6 replies to this topic

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Both my iMac desktop and MacBook Pro laptop computers are getting really loooong in the tooth.   I am considering going to just a very capable MBP, but i am curious whether or not others are doing something similar.  I will be staying with Apple.

 

Issues?  Advantages? Opinions?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Stalking Light]

I use both and recently upgraded from an older 17" MBP to a 15" fully loaded Retina display MBP. If I didn't already have a late 2013 iMac I'd be tempted to try and get by with my MBP and a 27" Thunderbolt display for home use. I use GRAID drives for external storage which works with either of my machines

[Bosque Bill]

I use a Mac mini (mid-2011) with two large NEC Multisync monitors. The mini drives them just fine, though I needed adapters for the HDMI and Display Port connections. I upgraded to 16GB RAM. It only has a 500GB HD, which has been OK as I move long term files to an external USB drive. I am thinking about changing out the HD for a SSD to breathe some life into the machine.

 

Caution: Having two large monitors will spoil you and you won't be satisfied with a single display again. In PS I can use the full screen for photo editing with all the toolbars, layers, etc on the second monitor.

 

I have a MBP (2012?), but don't really use it that often. I got it mostly for traveling, but tend to just take the iPad Air 2 with a bluetooth keyboard.

[Stalking Light]

I swapped the HD on my older MBP for an SSD and it made a huge difference.

[Riverrunner]

FWIW - Like Bill I use a desktop with 2 - 24" widescreen monitors.  It would be hard to go to anything else.  My desktop is older...8 years but it still does the job with SSD drives and 8gig of memory.  My laptop is 10 years old and none of the software is supported anymore but my iPad does what I need when traveling. If you're ok with a single monitor and need to process photo's on the road I say get a new laptop.

[Happyjax]

I have the 2012 MBP 13". Last of the upgradable ones. I put in 16gig ram, took out cd and added 2nd HD and put a 1 TB ssd in the main drive. I dual boot OSX and Win7. I do my genealogy and karaoke in windows. Gotta have it! Built a Hackintosh for home but I would not want to run that monster on batteries...lol

[Bill D]

I manage the sales dept at an Apple Specialist store.

 

Just like the question that was posted recently "which camera should I get", there is no easy answer.

 

Do you NEED a portable?  How much local stage do you need?  Do you have a budget?  What do you mainly use your computer for?  Are you into photography?  Do you do a lot of reading (like this forum :-) )?  How long do you plan on keeping the new computer for?

 

You get more bang for your buck from an iMac.  The big thing is that all of Apple's laptops (short of the mid 2012 13") use flash storage, which comes at a premium.  However, you may be able to use your aging iMac to host your files.  You could also get a newer iMac and use your 17" MBP when you actually need a laptop.

 

I personally like my iMac and I use my iPad as a portable.  I wish I had an iMac with Retina display and I would get a fusion drive or flash based storage.

Edited by Bill D, 15 June 2016 - 01:14 AM.