Hello All, I am all kinds of confused when it comes to deciding what my new computer should be. I currently own an ipad 2, and an aging 2007 macbook that is hooked up to a 27" Samsung LED display with BT keyboard and magic trackpad.
I am confused between getting a mac mini and hooking up to my existing monitor, keyboard, trackpad or to get an iMac.
My usage: I will be hooking up USB turntables (Numark Mixtrack Pro), a MIDI keyboard, and an audio interface with which i will be doing some recording (vocals/guitar), some digital composition, and mixing.
I also would like to make short videos in Final Cut express or perhaps FCPX. I have done video editing in the past, but lately i have not been doing any because my macbook cant really handle it. Regardless, they are not going to be full length movies or anything.
Note: the above mentioned are all hobbies which I do regularly on weekends and some nights, but nothing professionally.
Macmini would be nice since I already have a monitor, etc...but having a more powerful setup with the iMac and use my current monitor as a external display would also be nice as well. (But would i really ever use the screen real estate of a iMac (21.5 most likely) + a 27" monitor?
Also, would the upgrade mini be better or the quadcore server unit?
If i went iMac, would the base be sufficient for my needs or should i get the upgraded model? (I am primarily looking at the 21.5" iMac....but I also worry that it will look awkward with a larger external display).
^^hence all the confusion. Any advice would be much appreciated!
Thanks
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I forgot to mention...money is not really that much an issue, but I also dont want to spend money on something that will not get utilized properly. (i dont believe in wasting money).
I will be buying a new desk as well, so space isnt an issue either.
Also....sorry for the long essay in my original post.
I am confused between getting a mac mini and hooking up to my existing monitor, keyboard, trackpad or to get an iMac.
My usage: I will be hooking up USB turntables (Numark Mixtrack Pro), a MIDI keyboard, and an audio interface with which i will be doing some recording (vocals/guitar), some digital composition, and mixing.
I also would like to make short videos in Final Cut express or perhaps FCPX. I have done video editing in the past, but lately i have not been doing any because my macbook cant really handle it. Regardless, they are not going to be full length movies or anything.
Note: the above mentioned are all hobbies which I do regularly on weekends and some nights, but nothing professionally.
Macmini would be nice since I already have a monitor, etc...but having a more powerful setup with the iMac and use my current monitor as a external display would also be nice as well. (But would i really ever use the screen real estate of a iMac (21.5 most likely) + a 27" monitor?
Also, would the upgrade mini be better or the quadcore server unit?
If i went iMac, would the base be sufficient for my needs or should i get the upgraded model? (I am primarily looking at the 21.5" iMac....but I also worry that it will look awkward with a larger external display).
^^hence all the confusion. Any advice would be much appreciated!
Thanks
----------
I forgot to mention...money is not really that much an issue, but I also dont want to spend money on something that will not get utilized properly. (i dont believe in wasting money).
I will be buying a new desk as well, so space isnt an issue either.
Also....sorry for the long essay in my original post.