iMac + iPad or MacBook Pro?

[LarryKoopa]

Hi.

I've been Mac user since several years. My current setup includes an iPad 2, a mid 2010 iMac and a iPhone 5. They have served me very well but now it's ¡UPGRADE TIME!.

I will change my iPhone to new iPhone this year but my biggest doubt is about iPad and iMac. I use my devices for photo editing, web browsing, Netflix and iWork. I don't play games or edit video (I occasionally edit videos recorded with my iPhone).

I'm having trouble to get an iPad Pro 10,5" now and upgrade my iMac when it gets a redesign or get a MacBook Pro 13" instead of iPad and iMac combo.

What do you think?

Thank you.

 

[krause734]

Are you a student? Do you need a laptop for work? Do you need portability? Then get a MBP.
Are you mostly computing from home? iMac or Mac Mini if they release a new one soon.
iPads are fun but not necessary IMO.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

It's always going to depend on your individual needs. Since I haven't carried a laptop since 2010 (first-gen iPad, and now 12.9" iPad Pro) and my eyesight isn't good enough to do my desktop computing on a laptop-sized screen (27" iMac for me), my bias is in favor of sticking with the setup you have, upgrading each as your budget allows.

It's unfortunate that all your gear is getting old at about the same time. It does make deciding which item(s) to upgrade sooner, and which to upgrade later a hard decision. Only you'll be able to decide, though. I use the "If only I had" test - which of the three is the most frustrating to use?

 

[LarryKoopa]

Hi.

Thank you for your reply. I am not a student so I don't need the portability but for my hobbies (Photography and TV series) I think an iPad suits far better.

My iMac is still working fine. I think that with a hard disk drive replacement for a SSD it could last at least another 2 years. iPhone feels laggy and lack of space right now. It's same for the iPad.

I feel that I will go with iPad Pro 10,5" 256 GB now and upgrade the iPhone as soon as it is released and in about 2 years I will upgrade the iMac for the basic 21,5" Retina.

I could go with a MacBook Pro as unique device but for Netflix, web browsing and stuff like that, it isn't as comfortable as an iPad.

 

[Tech198]

if editing then a Macbook Pro would do. The rest of that iWork, Netflix, and web browsing can be done on a iPad as well.. but Macbook pro will handle all that

 

[KGB7]

Get NAS and daily dump all your data on it. It's a cheaper long term solution.

 

[theNatest]

iMac / iPad / iPhone works for me.

Portability & Home base.

 

[LarryKoopa]

I will go to a Apple Store this evening and check both iPad and iPad Pro, and also new 2017 MacBook Pro. It's going to be a tough decision.

I also have checked the refurbished models and the iPad Pro 9'7" 256GB is about 659€ for the 829€ of the new 10'5" model. What do you think? I have never bought and Apple refurbished product. On the other hand, if the regular iPad can handle smooth and fast thinks like Pixelmator and Affinity, I could be a great choice too.

I will try to ask it as simple as I can. Does the iPad Pro worth it for watch TV series, light photo editing (Pixelmator and Affinity) and web browsing? Or the regular iPad can handle that well too?

 

[fig]

I will go to a Apple Store this evening and check both iPad and iPad Pro, and also new 2017 MacBook Pro. It's going to be a tough decision.

I also have checked the refurbished models and the iPad Pro 9'7" 256GB is about 659€ for the 829€ of the new 10'5" model. What do you think? I have never bought and Apple refurbished product. On the other hand, if the regular iPad can handle smooth and fast thinks like Pixelmator and Affinity, I could be a great choice too.

I will try to ask it as simple as I can. Does the iPad Pro worth it for watch TV series, light photo editing (Pixelmator and Affinity) and web browsing? Or the regular iPad can handle that well too?

The real bonus with the iPad Pro for photo work would be the use of a Pencil for more detailed editing and retouching. Otherwise the standard iPad would be fine for everything you want to do, there's no real difference for general browsing and Netflix/Hulu/etc.

