Help finding the right setup...

[JesseW6889]

I am in school learning to program for Xcode. I have a 21.5" iMac (Base) and 11" MBA (2nd tier), both are 2011 models. I also have an iPad 1 and 2.

My primary issue is that I don't want unnecessary overlap, but I also want to have a 27" screen. I was considering selling the iMac for a 27" Thunderbolt ACD and using the Air with that. Would the Air be enough? Would a MBP be better suited with an ACD to pair it with?

Or, I could upgrade to a 27" iMac. Having two separate computers is appealing (versus 1 laptop and an ACD)

*note, I'm thinking maybe the iPad 3's hiRes screen will be another solution, to use for viewing pdf's and freeing up my screen real estate like I do now (its just not super sharp or fast and is a bit of a pain now)

Any thoughts on your own set up's? Or advice for mine? Thanks!

 

[KylePowers]

You don't need a 'good' computer to program in Xcode, though you'd probably want one that will support later releases (such that they're Mountain Lion only for example), so I wouldn't worry about hardware specs necessarily. I've used Xcode just fine on my MBA, but 11in is tough to deal with for programming for extended periods of time.

I'd say sell the 21.5in iMac, sell the iPad 1, buy a 27in TBD, buy a mouse and keyboard (or keep the one from your iMac) to use the MBA in clamshell mode, and you're golden!

Then if you're so enticed, sell the iPad 2 and put the money toward an iPad 3. Not too sure how relevant it is to programming, unless you consistently use it to study .pdfs in school. But with a 27in TBD, you wouldn't need any extra screen real estate while at your desk.

Personally, I have a 27in 2011 iMac (i5/12GB/1TB) along with my 11in 2011 MBA (i5/4GB/128GB). But looking back, probably should have just gone TBD with an MBA (I got the iMac first though... it was a complicating situation haha).

 

[JesseW6889]

Yeah, mine was a complicated situation too. I wanted everything!

Thanks for the advice, I do use the iPad for my school work extensively (I've been able to find every book I've needed in pdf format!) and I'm hoping the iPad 3 will be able to refresh the pages quicker as I'm scrolling through them.

27" + Air it is. Thanks for the advice!