Is it logical to carry an 21.5" iMac everywhere?

[stanny]

I travel overseas regularly quite a lot and usually stay there for months. I was thinking of getting an iMac but is it logical to carry them around?

How heavy is it?
Is it possible to remove the back stand to fit in my luggage easily?

When I fly I usually get about 20-25 KGs of baggage allowance. Currently I carry around a 13"MBP and a 21.5" LG Monitor which adds up to pretty much as well. I don't really need a laptop as I'm not on the go with it.

 

[montycat]

I remember a post on MR a while ago about a custom carrying case for the iMac. Maybe someone can remember the case manufacturer.

 

[montycat]

I just remembered the company. I dont know if it can be considered a carry-on.
http://www.ilugger.com/

 

[plasticphyte]

If it's what makes you happy doing the things you do, then whats it matter to anyone else?

You're obviously already aware/managing the risk of damage to a monitor...



Personally I think you're nuts and would get a 17" MBP, but without people being different, the world wouldn't go round, we wouldn't have gravity & we'd all be bouncing around in space frozen solid, so...

 

[tuna]

If you actually need the power of a desktop, then you don't seem to have much of a choice. Otherwise that seems like a huge pain in the ass and I would just get a laptop.

 

[Paulywauly]

i know its more pricey but how about either a 15 inch or 17 inch Macbook Pro? the 17 inch especially is geared more towards the desktop replacement category and has a high resolution display, its also not going to eat up half of your luggage allowance

 

[AlexisV]

I think they weigh about 15kg. They are not light.

 

[fleabite]

I wouldn't recommend it

I got my 21.5" i5 just two weeks ago. (Freakin' sweet and no screen/noise issues. Thank you, Apple!) I had to carry it around the house a little to get it plugged into my old computer first and then my network drive. It ain't light. A 15kg computer + sweaty palms + no handles = serious anxiety. This thing won't fit in your carry-on. Considering I've had some hardy luggage come back in pieces after some gorillas played with it in luggage handling, I wouldn't trust it to an airline. Get a 17" MPB. They're built for it.

 

[Paulywauly]

I got my 21.5" i5 just two weeks ago. (Freakin' sweet and no screen/noise issues. Thank you, Apple!) I had to carry it around the house a little to get it plugged into my old computer first and then my network drive. It ain't light. A 15kg computer + sweaty palms + no handles = serious anxiety. This thing won't fit in your carry-on. Considering I've had some hardy luggage come back in pieces after some gorillas played with it in luggage handling, I wouldn't trust it to an airline. Get a 17" MPB. They're built for it.

Fleabite is right, that's a lot of iMac to have man handled by airport staff. The front is basically edge to edge glass, they drop it or stack it incorrectly and it's gonna crack like an egg!

Check out the the iMac threads from the end of last year they're littered with with reports of people who ordered their machine and the screen was cracked on arrival etc. They are structurally solid, but the glass is always gonna be a weakness when moving it around regardless of whether it's in a case or not.