games aren't on the top of your list).

So, I'd suggest keeping the iMac, selling the iPad, and going for an MBA.

But, to each their own... that's just my experience and suggestion. I realize you have no choice but to keep your MBP, so I'm not exactly sure what I'd do lol

 

[Icaras]

If you want to play Diablo 3 I would keep the iMac.

Nevermind, Im editing my post because I thought he had an i3 iMac from 2009, which had integrated GPU. I was going to recommend against it but forgot 2010 models introduced discreet mobile GPUS across the entire line up.

So ya, I agree. Stick with the iMac for gaming.