Okay, so I'm in a serious limbo here..lol. I went today to pick up a Macbook Pro, $2,300 w/ 2.0 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM & 80 MB of Memory. However while I was there I noticed, for the first time, the new iMac. Man, wow, I was impressed. The design is so unique. This iMac was a 17" 1.83 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM & 160 MB of Memory. I need mobility for traveling to meets and such(I'm an athlete and Comm. Design major, so I'll need to travel with graphics projects), so I looked at a very basic iBook, G4 processor with 512 MB of RAM and 40 GB of Memory. My mom said she would buy me the iMac ($1,300), and the iBook($800) instead of the Macbook Pro if I wanted. The iBook would run nothing but Adobe Photoshop CS2, and the iMac would stay in my dorm. Being that the iMac is only about 15 pounds(I picked it up at the store today, not bad at all) I could still bring it home with me. Sigh. I'm just not so sure. Basically does the amount of RAM & Price of the iMac outway the faster processor of the MacBook Pro? Any info is really appreciated...lol.
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iMac vs. MacBook Pro
- Thread starter onlyONE
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Someone could probably answer this better than me but I'll give it a shot.
Instead of the iBook, have you see or tried out the new MacBook? I personally would recomend that if you wanted a desktop computer as well as something on the go, I say go for the 17' iMac and get a MacBook instead of an iBook. I'm not saying there is something wrong with the iBook but with the Intel hardware it'll help in the long run.
I've heard of numerous problems with the MacBook Pro (heat issues, whining noise, etc..) and so far I (personally) do not trust it....I guess I could say the same thing for the MacBook (as they are both at Rev. A, I think?) but people seem to say that the MacBook has issues that have been fixed...For the most part.
That's my .02
Instead of the iBook, have you see or tried out the new MacBook? I personally would recomend that if you wanted a desktop computer as well as something on the go, I say go for the 17' iMac and get a MacBook instead of an iBook. I'm not saying there is something wrong with the iBook but with the Intel hardware it'll help in the long run.
I've heard of numerous problems with the MacBook Pro (heat issues, whining noise, etc..) and so far I (personally) do not trust it....I guess I could say the same thing for the MacBook (as they are both at Rev. A, I think?) but people seem to say that the MacBook has issues that have been fixed...For the most part.
That's my .02
I've had my macbook pro since the day they were released and I had an issue with the humming noise - sent it to apple and in 3 days had it back to me with no noise. basically, what i'm trying to say is i love my mbp 
Pricing is the only issue on iBook vs MacBook, I love the MacBook, but I doubt I can pick one up for $800, and I'd rather not put a nice new machine in the closet. I'll basically be using this once a month, and maybe to type notes in a few classes, I'd hate for the MacBook to be put away like that. I wouldn't be so concerned with a sub 1K iBook. Thanks though, I really like the iMac, so I'm seriously torn right now, and every comment helps me consider things for new angles.
onlyONE said:Pricing is the only issue on iBook vs MacBook, I love the MacBook, but I doubt I can pick one up for $800, and I'd rather not put a nice new machine in the closet. I'll basically be using this once a month, and maybe to type notes in a few classes, I'd hate for the MacBook to be put away like that. I wouldn't be so concerned with a sub 1K iBook. Thanks though, I really like the iMac, so I'm seriously torn right now, and every comment helps me consider things for new angles.
Yeah, what you're saying is a good idea. Go with the oldest iBook you can find with a 1024x768 resolution, because 800x600 is damn-near crippling. I'm beginning to find 1680x1050 a bit stifling....
Seriously, though -- make both of your computers work for you, 24/7. You can do this. Don't throw the laptop in the closet, or it'll stay there. When you kick back in bed, keep the iBook around. Learn to appreciate its versatility in all possible situations.
I used to have a clamshell PocketPC I carried around with me in College 2.0 that I used for writing down ideas and poems about boobs! Horribly limited little device, but it was @#$%ing indispensable and I loved it like a rubber donut. I cannot stress the beauty of portability, especially in a setting with so many exquisite partially-clad overripened berrybrown elastic-breasted bodies strewing themselves around the duck pond and positively begging you to explain why you always steal a bowl of milk and honey from the cafeteria on nights of a full moon.
*lusts*
Seriously, man. I might be getting a little batty here (I am a strong believer in better living through insanity), but everything you do is art, ideas will always be important, and those ideas can only be developed by studying them intently. You can either lose them or you can immediately store them for later consideration, and only Luddites carry paper around with them anymore.
Get the laptop. And take it with you everywhere. Appreciate it. Let it know that you respect its value as an individual, that you respect its opinions. Lend iBook your ear (but don't forget to retrieve it....). Sing happy little songs about chipper hedgehogs and oatmeal-coated squirrels. It will reward your emotional investment by reflecting your innermost thoughts back at ya.
Seriously. Having a laptop at a formative age helped make me what I am today.
*eats his own cranium*
Okay, I've finally decided. I think. lol. I recently got my schedule back and I am taking no classes which will require long term graphics projects(in fact, I am only taking one graphics class and it is very minor and in the spring semester) So, I am going to spend a little more on the bigger iMac, and save the rest of the money I would have used on a MBP or iBook for this spring or summer and invest in a MacBook then. That way I'll have two fairly new machines, both of which can cleanly get the job done. I'll also know after the first semester how much I really will appreciate the portability. I have a laptop now, and if I miss it horribly I'll know to buy a new one come spring or summer and I won't have wasted money on something I'll barely use. Thanks so much for your imput guys!
Macbook pro
The way I see It the MBP is as good (infact better) than the iMac so if you can afford it go for that. Why switch between 2 computers when you can just do it on one ?
The way I see It the MBP is as good (infact better) than the iMac so if you can afford it go for that. Why switch between 2 computers when you can just do it on one ?
Why not go with a maxed out Macbook and a nice external monitor/keyboard? I have a PowerBook with a 20" monitor and I love it. Portable when I need it, big useful display when I'm at home, and no file syncing problems to deal with. I personally would not like to try to use 2 computers.
I personally think you should go with the iMac/iBook.
You said you're going to use CS2? This won't work great on the iMac/MacBook(Pro), but will work okay on the iBook due to the fact that Adobe hasn't released a Universal Binary of CS2.
Getting an intel machine will limit the speed of CS2. I'd get an iBook for now and sell it when a UB of Photoshop comes out (2007, I think)
You said you're going to use CS2? This won't work great on the iMac/MacBook(Pro), but will work okay on the iBook due to the fact that Adobe hasn't released a Universal Binary of CS2.
Getting an intel machine will limit the speed of CS2. I'd get an iBook for now and sell it when a UB of Photoshop comes out (2007, I think)
Copland said:
Except he may not have the money by then. There are alternatives to CS2 (can't remember what they're called). Some are open-source. I was downloading one, but the power dropped and my router disconnected. Haven't attempted to download it again). You can even get a version that makes it look EXACTLY like CS2.