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Hi Lockegnome, I currently have an iMac 21.5" late 2009 and a 2009 MacBook White (Unibody), and I would like to do a bit of an upgrade. I have thought up a few options that have their advantages and disadvantages, however I am still unsure what to do in regards of getting a new system. (Bare in mind I am on a budget, so I can't afford the best of the best!) What do I use my computer for?: Well, first things first, I do like Mac OSX so i think i will be going for another Mac of some sort. I edit and store my photos on from my DSLR on my main computer, though i do edit on the move on my MacBook. I make, and edit in iMovie, videos for my technology based YouTube Channel, so i need something that records good quality from the iSight, therefore it will be practical. I have assignments to write alot of the time, so I need sometihng that is comfortable to type on both on the move and in the home office. I do like a snappy computer that is going to last me 2-3 years. Re-sell value of iMac: £500-600 Re-sell value of MacBook: £300-350 Option 1: Keep my present iMac and sell my MacBook, then buy an 11" MacBook Air. This is the cheepest option of all. My iMac currently has a geekbench score of 4221, which is ok, i dont really find it that slow. but the problem lies where if I get the 11" Macbook Air, it will clock in at 4851, which is higher than my iMac and I don't really want to have a laptop more powerful than my main desktop, because i am going to get the most use out of the desktop computer. Option 2: Sell both iMac and MacBook. This is the most expensive option of all. Then buy the new iMac 21.5" 2.5GHz, then also buy the MacBook Air 11" 1.6GHz 64GB. This would be ideal. But will this just create and unnessasary dulplicate of products? because I do take my iPad with me when I travel. This option does work out quite costly, and as i said above i am on a budget so i need to get the best value for money as possible. Option 3: Sell both iMac and MacBook. Then buy the new iMac 27" 2.7GHz 1TB. I do own an iPad, so i maybe able to get by without a laptop. This, again is where i need you guys help, will i be able to get by without a laptop on the move? i do somtimes like to photo edit on the move, and i sometimes also have to write assignments and make youtube videos. Can someone let me know from their experience what it is like having use just an iPad for working on the move, do you miss having a laptop? I can see the advantages of this, for example its alot lighter to carry around than an actual laptop. And also I have the benefit of having the power of the iMac at home, and to be honest I dont travel all that much. Option 4: Sell both iMac and Macbook. Then buy the 15" MacBook Pro (Or the new one which is set to come out later this year). This has a very high geekbench rating of about 8000, so i can see from that, that its going to be a power house! And i will have the best of both worlds, a nice computer for the home office and also a nice computer for being out and about. Despite this, the MacBook Pro is quite an expensive machine, but i do have the funds for it, but i would like some money left over at the end. And also, the MacBook Pro 15" can be a bit heavy to lug around, but no more than i am used to! I love the erganomics of working at the desk with and iMac, it just seams right! So from reading that, you can see that I have a dilemar on what to upgrade to. If you guys could give me some advice on what you think would be best for me then I would be most appreciative. Thank You, Dan Thomas, DanT@Trussing.com |
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"If it a'int broke don't fix it." Do you need to upgrade. Does your current setup bother you or is it unpractical? Because if not then you don;t need to bother! 1
@Mattophobia Thanks for the quick reply! That is a very valid point! But i do want to get rid of the MacBook, from what I said that i do on the move, would you say that i need to get a MacBook Air 11" would it benafit me over the iPad ? Dan Perhaps. I'd say option 1. The Geekbench score is higher simply because it's faster (Due to the SDD and i7). It wouldn't be more powerful. 1
Have you had any experience with the MBA 11" 64GB? Is it worth the money? Thanks again for your help :) Well it's only worth what it's worth to each person. I don't own one as it's not for me. I have a 15" MBP and an iPad as that's the most useful for me. For you it's down to how useful it will be to you. |
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Only upgrade if you need to. You can have a super computer but you'll only see the performance increase if you're using the power that's available to you. You can have 32GB of RAM but if you're only using 4GB, what do you think the rest is doing? nothing! If you need an upgrade by all means do it, just don't go rushing into buying and upgrading things just because you can. Computer hardware is only useful if you're using it. |
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My vote is dump what you have except for the monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Get the MBA 11 and external storage if you need it. This way you know you always have instant access to everything in one system. Another plus is if you have to run out real quick and need files from your main system, your main system is now the MBA 11. He has an iMac... matt read his post: "Option 2: Sell both iMac and MacBook. This is the most expensive option of all. Then buy the new iMac 21.5" 2.5GHz, then also buy the MacBook Air 11" 1.6GHz 64GB." i said "dump(sell) what you have except for the monitor, keyboard, and mouse. then buy the mba 11." 1
Well yes but... He can't get rid of the monitor of an iMac can he? i have seen plenty of used imac towers sold by themselves, but i don't know how much not having the monitor would depreciate the value. iMacs aren't towers... I think you're thinking of a Mac Pro. An iMac is an All in one machine (The monitor is built in).
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Guy's , i'd firstly like to say thanks for all of your advice, but i think that i am going to go with what @mattophobia said, keep my iMac, i love it to pieces and i'd be lost without it, and get a MacBook Air 11 to travel along side my iPad.
Thanks again to everyone who has commented.
Dan