A MacBook as my desktop computer?

[GanChan]

I will be replacing my old PPC Mini with something more upgradeable and generally better, maybe by end of this year. An Intel Mini would be an improvement, of course, but it's too much of a pain to upgrade over time and i think I could do a little better. Not Mac Pro better, but a little better. My needs are fairly modest.

Would it make sense for me to buy a MacBook and connect it to my monitor and peripherals for use as my desktop Mac? I already have a 12" PPC iBook that is nice and portable for my road unit, but if it ever died, it would be great to know I could just disconnect my "desktop" computer and go mobile with it.

 

[flopticalcube]

A thread on this yesterday. Search for it. Answer is yes.

 

[andiwm2003]

it would be nice to include the thread since you know it obviously. by that not everyone who stumbles on this thread has to do the same search.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/311907/

 

[flopticalcube]

If you do that, they will never learn. Let people learn to search first. Stop spoon feeding.

 

[macjay]

A thread on this yesterday. Search for it. Answer is yes.

OP's question is different from that thread.

OP is asking whether it makes sense to replace a Mac Mini with a MB and use it only as a desktop with external screen, kb and mouse. Not the same as asking if the MacBook can serve as one's main computer.

 

[flopticalcube]

Apologies to all. I see the OP's point now.

 

[Dynamyk]

It could definitely work. I do suggest upping the RAM. BUT I would wait to see what they have in store for the iMacs in case the update interests you.

 

[mst0192]

i did it in the past.

as i switched from pc to mac i bought a 12" ibook (in 2003 i think). i maxed out the ram and swapped the hd for a 7200rpm one..

all you need is a good external monitor, a keyboard and a mouse.
i study graphic design and it (the power of the ibook) was enough for me.

it was my dektop and mobile computer. so my reccomendation would be to sell the ibook and just use the macbook. this way you can avoid the pain of syncing both.

at the moment i work on a dualG5, but within the next year, i will go macbook-only again!

 

[juanm]

It'll work great. Go for it.

 

[Vidd]

For a desktop and mobile workstation there's nothing wrong with the Macbook.
It's powerful and pretty compact.
As for upgrading, you might want to keep the RAM at 2GB with matched pairs for the GMA.
EDIT: Someone in the past couple of days posted a step by step of them upgrading a Mini and hooking it up to a 24" (I think) Dell. Was that you?