17" MBP or 24" iMac

I currently own a Sony VAIO A-290 laptop and want to upgrade. My computer is now 2 years old. It has the following: 17" WUXGA glossy screen, Pentium M 1.7 processor, 1GB RAM, 100GB HD, ATI 9700 graphics, and TV tuner. Previously I owned a 17" G4 Powerbook which I sold for the first generation G5 iMac. I had a lot of problems with the iMac so I sold it to purchase the Sony laptop. The main selling point of the Sony is the high resolution, high contrast screen. I really prefer OS X to the Windows XP but at the time I purchased the Sony there was no option for an Apple laptop with a similar screen. I was all set to purchase the new 24" iMac until I saw the new Core 2 Mac Book Pros. I have seen the Mac Book Pros at the Apple store and they are much nicer than the G4 Powerbook I once owned. I think the glossy screen is very similar to my Sony but with lower resolution. I use my computer as a desktop replacement but sometimes move it from room to room. I mainly use my computer for File Maker Pro database, digital photography using Photoshop, audio, Bit Torrent downloads of TV shows, and web surfing. The new Mac Book Pro's are good values compared to the previous models and in some ways better than the stock 24" iMac. You get a faster processor, 1GB more Ram. My question to you is this: have any of you on this forum thought about purchasing the 24" iMac to use as your only computer. The iMac certainly has the advantage in the much larger screen, larger hard drive, and better graphics card but it does not have the glossy screen and the computer is VERY large. If I ever need a larger screen I can always purchase a monitor and connect it to the laptop. LCD prices have been dropping lately. There are a lot of people who use a laptop as a desktop replacement. Have any of you regretted not purchasing an iMac. Thanks in advance for the help. I am sure that you will be able to give me advice in which way to go, either the stock 24" iMac or the stock 17" Mac Book Pro with the glossy screen. I plan to keep the computer for at least 2 years.

 

Well, I've never really thought about getting a laptop or a desktop. I'm not sure how many people have really had to make that decision.
I don't think most people are going to want to jump for a DTR if they're going to keep it in one place.
Really though, if you're going to seldom move it around, and only in your place, it might be better to get the iMac.

 

If I really didn't need to move it around all that much, I think I'd get the 24" iMac and upgrade the RAM, etc. later.

If I did want to occasionally be able to move it around more easily though, and even travel from time to time with it, I'd definitely look at the 17" MBP.

Or another possibility to consider is a 15" MBP combined with a 24" monitor like the Dell 24" widescreen monitor. Would give you sort of the best of both worlds; portability, plus a large screen to use while using it as a desktop, and it not necessarily cost that much more.

 

Heh, just get the 15" and buy a nice, big HDTV and use the DVI out to it

That should suite you just fine

 

I thought of getting the iMac. I don't really regret getting my MBP at all. It is a great machine, and I take it everywhere. Can't take an iMac too many places. Power is going to be similar between the two, aside from a slight video advantage. Remember, the 17" does not have an underclocked card. I say get the MBP

 

Thanks for the replies. So now I have 3 options: 24" iMac, 17" MBP, 15" MBP and external monitor. I would be saving $300 by purchasing the 15" over the 17" but give up screen size, a smaller hard drive, and a slower Superdrive.
I have used my Sony laptop as a desktop replacement for 2 years and it is my only computer so I am comfortable using a laptop. The iMac on the other hand will have a larger screen, separate keyboard and mouse, and a larger hard drive.
I have an external LaCie 250GB hard drive and can purchase a separate keyboard and mouse. Other factors to consider are the life expectancy of a laptop versus the iMac. I plan to keep the computer for 2 years and would like to have as few problems as possible. Also the matte finish iMac screen versus the glossy 17" MBP screen for my work with digital photography and Photoshop.
My Sony has the glossy screen which I really like and glare is not a problem at all. Thanks again for the great advice.

 

I don't think life expectancy will be much greater with the iMac. It is basically a laptop in a little bigger case. The only difference is the amount of g-forces the laptop will experience, and you say you don't move it a lot, so that should not be significant. I think you would be fine with a 17" MBP.

 

I actually thought of getting the 17" iMac as a portable computer. Afterall, it isn't much heavier than my 17" Fujitsu n6010... I think Apple lists the 17" iMac at around 15lbs while the Fuji is 10.5lbs plus the 2lb AC adapter. That's only a 2.5lb difference.

But to get back to your question, in my opinion there's only one reason to get a notebook: to carry it around. If it stays on your desk, I'd absolutely get a desktop. I haven't compared the specs between the 17" MacBook Pro and the 24" iMac, but I do know that there's almost a $1000 difference in price. Whatever you may or may not get standard in the iMac, I'm sure that you can add it on... for less than a $1000.

Good luck.

 

Form factor contributes to portability as well....... a laptop is more designed to be put in a case and carried around. I do believe that people do make some sort of case for the iMac, but it's just for transportation purposes really. I wouldn't get it planning to carry it around like youd o a laptop.

 

I would personally laugh if I was sitting in a library at school, someone comes in carrying a large case and pulls out an iMac and sets it up on the table to work on.

 

... which is the reason why I stated that the only reason to get a notebook is if you need to carry it around with you. If not, then get a desktop!

I wish I had the money to have to decided between a 17" MBP and a 24" iMac.

 

Or... get both a 24" iMac and a Macbook. Or even another cheaper notebook altogether.

 

An iMac contains deskotop components - desktop HDDs etc. It is much less robust to shocks, it really isnt meant for moving around.

 

just in case no-one believes it, here are the iMac carrying cases:

http://www.ilugger.com/

 

True, although in some other areas its components have more in common with laptops; it uses the mobile Core 2 Duo processor, mobile GPU's, etc. It's really a lot like a laptop motherboard crammed into a monitor, in a way. True about the hard drives though.

 

There was a carrying case for the original macintosh in the 80s, that wouldve been funny to see way back when

 

I'll have to think about that if I get a iMac this summer. haha.

That would probably get weird looks carrying around campus.

 

Have you guys seen this dell?
XPS M2010
yeah... i'ts kinda neat.. mix between a laptop and desktop. Would make a neat media center. But yeah, just thought of it with the ilugger link.

 

shouldn't they call that i-backbraker, or i-hipdestroyer =P
Also, I saw a video of the 20" laptop, on the go. Some guy used it on a subway (tube) in the U.K. and demo'd it in public. It's HUGE. Sorry I can't find the link, or where i got from originally

 

The XPS M2010 is an interesting idea, although I'd be curious how many of them Dell is actually selling.