UPgrade 12" PB OR iMac ???

[EasyC]

I got my Powerbook last July, its a 1.33 with 1.25 GB of Ram. I used it at school this year and connected it to a Dell 17" W1700 (a LCD TV). I did enjoy the screen but it pretty much handled it purpose. My question is to you guys is that I need and want something more in the form of a Desktop solution. I have come up with two solutions, I could go with either a 23 Cinema Display and 250 GB external FW400 HD or a 20" G5 iMac. I can go with either for close to the same price, the iMac being a little more of course, but I can take advantage of the apple student discount on each. Also I ould go with the 20" cinema but I love that 23 so much! Okay which way should I go? should I just hold out with the PB for a few years until the upper tier (powerwise) intel mac? FYI I do some Photoshop and editing, but I do alot of Adobe Acrobat work, word Processing, and the regular surfing and such. TIA.

[chaosbunny]

I would go with the powerbook and the bigger screen, since it is capable to fulfill your needs. I think a point most people forget when having a notebook and a desktop is if you are in a hurry, working on the desktop and then going somewhere with the notebook you easily forget data at home. A friend of mine is photographer and has a powerbook and a 2x2 ghz G5. He says he forgets data in the G5 at least 1-2 times a months when going to clients with the powerbook. Ok, it is all a matter of getting used to it, but I think it is something that surely happens sometime.

Just my oppinion, I'm sure you will be happy with whatever you choose ;)

[tsk]

You'd get more performance out of the iMac no doubt. It's a faster CPU. However, I'd get the monitor instead. I'm not overly fond of the all-in-one. And with the monitor, if you go a different route later, you can use the monitor. The iMac you're stuck with.

[crazydreaming]

Go with the monitor route, because when these new intel macs come out. A monitor isn't going to be outdated by that.

Then, IMO you'll have the best Mac set-up there is for most.

[sw1tcher]

Personally, I'd go with the display. I like the portability factor.

And if you want to save some extra $$$ (at least $600), there's always the 24" Dell 2405FPW. From the reviews (1 (http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1764459,00.asp), 2 (http://cnet.nytimes.com/Dell_UltraSharp_2405FPW/4505-3174_7-31335738-2.html?subj=reviews_31335738&part=nytimes&tag=feed_4923%0A%09), 3 (http://www.barefeats.com/lcd.html)) I've read, it's awesome. Even better than Apple's 23" Cinema Display.

There's also a Apple display vs. Dell display thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=133855) going on.

[tekno_geek911]

Definately PowerBook+ACD...I had an iBook then went to the iMac G5 then sold it for another PowerBook,the iMac is great but nothing beats portability imo.

[FFTT]

I'd go with either the 20" ACD or a Dell 2405FPW 24" display.

$699 vs $899 education.