Got some $ to drop on a new setup.. need advice.

[Rob587]

Ok, like I said I finally have some cash to spend but I still want to be practicle.

I am deffinatley interested in a macbook because I need the mobility that the 13" screen will give me since I will use it out of the house almost everyday.

Now my main question is what should I do for a desktop? I really feel like an imac is what I need, but for some reason im just not sure about how I feel about the overall look of it. I know that sounds kind of silly and everyone seems to love them, but im really drawn to those 20" apple cinemas. Then the problem that comes into play is I really dont have the space for a mac pro nor do I need all of that power. I really need like a 128mb graphics card in a mac mini and I would be set with that and a 20" and a lower priced macbook. But now im stuck because they only have the integrated 64mb graphics. And I would like to play some command and conquor when it comes out.

What do you guys suggest I do? I currently have a 15" 1.67ghz powerbook so I guess just keeping that and getting an external is an option, but then I lose the portability that I would get from the 13" macbook and I wolnt be able to use boot camp since its an older model.

Let me know your ideas.

Thanks.

 

[Allotriophagy]

I guess it depends on how much money you actually have.

Lots = get a MacBook and a 24" iMac with 7600GT.

Not lots = get a MacBook and a 20" iMac with 256Mb 1600XT.

I expect the MacBook could play games like C&C, just not at the highest settings. Depends on what kind of experience you want, as opposed to the mere ability to run something in the first place.

 

[livingfortoday]

I would get the Macbook, and a nice external display. Use them together until the Mini gets updated, and then get a new Mini and hook it up to the display. Ta-da!

 

[Rob587]

so you think the imac is best for me regardless?

 

[Rob587]

I would get the Macbook, and a nice external display. Use them together until the Mini gets updated, and then get a new Mini and hook it up to the display. Ta-da!

WOW, that sounds like a great idea... I think I may just do that.. I guess I would kind of be relying on apple to come out with a better graphics card in the minis eventually. But unless I hear any better Ideas that prolly what ill do.. thanks a lot.

 

[yellow]

There is no graphics card in the Mini, nor in the Macbook.
They are both integrated grfx boxes.

If you really plan on game playing, don't bother with an integrated graphics box, as you're likely to be disappointed sooner rather than later when the next great game comes out. Get yourself a Mac with a decent GPU.

 

[AvSRoCkCO1067]

Why not a 15" Macbook Pro with an external monitor? It's still pretty damn portable...

 

[Rob587]

There is no graphics card in the Mini, nor in the Macbook.
They are both integrated grfx boxes.

If you really plan on game playing, don't bother with an integrated graphics box, as you're likely to be disappointed sooner rather than later when the next great game comes out. Get yourself a Mac with a decent GPU.

o god.. thats just difficult to do if I dont feel right with either a macpro or an imac.. I really need like a 128mb graphics card in the macbook and id be set.. now all I have to do is call steve

 

[yellow]

Why not the MacBookPro?

 

[Rob587]

well I have a 15" powerbook right now and I think that going down to the macbook would really help a lot even though it sounds like a small difference. b/c I carry my laptop with me everyday.

 

[yellow]

Sounds like you're pretty set on the MB then.. just.. don't come crying when your games don't work.

 

[Rob587]

o man.. I dont know what to do.

 

[yellow]

I'm curious, what advantages do you see in the MB over the MBP?

Besides a very slight reduction in weight (less than 1/2 a pound)?

I mean.. that's the size of a burger.

 

[Rob587]

it just seems like it would be a lot less cumbersom all around? am I totally wrong on that?

 

[yellow]

That depends on how you define "cumbersome".

The MBP is thinner.
The MBP is wider (larger screen), but only by less than 1.5".
The MBP is deeper (again, larger screen) by .7".

But it is heavier.. I don't know what kind of math I was doing earlier, but the MBP is a 1.5LBS heavier. OK, it's a BIG burger.

But anyway.. IMO, the more "cumbersome" MBP is vastly superior to the MB (again, IMO), and if I had the $ I wouldn't saddle myself with the entry level model to reduce by 1.5LBS. Unless something medical required it.

 

[dopey220]

It seems to me that if you have a 1.67 GHz PowerBook, there's not a whole lot of reason to switch to a MacBook unless you really need the portability of the 13" display (or need to run Windows for whatever reason). At any rate, I'd agree with the user who suggested that you just get a display to hook up to your notebook until Apple upgrades the Mini's graphics system.

 

[yellow]

Again.. why would Apple "upgrade" the Mini's graphics? As the most entry level model that Apple has, you really don't think they're going to do anything better than a slightly better integrated video, do you?

 

[Rob587]

that seems to be the question..

 

[FFTT]

I would keep that PowerBook and get yourself the 24" iMac for your primary
workstation.

 

[jaw04005]

The MacBook's casing is more durable than the MacBook Pro. However, if I had the money for a 24" iMac, I would just go ahead and purchase a Mac Pro.

 

[Rob587]

well, I guess ive narrowed it down to either a macbook pro with a 20" apple display or a macbook and a 20" imac.

 

[macman2790]

i'd go with a macbook and a 24" imac if i were you. the macbook pro and imac perform about the same, and you wouldn't need the display for screen real estate considering that you'd have a 2' imac. I'd rather have 2 computers unless you want to do some command and conquer in class or on the road, get the macbook pro with 20" display. I personally would wait on the display because new ones might come out at mwsf and that will drop the price of the current ones and you'd probably be able to get the 23", that's what i'm waiting for, unless the new displays totally amaze me. But as always if you need it now get it.

 

[Rob587]

my god.. this could be the hardest decision ever

 

[livingfortoday]

Ah, well, just stick with the Powerbook, get a 20" display, and a BT keyboard and mouse. Wait and see what January brings!

 

[Rob587]

is january the next mac convention thing?