Year of the Upgrade

Now then, its been nearly 3 years since i've been a Mac User, and up to now I've still had the 1st gen of the intel 20 inch iMac, but now it is starting to show its age and I think now its time for an upgrade.
Ive been thinkin of what would best suit me for a while, and i figured that as I get around, and i dont like to just use the mac in one space in the room and to just stay there, i want to carry it around, so Ive decided on the high end Macbook or low end Macbook Pro.
I use it for everyday things, like iTunes for its purpose and iPhone, all the iLife apps except for iWeb and iDVD, but its mainly iPhoto and Garageband i use as well.
Internet like Safari, Adium, Transmission, and the iTunes Store, and the only games i'd want to play are the classic Mega Drive games i have on an emulator (I do own them all myself of what I play, so no worries ) and Steam, like Team Fortress.
I'd want to use it wherever i go, and when im home, I'd want to have it docked and for it to connect to an external display, 13 or 15 inch display for on the go would suit me fine.
What I'm asking for is opinions on this, is it the best way to go? Is the low end macbook pro worth that extra two hundred from the high end macbook?
And also, I'd want to sell the iMac towards it, but I guess I wouldnt get much for it, possibly £450 at best.
I just want to hear anyone's opinions and advice if this is the best way to go, and what would you pick?
Many Thanks

 

There are no docks for Macbooks ...

It's ultimately about portability vs. screen size/resolution in your case. That and whether it's worth buying the MB "pro" instead of the MB. The thing is, both are perfectly capable of what you want of them, so it's up to you. Both are glossy (gaah!), and it's basically the same computer. Although there are some differences between them, the only one that matters to your needs are the screen size and resolution.

For years of owning 15" Macs, I'm (besides going elsewhere) moving down in screen size while retaining the resolution. I want it to be truly portable, and I don't find a 15 incher to be so portable, considering what else I'm lugging about.

 

Yeah, I mean I can get the higher end macbook, and could buy an external display like i said to keep the portability while im on the go, and when im home, just connect it up. I imagine that carrying a 15 inch isn't exactly portable lol
The power will be more than what ive got now, even thought it'll be form a desktop to a notebook essentially. I run team fortress on crossover and works flawlessly, so im expecting the macbook to do the same

 

Ha ha, yeah. I guess if I was always driving in a car, or merely going back and forth between my home and some office I would be fine, but I am often carrying it places, several places in a day, and since we moved I find I have to do work in the train from time to time, so a 15 incher is history as far as I'm concerned.
With an external at home like you intent to do, I'd certainly go for the smaller of the two, giving you the best of both worlds, plus it'll save you some money for something much more fun than computers

 

I prefer the macbook pro.
If money is a big deal, just get a macbook low-end. you wont notice a big improve in performance over other models with your daily task.

 

For me, the high end MB and the low end MBP is no question....I would get the MBP and not look back.

It's not about portability, but the extra $200 is worth the better screen and higher resolution, and the better graphics power. That's why I think the high end MB is a rip off (then again, all macs are). I would never buy the high end MB.

If it were the low end MB...sure, I'd say stick with the MB. But if you are considering the price range of the high end MB/low MBP, might as well go for the MBP.

 

sure there is... thats what Bookendz has made for years.. docks for Apple laptops...

www.bookendzdocks.com

a few more weeks before the newer Unibody docks are shipping

me I'd rather plug everything in manually.. those things are expensive.

 

True, I forgot about bookendz. You will need a new one for every new mac you buy because no macs are prepared for docking. Really, it's not much more than a port replicator.

 

haha, yeah, its just with this iMac, it is showin its age to me, and I wanna make sure that i'll be buyin the right one, at the end of the day its over a grand i'll be payin for a computer
These docks do look good, the site above shows some great ones.