 

[LarryKoopa]

In that case I will go with iPad 9,7" 128 GB and as soon as it gets its redesign, 27" iMac.

So my setup will be iPhone - iPad - iMac.

 

[jaduff46]

Good luck with it! I have your same setup being iMac 2010, iPad Air and just upgraded my iPhone5 to the iPhone7.

I don't have the need for cellular on the iPad so if I'm really away from wifi I just turn on the personal hotspot on the phone to get what I need. For photo editing I just use the iMac. Screen size is great for doing detailed work.

Love to hear what you decide on.

John

 

[Daceatx78]

I think I have the same issue but with an iMac and iPad 1st gen iPad Pro.
I need help/ advice on a purchase decision. I have a 1st gen iPad Pro 12.9 with Apple Pencil and Keyboard. I also wentand purchase a new iMac 2017 entry level. What I am asking is should I return the iMac? I am a college student. I need to be able to use productivity apps word, excel so worth. I need to have access to mail, calendar, music, I use iPad Pro for my textbooks. I the only think I see that maybe an issue is using my school blackboard to add attachments but I can do that school. I have air print for documents to print. Should I return the iMac? Do I keep it? I had a MacBook Air that I had but sold itbecause I wasn’t using it. I bought iMac because I figure why not have a bigger screen but if I can do everything with iPad Pro... do I need iMac? So I just upgrade to new iPad Pro? I want to make sure my money went to the right purchase. Thanks in advance for help

 

[KGB7]

I think I have the same issue but with an iMac and iPad 1st gen iPad Pro.
I need help/ advice on a purchase decision. I have a 1st gen iPad Pro 12.9 with Apple Pencil and Keyboard. I also wentand purchase a new iMac 2017 entry level. What I am asking is should I return the iMac? I am a college student. I need to be able to use productivity apps word, excel so worth. I need to have access to mail, calendar, music, I use iPad Pro for my textbooks. I the only think I see that maybe an issue is using my school blackboard to add attachments but I can do that school. I have air print for documents to print. Should I return the iMac? Do I keep it? I had a MacBook Air that I had but sold itbecause I wasn’t using it. I bought iMac because I figure why not have a bigger screen but if I can do everything with iPad Pro... do I need iMac? So I just upgrade to new iPad Pro? I want to make sure my money went to the right purchase. Thanks in advance for help

As a student, you need to be more conservative with spending.

1. You don't need an iMac.
2. You don't need new iPad pro.

If your current iPad does everything you need done, than there is zero reason to buy anything new.

 

[Daceatx78]

As a student, you need to be more conservative with spending.

1. You don't need an iMac.
2. You don't need new iPad pro.

If your current iPad does everything you need done, than there is zero reason to buy anything new.

Thank you for your suggestion. The only reason I would keep iMac is because of my external hard drive.. I use OneDrive/office 365 for school and iCloud. My school use a system call blackboard but I’m sure I can just submit it at school. But overall I can do what I need for school there. Justin mouse or access external drive docs or other stuff. I have the money to spend that’s otthe issuesi just think since I already have the 1st genipad pro. It does everything I need it to do.

 

[KGB7]

Thank you for your suggestion. The only reason I would keep iMac is because of my external hard drive.. I use OneDrive/office 365 for school and iCloud. My school use a system call blackboard but I’m sure I can just submit it at school. But overall I can do what I need for school there. Justin mouse or access external drive docs or other stuff. I have the money to spend that’s otthe issuesi just think since I already have the 1st genipad pro. It does everything I need it to do.

You can buy an adapter for iPad to plug in external drive. I know the adapters work with usb thumb sticks, but you'll have to check if they work with external hard drive.

Another option, is there are external hard drives that have built in WiFi that can be used with iPad. Average price is $150.
No wifi router required.

Or, if your wifi router has an USB port, than you can use any USB hdd/ssd drive connected to your router and iPad will be able to access those files.

You can also get thumb drives that have a lightning plug and require no adapters.

There are many cheaper and simpler options vs buying an iMac. So it's up to you which route you want to take.