MBP or Imac?

[chuckee]

Hey guys! i've posted before considering between a mbp and a mb...but now i'm looking into either a desktop or a laptop...i'll be going to college soon and was wondering from your experiences what you think will be more convenient and helpful...

Def. the price difference is a big factor...can the far cheaper Imac outweight the cons of not being portable?

-last problem: parents are pretty angry that i'm buying a new computer before college because they recently paid for my computer about 2 years ago (its a pc and they cant understand why i want to go mac).... so a laptop won't anger them as much...but if i get a desktop (Imac) they might go insane lol

 

[celebrian23]

Figure out what you want first, a desktop or a laptop. I don't think it's fair to evaluate the computers without that consideration especially for a college student.

 

[Danksi]

Def. the price difference is a big factor...can the far cheaper Imac outweight the cons of not being portable?

... and not being expandable like the MBP is.

If you don't need the larger screen or expandibility, then a MacBook may not anger your parents 'quite' so much

 

[dextertangocci]

Hey guys! i've posted before considering between a mbp and a mb...but now i'm looking into either a desktop or a laptop...i'll be going to college soon and was wondering from your experiences what you think will be more convenient and helpful...

Def. the price difference is a big factor...can the far cheaper Imac outweight the cons of not being portable?

-last problem: parents are pretty angry that i'm buying a new computer before college because they recently paid for my computer about 2 years ago (its a pc and they cant understand why i want to go mac).... so a laptop won't anger them as much...but if i get a desktop (Imac) they might go insane lol

I say a MBP They are SO cool

 

[chuckee]

Figure out what you want first, a desktop or a laptop. I don't think it's fair to evaluate the computers without that consideration especially for a college student.

I feel like im fine either way... i think i can accept the fact my iMac is not portable...but i can easily see how much of a convenience it is to have a laptop too... my decision is pretty split

Are iMacs' processor upgradable? and when do you think we can expect the new mac pros (however they are called now) to arrive? those should be damn fast machines but the price might deter me

 

[thegreatluke]

I feel like im fine either way... i think i can accept the fact my iMac is not portable...but i can easily see how much of a convenience it is to have a laptop too... my decision is pretty split

Are iMacs' processor upgradable? and when do you think we can expect the new mac pros (however they are called now) to arrive? those should be damn fast machines but the price might deter me

Yes. The iMac's Core Duo processor is socketable, so when Core 2 Duo comes out you can pop the CD out and put in a C2D. (However, sources, as in, six months being the average upgrade cycle, tell me that the iMac might be upgraded in July to probably a Core 2 Duo. But you didn't hear that from me.)

The iMac also comes with a 160 GB HD and is almost as portable as the MBP.
They're also funky and they don't run like there's an inferno going on inside the computer.

But if you really need the portability, like taking it to class or something, get the MBP. Just be warned that the MBP's have some problems and run BLAZING.

yeah.

 

[celebrian23]

I'd get an imac then. Bigger HDD, cheaper. I couldn't live without portability though, but since you know the sacrifice, I'd get the imac (though I disagree the imac is almost as portable as the MBP- it weights 15 pounds and I don't see you lugging around an imac )

 

[vv-tim]

I'd get an imac then. Bigger HDD, cheaper. I couldn't live without portability though, but since you know the sacrifice, I'd get the imac (though I disagree the imac is almost as portable as the MBP- it weights 15 pounds and I don't see you lugging around an imac )

Not to mention that you have to plug the iMac in somewhere... and need a keyboard and mouse

I was in the same predicament as you... although price was weighing in heavily at the time.

When the MacBook was released I forgot all about the iMac and it was pure MacBook vs MacBook Pro lust. I decided on the MacBook Pro.

I feel that once you go laptop... you don't go back But that's just me. The downside is the non-upgradeable processor in the MBP, but Mac's have great resale value on eBay, so if it means that much to you... you can probably upgrade for $500 or so when the new processor comes out.

 

[The Senator]

I love my mbp, I say go for it man

 

[QCassidy352]

I say imac. If you don't really *need* that portability (and most college students don't, though it can be nice) then save yourself a ton of money and get an imac. You can even upgrade the processor later if you want!

 

[celebrian23]

Not to mention that you have to plug the iMac in somewhere... and need a keyboard and mouse

I was in the same predicament as you... although price was weighing in heavily at the time.

When the MacBook was released I forgot all about the iMac and it was pure MacBook vs MacBook Pro lust. I decided on the MacBook Pro.

I feel that once you go laptop... you don't go back But that's just me. The downside is the non-upgradeable processor in the MBP, but Mac's have great resale value on eBay, so if it means that much to you... you can probably upgrade for $500 or so when the new processor comes out.

I know what you mean. I've been using a desktop for years and years. Now that I have my mbp I can't imagine gong on without this portaility. I'm sitting on my bed. I coulldn't do that with a desktop, even with the light imac.

