I have wanted a Mac for a while now, and now that I have decided to abandon my lousy PC, I need to choose.
After quite a bit of research, I have a dilemma; I would love the portability of a laptop, but I would also love a big screen to work on. I have gotten accustomed to a 24" display and don't think I can go back. I do a lot of work with photos, and while I am not a pro, I am beginning to move out of the realm of 'enthusiast'. Beyond working on photos, I use my computer for internet, movies, music, etc.
I was initially looking at a 2.5 ghz 17" hi res MBP. I like it because it is quite powerful for a laptop and has the hi res matte screen. It would give me all the freedom I could want. But, it is a rather pricey machine and 17" just seems so dang small (which I know it is not by laptop standards).
I have used Imacs before and really like them. But the newest ones are out of the question for me since they have a glossy screen and I don't want that when working with photos; I have had a glossy display before and won't go back. I know the G5's have the matte screen, and cosmetically, I like the way the look better. I have considered getting the 24" 2.33 ghz Imac on Ebay. I like this because it has a big 1920 x 1200 matte screen, will be relatively inexpensive, and will probably be powerful enough for me, and offers the simplicity I want. I don't really care for the thought of buying a used computer and problems that may arise, being limited to 3 G of ram, and being tethered to the house.
My final consideration is a combination of macbook and 23' display. I would probably go for the 2.4 ghz black macbook. I have probably done the least research on macbooks, thus, I know the least about them. In the end, I like the idea of having a laptop and a big display. I don't know how I feel about hooking a laptop up to the display though. I would probably want a bluetooth keyboard and mouse when working at the bigger display, which I am not even sure if or how that works running through a macbook.
In a nut shell, I am looking for:
- $2,500 or less
- large, accurate matte display
- portability (even being able to move an Imac around the house counts
somewhat for me here after using a pc)
- relatively powerful (my pc has a 3ghz (single) processor and 1 G or ram,
so anything will be an upgrade for me)
- simplicity (not a bunch of extra cables or peripherals)
Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions, trials, tribulations.... would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
After quite a bit of research, I have a dilemma; I would love the portability of a laptop, but I would also love a big screen to work on. I have gotten accustomed to a 24" display and don't think I can go back. I do a lot of work with photos, and while I am not a pro, I am beginning to move out of the realm of 'enthusiast'. Beyond working on photos, I use my computer for internet, movies, music, etc.
I was initially looking at a 2.5 ghz 17" hi res MBP. I like it because it is quite powerful for a laptop and has the hi res matte screen. It would give me all the freedom I could want. But, it is a rather pricey machine and 17" just seems so dang small (which I know it is not by laptop standards).
I have used Imacs before and really like them. But the newest ones are out of the question for me since they have a glossy screen and I don't want that when working with photos; I have had a glossy display before and won't go back. I know the G5's have the matte screen, and cosmetically, I like the way the look better. I have considered getting the 24" 2.33 ghz Imac on Ebay. I like this because it has a big 1920 x 1200 matte screen, will be relatively inexpensive, and will probably be powerful enough for me, and offers the simplicity I want. I don't really care for the thought of buying a used computer and problems that may arise, being limited to 3 G of ram, and being tethered to the house.
My final consideration is a combination of macbook and 23' display. I would probably go for the 2.4 ghz black macbook. I have probably done the least research on macbooks, thus, I know the least about them. In the end, I like the idea of having a laptop and a big display. I don't know how I feel about hooking a laptop up to the display though. I would probably want a bluetooth keyboard and mouse when working at the bigger display, which I am not even sure if or how that works running through a macbook.
In a nut shell, I am looking for:
- $2,500 or less
- large, accurate matte display
- portability (even being able to move an Imac around the house counts
somewhat for me here after using a pc)
- relatively powerful (my pc has a 3ghz (single) processor and 1 G or ram,
so anything will be an upgrade for me)
- simplicity (not a bunch of extra cables or peripherals)
Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions, trials, tribulations.... would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!