Ditch 2009 iMac for new mac laptop?

[retrocool]

I've got a top-of-the line 2009 iMac 27" with the i7 2.8GHz, 16GB RAM upgraded with a 1.25TB home-brew fusion drive.
I use it for photoshop/illustrator/indesign and web development. I also use Band-in-a-box which needs ~100GB of storage on its own. My 'jobs' folder is currently nearly 300GB. I run the iMac with an external 24" 1920x1200 display.
At the moment, the iMac is running OK, it doesn't slow me down much and so doesn't really need replacing - pretty astonishing for 8 years old! However, my laptop is a 2010 macbook pro which is really showing its age, even with an SSD upgrade, and especially when running a large external monitor. I'm expecting to have to use the laptop a bit more next year, with at least a month in an office abroad, and the 2010 just won't cut it.
Since I probably can't afford to replace both machines, and I use the iMac much more, I'm considering buying a new mac laptop to replace both machines. I'd also want to run enough external monitors that I don't lose screen space compared to the gorgeous 27"+24". What external monitors (4k??) should I consider getting and how much will this add to the budget required?
Is this a reasonable plan? Is it wise to move to a machine, which 8 years later has, at best, the SAME amount of RAM and measly internal storage, all of which is un-upgradable? Will it be notably quicker than my iMac in real world usage? Will it be £three-grand-or-so well spent?
Another option might be a mac mini which, being small, I can take abroad, but this relies on Apple putting out a new one before April and I'm not holding my breath!

 

[Trusteft]

I don't own, never have, a mac laptop. I only own one mac mini desktop and 6 windows based computers, 4 laptops and 2 desktops. I am giving this information to give you an idea of my current situation and why I say what I say.

For me this would not be a good idea. Here is why.
You say you have the top of the line 2009 27 inch imac. I assume that means the quad core i7 model. While I don't have any numbers to show, I am not sure if the faster performance you would get out of the recent macbook's i7 would be worth the price. I am guessing it is not going to be a huge advance in performance. Considering your iMac works well for your needs, going for something faster, no idea how much faster, with a new macbook pro, sounds like a waste of money and possibly performance. Since the main problem right now is your 2010 macbook pro, and since you need to have a better machine for when you are away, going for a new laptop is not a bad idea. But, going on all for a replacement of your imac too sounds a bit...

The CPU and GPU on that 2010 mbp are seriously behind modern systems. Way more than your one year older imac. Even a base line quad core (or even dual core) current MBP would kick the butt of that 2010 model.

Here is what I would suggest.
Four options.
1. Get a (relatively) cheap MBP 2017, for your off base work. It's going to be better and faster and lighter than the 2010 could ever dream off. Keep your 2009 iMac for your home use.
2. Get a top of the line MBP 2017 to replace both your current machines. This would be IMO an overkill, but if you sell your current machines, not as painful as if you had no machine.
3. (my favorite) get a current model iMac since you work most of the time at home, any quad core current 2017 model. Sell your two machines and buy a Macbook which will be faster than your 2009 MBP.
4. Keep your current iMac, buy a Macbook as most of your needs are covered by your iMac and the current Macbook (2017) model, yes Macbook, not pro, should be faster than your 2010 MBP.

I guess it depends on how much money you can afford or are willing to spend.

 

[Macyourdayy]

Unfortunately the 2010 has limited potential, whereas the 2011s were a significant upgrade, with huge upgrade potential. You could even swap parts out from yours, or stick the ram in the iMac. The 2011 can support two SSDs and 16GB ram, so you could raid 4TB or more of SSD in that if sheer drive speed is important to you, more easily than the iMac.
Like many, I wouldn't touch the 2016/17 mbp, if only because the storage is soldered in. Insane. Talk about disposable, never mind the keyboard failures and also insane lack of repairability.
Compare specs on Everymac.com and check out the 2011 review:
https://macperformanceguide.com/Reviews-MacBookProFeb2011.html
I'm still running my 2011 17" even though I'm considering the 2015 mbp as it has Retina and can support a 5K screen. Although the drive can be changed, it's still very expensive, but it can apparently use Nve drives in HiSierra.

 

[jaduff46]

I'm with @Trusteft on this, particularly suggestion 3 or 4. I'd go with SSD and the i5 chipset since your usage doesn't seem to need the i7. Probably have to get external SSD also, since your jobs folder is pretty large.

My 2010 will eventually need upgrading and that's what I'll do at that time. The iPad Air fills my needs when I'm away from home. The wife just suggested a laptop replacement for the iMac, but not sure I could give up the beautiful screen, and that's without Retina.

 

[Fishrrman]

Hold off on the new MacBook Pro purchase until next year.
Too many problems with the current design, maybe they'll fix the keyboard issues (they WEREN'T "fixed" in the 2017's).

When you get the new MacBook, retire the old one (or keep it as a spare), but keep the iMac going for as long as it wants to run.

Nothing beats having BOTH a laptop AND a desktop...

 

[zorinlynx]

Keep in mind that you can probably give the iMac a BIG performance boost by swapping the slow mechanical hard drive with an SSD. 2009 was before they moved to the glued design that made doing this difficult. The screen can easily be pulled off with a suction cup; see ifixit.com for the guide.

The 2009 iMac was not a slouch, but the mechanical hard drive held it back (along with other machines of that era).
[doublepost=1511896253][/doublepost]

Nothing beats having BOTH a laptop AND a desktop...

I have to agree here; not only is a desktop more comfortable to use when you're at the desk, but it's good to have two working machines in case one of them decides to **** the bed unexpectedly.

 

[retrocool]

Thanks for the very helpful replies. To be honest I was expecting people to say that a current mac laptop would be much faster than my 2009 iMac, and so it would be a good switch. But I was a bit dubious, and it seems I was right to be skeptical.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Your 2010 MacBook Pro may have trouble performing with an external monitor if the video card doesn't have enough VRAM or it's one of those Intel HD Graphics junk...