Help choosing a Mac

[recurve boy]

So I soild my Windows desktop. I am now looking for a replacement. Which one shoold I get? It seems to be a toss up between the iMac and MacBook Pro.

On one hand I haven't been using my current iBook on the road for a long long time. On the other hand mobility has come in handy occasionally. But I still have the iBook which runs OK for most of my dev stuff ...

Descisions, descisions!

[Marcus]

I love my iMac and Erika has a MacBook, which is awesome.
It's a tough call. The MacBook Pro probably isn't worth the extra over the MacBook.

[andrewf87]

Or you could just get another windows PC :p

[Marcus]

Why not buy a computer that runs both Mac OS X and Windows instead of limiting yourself. ;)

[andrewf87]

I dunno ask Liam i'm sure he'll have some reason :p

[Liam]

you're limited to less operating systems using a mac then a normal pc. :silly:

[paulrb]

you're limited to less operating systems using a mac then a normal pc. :silly:


Mac Book pro has intel chip set. Can run Windozz just as easily as any PC. And as Marcus said... will run OSX too. Best of both worlds.

Avoid a G5 ibook, only becase it can only emulate Windoz, and isn't worth the hassle.

Alternatively do what I do, have a beast Mac tower, Power book and PC laptop, and do different things on each... OK, forum, forum, games, forum..

[Marcus]

Mac OS X, Unix, Linux, Windows, What else would you want to run?

[Archangel]

Mac Book pro has intel chip set. Can run Windozz just as easily as any PC. And as Marcus said... will run OSX too. Best of both worlds.
Well no actually, they have EFI instead of BIOS so they don't actually run Windows as easily as any PC.

[recurve boy]

Well no actually, they have EFI instead of BIOS so they don't actually run Windows as easily as any PC.

Boot camp works really well by all accounts and even runs games well. So moot point. I'd agree if I actually had to do work.

The MacBook Pro probably isn't worth the extra over the MacBook.
I don't agree. The Pro I was looking at has the same specs as the iMac I was looking at. Also, salary sacrifice! So it's a tough call.

[Cartz]

The only real advantage for a Macbook Pro over a Macbook...that i've seen, is the slight issue of more power and better rendering times. I've got a black Macbook, its always run smoothly, without problems. I find too much crap on PCs. The only significant difference is the screen size...but you get used to a 13inch VERY quickly.

[Eberbachl]

So...what do you want to do with it?

I have an old school G4 Mac mini which rocks, but it might not suit you.

I also have a Mac Book on order, which will be great.

You might need a Mac Book Pro, but we need to know what you need from the machine before we can make a recommendation.

:thumb:

[Liam]

I want a macbook. Stupid trying to juggle work and archery and school and not having any money anymore. :(

My OS Preference goes: XP MCE, Various Linux Distros and OSX coming a solid last. But I've been taking a bit more note of my computer use recently and think that a macbook would be good.

[recurve boy]

So...what do you want to do with it?

- Personal software projects. (if the work machines are any indication, a hefty machine would be a bonus)
- Gaming
- "Media centre".

I used to be mobile a lot so my G4 iBook was great. Now, at best I move it from my bedroom to the lounge occasionally. It also works quite well still, so I don't think I want to replace it.

My feeling is go the iMac until my iBook kicks the bucket which will be a while yet, then replace it if I need to.

Too bad there isn't a more powerful headless Mac ...

[Bruce]

Ive got a imac g5 the model before the dual processors and it is great for me , awsome for photo's and I love the big screen I think its 20 inch from memory , can have two a4 pages side by side great for documents

I also have an old g4 ibook as well that hardly gets used anymore


I would go the Imac ,

[Eberbachl]

Too bad there isn't a more powerful headless Mac ...

Here's your more powerful headless Mac :thumb:

Dual core 3Ghz Xeon, 3TB storage, 16GB RAM.

:D

http://a248.e.akamai.net/7/248/2041/2321/store.apple.com/Catalog/regional/apac/macpro/img/overview-hero.jpg

[Erika]

Erika has a MacBook

:D It's white... that's about all I know.

[Eberbachl]

- Personal software projects. (if the work machines are any indication, a hefty machine would be a bonus)
- Gaming
- "Media centre".

I used to be mobile a lot so my G4 iBook was great. Now, at best I move it from my bedroom to the lounge occasionally. It also works quite well still, so I don't think I want to replace it.

My feeling is go the iMac until my iBook kicks the bucket which will be a while yet, then replace it if I need to.

Too bad there isn't a more powerful headless Mac ...

On a more serious note, if you want a desktop machine, and have the budget - a Mac Pro is a very serious beastie, but otherwise the iMac is very nice.

If you need mobility, based on what you need it for, I'd spring for a MacBook Pro.

:thumb:

[recurve boy]

:D It's white... that's about all I know.

What?!? You didn't notice it was also shiny?

[Archangel]

- Personal software projects. (if the work machines are any indication, a hefty machine would be a bonus)
I'm not sure what the specs on the imac/macbook are, but if you're into that kind of work, get a fast processor with as many cores as you can. Assuming you have a multithreaded build system (ie. not bloody Visual Studio), it'll make a huge difference - very few things need a big CPU like compiling does.

[Aechmea]

I buy desktop and portable Macs alternately approx every 2 years, and have done for 20 years. This allows you to have a portable machine and one with grunt at any point in time.

2 years ago I bought a Dual G5 desktop with cinema display, and just before Xmas I bought a Macbook Pro. Both are very comfortable doing anything I throw at them. I prefer to have a machine with a large screen size rather than one with more CPU power but that is just a personal preference.

In your situation I would get an iMac desktop, and keep the iBook for the occasional times that you need a portable. Then in, say, 2 years get the then equivalent of the Macbook Pro and flipflop from there.

[Aechmea]

It's a tough call. The MacBook Pro probably isn't worth the extra over the MacBook.

Agreed. I would go for the Macbook Pro if it was the only machine that you had, but if you have a desktop as well then the Pro isn't worth the extra.

[Yes, I know I have a desktop, and then I bought a Macbook Pro which is contrary to my recommendation, but when you are old and silly, and when lust takes over, you just can't help yourself....]

[recurve boy]

So work only salary sacrifices on laptops and apparently getting an iMac invoiced as a laptop is tax fraud :-/ I guess I should have known that.

I guess I am stuck with a MacBook ...