 

[chuckee]

yeah the idea of portability with that much speed really makes me want to get the mbp lol.... but when i look at the prices i keep asking myself if that much of a difference is actually worth it....

im leaning towards mbp at the moment.... recently found out my mom "might" (needs further persuasion) pay for half of it

thanks for the replies though!

 

[chairguru22]

what are you gonna do with two desktops in college? a 'notebook' is the better choice since you can take it to class or the library if you wanted too.

 

[chuckee]

what are you gonna do with two desktops in college? a 'notebook' is the better choice since you can take it to class or the library if you wanted too.

i dont plan on brining my 2 year old pc to college...
if i get a laptop my plan was to use it until it wasn't too great for gaming...then upgrade my 2yr old pc up to date and use that for gaming and continue using the mbp for work and misc. tasks.

if i get a imac my plan was to use it until C2D came out n upgrade it from there

 

[RollTide]

I for one got a laptop for college (like a 2k hp) and it was probably the biggest waste of money uhh, my parents ever spent. The computer labs at school are so good that I have never even taken mine to school, and the labs are nothing even compared to other colleges. The biggest thing I would have to say is what is your major? Are you living in the dorms? (Usually the desks are plenty big for a desktop, especially the iMac) Jet discs and email are your friend if you are living away from campus.

Also I have to go to work after school, and it gets about 98 degrees here every day and I don't like leaving my laptop in the hot car. Personally I have only been in two classes where a laptop was present, and they were playing games. Also people say taking notes is great on a laptop. I don't recommend this, because I have noticed that when I hand write things and then type them later, it really cuts down on study time.

I can't take my laptop anywhere, COD2 will get used more than anything

 

[twistedlegato]

well you are going into collage so i would recommend the portable...MBP all the way dude/dud-et

 

[aaron.lee2006]

I bought my PC less than one year ago, and I'm already replacing it with a mac of course.

 

[phoenix9744]

where are you going to school

Alot of this will depend on where you are going. while you may have computer labs at school, if most other students also have desktops you dont want to be searching for a free computer at 11 hour the night before your final paper in english 101 is due. Also, you may want to work outside sometimes (i know i did). you also may want to work in the library and not want to worry about losing your computer as soonas you get up to go find a book because another student has been waiting for a desktop to free up. also, enough can not be said for the joy of not being tethered to a desk. i spent alot of time writing papers in my bed and in the hall (which in may, june and september was much cooler than my dorm room most years). couldnt do that with a desktop. Also, sometimes you will have projects to do that require you to meet with a group, be it at someone's apartment/room or the student center or dining hall or whereever. If you have a desktop it will be impossible to work while you are meeting. you will be like some other people i knew who would have to write everything by hand and then convert it in their room. or you will have to explain your presentation, or design for something because you can not show them (because your desktop is in your room).

All in all i think EVERY college student should buy a laptop and forgoe the desktop as it hinders what you can do at a time of your life where versatility is very important

 

[zap2]

If you going to go with a very high end MBP you might think about a iMac CD, and MacBook(or a Refub iBook)

As you can get a nice G4 iBook from Apple for about 700, and a iMac for 1300(with the RAM you need) which is really not much more then a MacBook Pro

Or you could look at a MacBook(with lots of RAM) for out on the go, and a Apple Display(or any other for that matter) for when you in your dorm room

 

[Chrispy]

Yes. The iMac's Core Duo processor is socketable, so when Core 2 Duo comes out you can pop the CD out and put in a C2D. (However, sources, as in, six months being the average upgrade cycle, tell me that the iMac might be upgraded in July to probably a Core 2 Duo. But you didn't hear that from me.)

I'm waiting for this very upgrade you speak of. My bet is July since Intel is making the chip official this month. Once that happens I may jump on an iMac 17". I would go iMac as they seem to have far fewer problems than the MBP or MB.

 

[discoforce]

I'm waiting for this very upgrade you speak of. My bet is July since Intel is making the chip official this month.

From your mouth, to Jobs' ears.

 

[mduser63]

I bought a 20" iMac yesterday, so of course it won't be long until the Core 2 Duo iMacs come out.

Joking, aside, I think it may be a while before the Core 2 Duo iMacs come out, because I think Apple will want to have the whole line transitioned to Intel before they do major updates on Intel Macs. The general opinion seems to be that we won't see Intel Power Macs until WWDC in August, so my feeling is iMac updates in September (Paris Expo maybe?).

As for the OP's question, I've got a (brand new) iMac as well as a PowerBook. If I had to choose one, it would definitely be the PowerBook because it's so easy to take with me at school. I get a TON of use out of it on campus.

You may look at getting a 17" iMac and a MacBook. Then you sort of have the best of both worlds. It'll probably come out not too terribly much more expensive than a high-end MacBook Pro.