iMac or MacBook?

I bought a 17" iMac almost 2 years ago, and it has been the best computer I have ever owned. No constant downloads of virus protection or updates. It did take the wife a year to get used to the differences from the Windows machines, but she is on board now. I tried Mac in the early 90's, and they have come a long way since then. No issues with Word or other programs I bring from the office either. And it's all right there in the monitor, amazing!

 

It will surprise you how much you will love a lap top. The first time you get board sitting at the desk, pick it up and go outside to work, or to starbucks, or to the park, or just to a other room! you will be hooked!

 

I use the iBook (love the laptop). I just use a full sized keyboard instead of the laptop keyboard for normal use. Great computer.

Bob

 

Hold off until at least tomorrow, something (Macbook or Macbook Pro) is receiving an update. www.macrumors.com

 

Unless you require portability Id go with the iMac as to get a decent sized screen on your iBook is going to cost significantly more than on the iMac.

I have a 13" iBook and I only use it when I have to, prefering my 24" iMacs screen.

If you can swing the $2800 for the 17" MacBook that might be the best of both worlds but thats too pricey for my blood when I can get a 24" iMac for $1000 less !

 

yep. they are different computers buy which one you need.

 

I have Apple laptops and desktops. I use my laptop five times as much as I do the desktop.

 

My GF and I got last year's 24" iMac (2.4GHz) and it's been wonderful. We weren't sure if we really needed the extra display capabilities over the 20" until we forgot to record LOST one week. All it took was watching it online in wide screen format and we knew we'd bought the right computer. Awesome display, and and a really small footprint. It really looks great sitting on the desk. We also opted for the cordless keyboard and mouse and that was also a good decision worth the extra cash.

 

I have an iMac and absolutely love it. 2 of my friends have Macbooks and I cannot stand the keyboard on that thing its awful, I can never type on it.

 

I currently use a MacBook Pro 17", as DrStranglove stated the portability & power rules. Also keep in mind the imacs are up for another upgrade & might be fazed out for another design.
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i would hold off on both. The MacBook Pro is coming out with the same touch mouse as the air. They are dropping shipment of these now.

A new one will be out very soon. Keep an eye out at:
http://www.tuaw.com/
and
http://www.macrumors.com/

Antony

 

The portability is great, whenever I visit friends who live a couple hours away it isn't hard to take my iMac with me, my dad is a writer and he will go to hotels and take his iMac to concentrate and since he needs a full size keyboard it works out great.

 

We have both. I use the Macbook everday. Although my daughter's new Imac is awesome. I think if I had to have one only and just for the house I would go with the Imac........

 

I have both (as well as a Mac Mini.) I love the Macbook portability and battery life. We use it far more frequently than we thought we would since we can use it anywhere in the house (or on road trips.) The iMac is oustanding as a desktop device (great real estate on the screen) but is a dedicated home machine.

What I'd recommend is to get a Macbook and, if you need a bigger screen or prefer a different keyboard, go with the larger flat panel screen (or use any VGA screen as the laptop comes with the adapter) and use the new Aluminum flat keyboard and Mighty Mouse which will sync up with the Macbook via Bluetooth.

 

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/02/25/new-macbook-pro-part-numbers-discovered/

just in time?

 

Hmmm...If its a new Pro. I'll get one this week. If its just an update, I'll just wait for the next thing.

 

I prefer laptops, but I would get a MacBook Pro, not a MacBook. The portability really is great, and the Pro is much more of a comparable computer to the iMac instead of the basic MacBook. Plus, the aluminum means it'll hold up a lot longer than the plastic MacBook.

 

Also gets scratched a lot. My watch has marked up my computer on the left side.

Antony

 

new macbook and macbook pro shown today

 

Oh & they look so good.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/02/26/apple_intros_updated_macbooks_and_new_penryn_macbook_pros.html

Apple today updated its popular MacBook and MacBook Pro notebook lines with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn processors, larger hard drives and 2GB of memory standard in most models.

MacBook Pro

In addition, MacBook Pro includes the latest NVIDIA graphics processors, now with up to 512MB of video memory, and Apple's innovative Multi-Touch trackpad, first introduced in MacBook Air.

The new MacBook Pro features the latest Intel Core 2 Duo technology with up to a 2.6 GHz processor with 6MB of shared L2 cache; up to 4GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory and up to a 300GB hard drive, plus NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics with up to 512MB of video memory.

Every MacBook Pro now includes a trackpad with Multi-Touch gesture support for pinch, rotate and swipe, making it more intuitive than ever to zoom and rotate photos in iPhoto or Aperture 2 or browse web pages in Safari; an illuminated keyboard that makes it ideal for dimly lit environments such as airplanes, studios or conference halls and a built-in ambient light sensor, which automatically adjusts the brightness of the keys as well as the brightness of the display for optimal visibility.

