I’m starting my first year of uni next year and currently have a 2013 MacBook Pro 13” which is slow and has a bad battery but still works. I’m tossing up whether to buy a new iMac to use at home but bring my current laptop to Uni with me OR buy a new laptop and get a monitor to use at home. My concerns are that my laptop will break during the year and I’ll have to replace it with a new one but I like my current MBP because of the ports which the latest MBP models are lacking. I’m also in a dilemma about whether I want a 13” or 15” MBP. I would only be using the computers for looking at slideshows, listening and watching lecture recordings, watching videos/movies and writing essays so don’t need much power.
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Buying advice: MacBook Pro and monitor or iMac?
- Thread starter Sarahisashark
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You can't take an iMac with you and use it in the classroom. That might rule it out. If you need the computer outside your home then you need some kind of MacBook.
On the other hand, if you absolutely don't need a computer away from your desk, a Mac mini with a _cheap_ monitor is the cheapest solution, followed by a cheap MacBook like the Air, and then you can for the same money choose between Mac mini with expensive monitor or two monitors, or an iMac, or one of the more expensive MacBooks.
On the other hand, if you absolutely don't need a computer away from your desk, a Mac mini with a _cheap_ monitor is the cheapest solution, followed by a cheap MacBook like the Air, and then you can for the same money choose between Mac mini with expensive monitor or two monitors, or an iMac, or one of the more expensive MacBooks.
I would never recommend a desktop for a college student.
MBP and monitor all the way, it's what I've done for years. Also I wouldn't want to imagine lugging an iMac back to the store for a repair. Granted this could still happen with a big monitor, but much less likely since there are far fewer parts in a monitor than an actual desktop computer.
Could just get a 2015 15" MBP, then you get your ports and save some money.
MBP and monitor all the way, it's what I've done for years. Also I wouldn't want to imagine lugging an iMac back to the store for a repair. Granted this could still happen with a big monitor, but much less likely since there are far fewer parts in a monitor than an actual desktop computer.
Could just get a 2015 15" MBP, then you get your ports and save some money.
Given your Use Case I wouldn't recommend the 15" Macbook Pro. I would even go so far as to suggest that the new Macbook Air might be the best option for you, but a 13" Macbook Pro would also work well. As far as iMac goes I love them but not really that great for a student.
The MBP has 4 ports, while the Air has only two, I believe. So that’s perhaps a better fit for you IMO.