iMac or Retina 15 inch MBP

ditzy · Nov 7, 2012, 11:49 AM

Ok, I know that in the end I just need to make up my mind, but am finding it hard.

I need a new mac. I wanted to buy a new 21 inch iMac mainly because the 27 is too big for me, and I really don't need a laptop.
My problem is I wanted to get a SSD, I know that I can get a fusion drive, but I spend about 20% of my time in windows and that would run on the HD. Which would annoy me.
The MBP would do everything that I would want it to do, but of course I would be paying the premium for portability. And also for the screen. There would also be the advantage that I could get it very quickly.
What do you think I should do?

Doctor Suarez · Nov 7, 2012, 12:35 PM

I'm facing a similar conundrum (which I will be posting about shortly) so I don't have a definitive answer. Still, let me offer one small suggestion: Do you need the retina 15-incher? Would the reduced price of the regular 15 be a good tradeoff for having only a beautiful screen instead of a stunningly-beautiful screen? I have to make this decision as well, so I'll definitely be going to the Apple store to try out both.

ditzy · Nov 7, 2012, 02:03 PM

I have a 24 inch iMac now, I don't think that I would want less than 15 inch screen. And by the time you give the non retina 15 inch a 512GB SSD there isn't much difference in the price.
I think it's still between the retina 15 inch and the 21 inch iMac for me, but I'm beginning to lean towards the MBP. If apple offered a decent sized SSD for the 21 inch iMac this wouldn't even be a thought process for me. I'd happily pay the primium on the price. I don't see why it isn't an option.

wlossw · Nov 7, 2012, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ditzy

I have a 24 inch iMac now, I don't think that I would want less than 15 inch screen. And by the time you give the non retina 15 inch a 512GB SSD there isn't much difference in the price.
I think it's still between the retina 15 inch and the 21 inch iMac for me, but I'm beginning to lean towards the MBP. If apple offered a decent sized SSD for the 21 inch iMac this wouldn't even be a thought process for me. I'd happily pay the primium on the price. I don't see why it isn't an option.

Buy the Retina Macbook pro and an external monitor (if a TBD is too big, Dell makes some nice 22-24" monitors)

Get a Wireless mouse and KB and voila! all the Utility of an iMac. And you can pack it up when you like and bring it around with you.

problem solved

designs216 · Nov 7, 2012, 02:54 PM

You could take the sting out of that portability premium by purchasing a refurb MBP + TB display. I just bought a cMBP 15". It was in pristine condition and carries the same warranty as the new models.

matthewr · Nov 7, 2012, 03:33 PM

I was planning on getting a new iMac (I had been waiting sice February). When the new ones were announced, I started lookin at which size would be better on my desk, and realized they were both bigger than I wanted. So I then decided to go with the 15 inch rMBP with the 512 GB SSD and 16 GB of ram, and I couldnt be happier. It is awesome. When I need more screen real estate, I plug it in to my external 24 inch dell monitor. My iPad is lonely now because I am using my MBP all the time. I thought I didn't need the portability, but I have been carting it around a fair amount. For me, having 1 very capable computer is preferable to having two (iMac and Air) that I try to keep in sync.

ditzy · Nov 8, 2012, 09:49 AM

Well I've bit the bullet and ordered the retina MacBook. Hopefully I won't regret it.

Nov 7, 2012, 11:49 AM	#1
ditzy macrumors 65816 Join Date: Sep 2007	iMac or Retina 15 inch MBP Ok, I know that in the end I just need to make up my mind, but am finding it hard. I need a new mac. I wanted to buy a new 21 inch iMac mainly because the 27 is too big for me, and I really don't need a laptop. My problem is I wanted to get a SSD, I know that I can get a fusion drive, but I spend about 20% of my time in windows and that would run on the HD. Which would annoy me. The MBP would do everything that I would want it to do, but of course I would be paying the premium for portability. And also for the screen. There would also be the advantage that I could get it very quickly. What do you think I should do? __________________ 15 inch retina MBP. 64GB iPhone 4s white, Original iPad 64GB mobile data, iPad mini 32GB Black and slate.
	0

Nov 7, 2012, 02:03 PM	#3
ditzy Thread Starter macrumors 65816 Join Date: Sep 2007	I have a 24 inch iMac now, I don't think that I would want less than 15 inch screen. And by the time you give the non retina 15 inch a 512GB SSD there isn't much difference in the price. I think it's still between the retina 15 inch and the 21 inch iMac for me, but I'm beginning to lean towards the MBP. If apple offered a decent sized SSD for the 21 inch iMac this wouldn't even be a thought process for me. I'd happily pay the primium on the price. I don't see why it isn't an option. __________________ 15 inch retina MBP. 64GB iPhone 4s white, Original iPad 64GB mobile data, iPad mini 32GB Black and slate.
	0

Nov 8, 2012, 09:49 AM	#7
ditzy Thread Starter macrumors 65816 Join Date: Sep 2007	Well I've bit the bullet and ordered the retina MacBook. Hopefully I won't regret it. __________________ 15 inch retina MBP. 64GB iPhone 4s white, Original iPad 64GB mobile data, iPad mini 32GB Black and slate.
	0

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Nov 7, 2012, 12:35 PM	#2
Doctor Suarez macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2006	I'm facing a similar conundrum (which I will be posting about shortly) so I don't have a definitive answer. Still, let me offer one small suggestion: Do you need the retina 15-incher? Would the reduced price of the regular 15 be a good tradeoff for having only a beautiful screen instead of a stunningly-beautiful screen? I have to make this decision as well, so I'll definitely be going to the Apple store to try out both.
	0

Nov 7, 2012, 02:54 PM	#5
designs216 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: On the way to M-83	You could take the sting out of that portability premium by purchasing a refurb MBP + TB display. I just bought a cMBP 15". It was in pristine condition and carries the same warranty as the new models.
	0

Nov 7, 2012, 03:33 PM	#6
matthewr macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2004	I was planning on getting a new iMac (I had been waiting sice February). When the new ones were announced, I started lookin at which size would be better on my desk, and realized they were both bigger than I wanted. So I then decided to go with the 15 inch rMBP with the 512 GB SSD and 16 GB of ram, and I couldnt be happier. It is awesome. When I need more screen real estate, I plug it in to my external 24 inch dell monitor. My iPad is lonely now because I am using my MBP all the time. I thought I didn't need the portability, but I have been carting it around a fair amount. For me, having 1 very capable computer is preferable to having two (iMac and Air) that I try to keep in sync.
	0