What do you use with your MBA?

[entatlrg]

I have a MBA 1.8/128ssd and an ACD monitor - GREAT set up.

I have an HP Desktop that Ive decided to replace. It was getting used for downloading torrents, email, surfing, some photo editing and also a server ...

Considering an:
- 24" iMac, 2.9ghz, Nvidia GT 120
or
- 24" iMac, 3.0ghz, Nvidia GT 130
or
- Mac Mini and share the ACD with my MBA

I thought about ordering the mini with the maximum spec's. That sounds practical but for not a lot more money than an iMac can be had giving me the extra monitor and lot's more power.

If money wasn't the concern what would you buy?

Anyone work with dual 24" monitors, not sure how the ACD would look with the iMac display, would have to use a stand to ensure they where the same height I suppose.

 

[Scottsdale]

I have a MBA 1.8/128ssd and an ACD monitor - GREAT set up.

I have an HP Desktop that Ive decided to replace. It was getting used for downloading torrents, email, surfing, some photo editing and also a server ...

Considering an:
- 24" iMac, 2.9ghz, Nvidia GT 120
or
- 24" iMac, 3.0ghz, Nvidia GT 130
or
- Mac Mini and share the ACD with my MBA

I thought about ordering the mini with the maximum spec's. That sounds practical but for not a lot more money than an iMac can be had giving me the extra monitor and lot's more power.

If money wasn't the concern what would you buy?

Anyone work with dual 24" monitors, not sure how the ACD would look with the iMac display, would have to use a stand to ensure they where the same height I suppose.

Do you have the 24" Mini Display Port ACD? If not, you may want to consider buying that instead. My rev B MBA with the 24" ACD is the perfect setup. The rev B MBA is plenty quick with SSD and feels like a desktop plugged into the ACD (also like how is similar to docking station).

Also, I like a one computer system that is a laptop with a large external display. It really makes the MBA the best of laptop and desktop in one. Sure the price is high, but I really hate working on two different computers. I inevitably always am missing the latest file or the application I need to finish something.

So, if I were you, I think I would skip the iMac completely. I just don't get that. If anything, pair the 24" ACD with a Mac mini to be used as an entertainment/media server - that would be fun. Sharing the external display saves some money too.

Good luck.

 

[bossxii]

Tough call, I wish Apple would have made it possible to hook up a MBA to a iMac if you just needed a larger screen for a while, but we know how that goes... lol

Anyhow based on just using a machine for downloads, I'd almost go for a Mini considering it's much easier to open up and upgrade your storage. I'm not sold on all in one's myself for the price. If I was just using a computer for downloading and storage I don't know if I would even buy a Mac. They are to confined by form factor to dump in several HDD's and USB is to slow for my taste to just add externals.

I would make a XP box with a few TB's of storage and a basic C2D for a few hundred bucks myself. I've seen 4x 1TB drives in a basic XP box for less then $700 bucks. If your serious about storage no Mini or iMac can hit those type of storage numbers for the money. It may not be your preferred OS, and I don't blame you for sticking to OSX but from a pure downloading/storage capacity this type of machine is cheap and has the most upgradability to it.

 

[Mactagonist]

Tough call, I wish Apple would have made it possible to hook up a MBA to a iMac if you just needed a larger screen for a while, but we know how that goes... lol

...

Apple Remote Desktop?

 

[entatlrg]

Yes, I see your point about juggling between two machines.

I do that with phones now, and iPhone 3G and Blackberry Curve 8900, (I keep the curve due to how it handles emails)...

I had decided to stick with my Air and ACD display, then by some good or bad coincidence the HP started giving me trouble.

I've gone full circle on deciding what to do. Whether this is the smartest move I'm not sure but I'm thinking of returning the ACD, (that's going to suck, lol) and exchanging it for the 2.9ghz iMac...

Reasons being -
I work a lot online so I can access files from any computer, I can sync them via network so working from two computers wouldn't be that big a problem?

I wouldn't have to often plug and unplug the ACD from the Air, I could use the Air alongside the iMac, at night I could leave the iMac for downloading etc while I'm on the couch working with the Air or whatever.

I could argue it's a waste of money when $200 would fix my HP, plus my HP tower is hooked up to a 24" HP monitor and 37" Panasonic Vierra TV so it's a whole system ... and hooking up the 37" Panasonic via HDMI won't be 'plug and play' easy on the iMac ...

On the other hand, the iMac and Air could arguably work well together and serve well as an 'ideal/complete system', both machines would get used, I'd work on the iMac while downloading etc and the Air when away from the desk.

Or, the 'ultimate' set up, keep the ACD buy the iMac and hook up the ACD to the iMac and enjoy it all, I only wonder if my Air wouldn't get used much ... I don't want that to happen I love typing on it and using the Air ...

Flip of a coin decision for me, I change my mind from one hour to the next, lol, the 'minimalist' in me says don't buy anything and I don't 'need' it, the 'maximalist' in me says I work hard, deserve a bonus and it's time to go shopping

I want to be sure I use and enjoy what I buy, I don't want added frustration plus I'm a full 50% minimalist, LOL.