MacBook

Featuring a 13-inch glossy widescreen display, and with prices still starting at just $1,099, the new MacBook lineup comes in three models and includes faster processors and larger hard drives across the line; white 2.1 GHz and 2.4 GHz models with 120GB or 160GB 5400 rpm hard drives and a black 2.4 GHz model with a massive 250GB 5400 rpm hard drive, previously only available as an option. The 2.4 GHz MacBook models ship with 2GB of memory standard, expandable up to 4GB across the line.

Every MacBook and MacBook Pro includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go; Apple's MagSafe Power Adapter that magnetically connects the power cord and safely disconnects when under strain; the latest generation of 802.11n wireless networking for up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g; built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed networking; Bluetooth; analog and digital audio inputs and outputs; USB 2.0; FireWire and a built-in SuperDrive.

Pricing & Availability

The new MacBook and MacBook Pro models are now shipping and will be available through the Apple Store , Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

The 2.1 GHz, 13-inch white MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,099 (US), includes:

* 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display
* 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache
* 800 MHz front-side bus
* 1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB
* 120GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
* a slot-load Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) optical drive
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
* Mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately)
* built-in iSight video camera
* Gigabit Ethernet port
* built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
* two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port
* one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog
* Scrolling trackpad and
* 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.


The 2.4 GHz, 13-inch white MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,299 (US), includes:

* 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display
* 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache
* 800 MHz front-side bus
* 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB
* 160GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
* a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL / DVD+/-RW / CD-RW) optical drive
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
* Mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately)
* built-in iSight video camera
* Gigabit Ethernet port
* built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
* two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port
* one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog
* Scrolling trackpad and
* 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter


The 2.4 GHz, 13-inch black MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US), includes:

* 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display
* 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache
* 800 MHz front-side bus
* 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB
* 250GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
* a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL / DVD+/-RW / CD-RW) optical drive
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
* Mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately)
* built-in iSight video camera
* Gigabit Ethernet port
* built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
* two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port
* one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog
* Scrolling trackpad and
* 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter


Build-to-order options for the MacBook include the ability to upgrade to up to 4GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, a 160GB or 250GB hard drive, Apple USB Modem, Apple Mini-DVI to DVI adapter, Apple Mini-DVI to VGA adapter, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

The 2.4 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US), includes:

* 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 LCD display
* 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache
* 800 MHz front-side bus
* 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB
* 200GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
* a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL / DVD+/-RW / CD-RW) optical drive
* NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB GDDR3 memory
* DVI-out port for external display (VGA-out adapter included, Composite/S-Video adapter sold separately)
* built-in Dual Link support for driving Apple 30-inch Cinema HD Display
* built-in iSight video camera
* Gigabit Ethernet port
* built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
* ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot
* two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port and one FireWire 400 port
* one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog
* Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard and
* 85 Watt Apple MagSafe Power Adapter


The 2.5 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,499 (US), includes:

* 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 LCD display
* 2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 6MB shared L2 cache
* 800 MHz front-side bus
* 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB
* 250GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
* a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL / DVD+/-RW / CD-RW) optical drive
* NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 512MB GDDR3 memory
* DVI-out port for external display (VGA-out adapter included, Composite/S-Video out adapter sold separately)
* built-in Dual Link support for driving Apple 30-inch Cinema HD Display
* built-in iSight video camera
* Gigabit Ethernet port
* built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
* ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot
* two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port and one FireWire 400 port
* one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog
* Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard and
* 85 Watt Apple MagSafe Power Adapter


The 2.5 GHz, 17-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,799 (US), includes:

* 17-inch widescreen 1680 x 1050 LCD display
* 2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 6MB shared L2 cache
* 800 MHz front-side bus
* 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB
* 250GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
* a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL / DVD+/-RW / CD-RW) optical drive
* NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 512MB GDDR3 memory
* DVI-out port for external display (VGA-out adapter included, Composite/S-Video out adapter sold separately)
* built-in Dual Link support for driving Apple 30-inch Cinema HD Display
* built-in iSight video camera
* Gigabit Ethernet port
* built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
* ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot
* three USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port and one FireWire 400 port
* one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog
* Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard and
* 85 Watt Apple MagSafe Power Adapter


Build-to-order options for the MacBook Pro include the ability to upgrade to up to 4GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, a 2.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 200GB (7200 rpm), 250GB (5400 rpm) or a 300GB (4200 rpm) hard drive, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter, Apple USB Modem, glossy widescreen display, 17- inch LED-backlit 1920 x 1200 high-resolution display and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

Additional build-to-order options for both MacBook and MacBook Pro include pre-installed copies of iWork '08, Logic Express 8, Final Cut Express 4 and Aperture 2.

 

I am so craving a Macbook pro right now, I just got to wait 1 year and a half for college, but I can dream.

 

Me too...