iMac or MacBook Pro + separate display

[Girasol]

Hello,

I need to buy a new computer, one that has a display suited for graphic work and enough power to handle big image files.

My question is, would you recommend iMac or MacBook Pro with a separate display? I the iMac's display good enough?

Is there enough power in MacBook Pro 2.0GHz to handle big files and many programs at the same time?

Which displays are the best for photographic work? Cinema display, Thunderbolt or something else?

Thank you so much for your help!!!

 

[derbothaus]

iMac display panel is definitely good enough. ISP, 178º angles, calibrated deltaE around 0.28-0.5. Default profile at around 2.5. The glass bothers some but I would rather have glass and ISP than matte TN or matte PVA for color critical work. The lower end iMacs are not as fast as the upper end Macbook Pros. But don't do color work on your MAcbook Pro screen. Fairly inadequate as all laptop screens are.

Geekbench:

iMac 21.5" 2.5 i5: 7185
iMac 27" 3.4GHz i7: 11602
Macbook Pro 2.2GHz Quad: 10006
Macbook Pro 2.3GHz Quad: 10316