Need Apple iMac opinions...

[catrancher]

Ok iMac owners, here's my issue.

Both my DW and I have 17" Macbook Pro's. My DW's is a 2006 model (Core Duo) and mines a 2011 Core I7. Sadly though, hers won't support Lion. As such, I can't upgrade her to iCloud using her computer. Granted, I can do it other ways, but then she misses out on some of the iCloud functionality on her laptop.

So, I'm thinking about upgrading her machine. I've got a couple of options.

First, I could just get another 17" Macbook Pro. I'm not wild about this idea. They're still pretty expensive although I could save some money by buying a refurbished one.

Second, I'm thinking about going to an iMac (21.5") for me and giving her my existing Macbook Pro. There too, I could save a few bucks by going the refurbished route. The only issue would be that I'd be going from a quad core I7 to a quad core I5.

So, I'm soliciting opinions from the iMac users. Anybody got any feel for what kind of a performance hit I'd be taking? If any? Would I regret moving from a Macbook Pro to an iMac?

Any other thoughts?

Tom (... conflicted...)

[Keith]

oh gosh I do love this kind of post

right! it's a very personal choice of course so I can only answer from my own perspective ;-)

If you don't take the 17" anywhere, then you won't miss the portability. If that's the case, then I'd take the imac every day of the week! Lovely screen, lovely performance, lovely looking, and just great. Best desktop machine I've ever had.

quad core i7->i5 is no hit at all unless you a) run cpu benchmarks all day or b) are REALLY pushing things with video encoding or some such cpu intensive operations and even then, will you REALLY notice?

I have the quad core i7 imac and I have i5s in other things. I dont notice the difference.

So in my opinion, it's an easyish ponderment. Consider how often you move the 17" and if not being able to do that causes you to think HMMMMM then it sounds like you still need a laptop, if not, then I feel confident that the imac will be even MORE enjoyable when you use it as a desktop.


Just remember, rumoured new imacs with non-glossy screens as an option soon.. and of course new thinner 15" (and 13/17 later) macbook pros. I desperately want the 15

[catrancher]

Thanks for you thoughts Keith!

What you've said is kind of the way I was leaning. And with the price differential for the iMacs versus the Macbook Pro's, it adds even more impetus to your conclusions.

If you don't take the 17" anywhere, then you won't miss the portability. If that's the case, then I'd take the imac every day of the week! Lovely screen, lovely performance, lovely looking, and just great. Best desktop machine I've ever had.

Usually, the only place I take it is on the weekends from my downstairs office up to our kitchen area so I can be in the same area of the house as my DW. Of course, the 21.5" iMac only weighs 20lbs so while it's not portable like a laptop, I could still move it upstairs on the weekend.

quad core i7->i5 is no hit at all unless you a) run cpu benchmarks all day or b) are REALLY pushing things with video encoding or some such cpu intensive operations and even then, will you REALLY notice?

I'm not really into running SPECint or SPECfp all day. Nor the Passmark suite. I just find doing those a bit boring.
I do do a bit of video encoding but not all that much so that's probably not an issue. I can always borrow my DW's laptop back if I need the additional performance. At least temporarily.

Consider how often you move the 17" and if not being able to do that causes you to think HMMMMM then it sounds like you still need a laptop, if not, then I feel confident that the imac will be even MORE enjoyable when you use it as a desktop.

That's more or less what I was thinking. Like I said, the only moving I usually do is to take it upstairs on the weekends and even with the iMac, that would be doable.

Just remember, rumoured new imacs with non-glossy screens as an option soon.. and of course new thinner 15" (and 13/17 later) macbook pros. I desperately want the 15

I know. But I've got to get this resolved before June when MobileMe goes away. She uses her iDisk and .Mac mail accounts extensively. I've got to get her over onto iCloud and her current laptop won't support Lion. Of course, that's another issue and one that I'm not terribly happy about but I guess I can understand. I hate being put in a position where I have to spend money to keep up. Especially when what we've got is still perfectly adequate for her needs. But sadly, I don't see any way around it since it's becoming apparent that Apple is not going to put iCloud support into Snow Leopard.

Many thanks for your input. I think you've pretty well reinforced what I was thinking.

Tom (... of course, I also yelled at Apple for the lack of iCloud support in Snow Leopard!)

[Wendy]

Just remember, rumoured new imacs with non-glossy screens as an option soon.. and of course new thinner 15" (and 13/17 later) macbook pros. I desperately want the 15

Why did you have to say that

[Keith]

Why did you have to say that

:P I so so do

15" macbook pro has been my beloved laptop for so many years, but recently I couldn't ignore the 13" macbook air so I have a couple of those now ready to sell if they produce a 15" version (because I just prefer the 15" screensize, I know most people prefer the 13" but I'm weird )

[Skywatcher]

I know I can't give the technical arguments that Keith has but I simply adore my 27 inch iMac , everyone who has seen it from my family and friends having seen it and had a play have gone home and bought one, think we are up to 6 converts so far.

Had it 2 years or more now and it is as fast and crisp as the day I bought it, no pc I've ev owned could say that. The design is pretty near perfect, only one lead etc.


I have an i5 and come nowhere near to pushing it.

There is a new OS in the offing soon is there not?

[catrancher]

Thanks Chris!

There is a new OS in the offing soon is there not?

Yep. Mountain Lion. Coming this summer to a Mac near you!

Tom (... here kitty, kitty, kitty!)

[foreverducky]

I can't answer any of the technical questions.

But you know I bought my iMac last year and it's truly a lovely piece of machinery. I absolutely adore it.

[Deafjeff]

My will be two years old mac book pro is on its 'last leg'

I have not been looking after it very well at all!

I am not sure if I should buy another pro next year (jan/feb) or go for MacBook air..

Bearing this in mind, I am using my iPad more.



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[Skywatcher]

Do you have a desktop Jeff?

The Air , I believe has a solid state 'hard drive' which is amazing but not huge, we need a desktop/laptop with a large drive to take all the photos and vids we have. I use my iPad all the time but there are still a few things that the iMac does better and I need it for for sure. Not least of which is printing which they still haven't sorted for the iPad

The air does look lickable though