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(iPad + iMac) Vs. MacBook Pro

Ipad doesnt seem good for school yet

Why would you want to complicate your life with 2 computers? I bought a 15" Mbp (maxed graphics) a 22" Dell IPS external, and external Hdd and thats pretty much the perfect setup imho. I have found I always end up using my Macbook rather than iphone or blackberry when working on anything because the lack of multitasking kills the ability to due any serious work. You can't even open a browser/pdf next to the word processor? How can you accomplish any real mobile work on that? Plus the Macbook can sync audio recordings of lectures to Word notebooks, run x86 apps, play games on the go, and no managing itunes music ect. between 2 hdds.
 
I am going to purchase a 27" iMac here in the next couple of months. I am also thinking of buying a iPad. But the only thing I think the iPad will be used for is web browsing. I mean I don't see too many more practical uses for it. So if you think it will come close to replacing a computer I think you are mistaken.
 
Clete2 said:
OK. I have an iPhone. I will be in college (undergrad -> grad school) for around 4 more years. I currently have a Dell laptop that I lug around to classes to take notes and to work on homework.

I am a Computer Science major; so I understand that the iPad will not allow me to use Visual Studio (via Parallels) or any other utilities I need for classes.

Here is what I am considering:
I can buy one MacBook Pro -- nearly maxed out. (17", upgraded processor.. etc.. wait for Arrandale)
$2,614 estimated USD

OR

I can buy an iPad and a top-of-the-line iMac.
iMac 27": $2079
iPad: $629 (16GB 3G)
Total: $2,708

Is it worth it? Losing the mobility of being able to do projects right after class for the portability of an iPad and the better hardware of an iMac?

Also, I have an iPhone 3GS 32GB.

Any input is appreciated.
Click to expand...


What purpose would the iPad serve, besides a luxury? Go for the MBP.

Habitus :apple:
 
I'd totally go with iMac and iPad.

iPad weighs like nothing and its from the future. And iMacs rock.

If you go mbp though you can just get an external monitor (something cheap like a samsung p2350 - like a hundred bucks) so your workspace is a little better.

I cant wait til iMacs become giant ipads... Motherofgod
 
Cougarcat said:
Don't forget that you can take your BT Keyboard included in the iMac and use it with your iPad on the go.

I have a feeling iPad+iMac combos will be popular.
Click to expand...

Yes very good point finally comes to the table. He's right, you can use your keyboard on both your iMac and iPad.

Also people who reply to the authors post should really only focus on the two options he offered. He doesn't want a MacBook or MacBook air, I'm sure he considered all of these options before offering options he considers best suits him. Regarding your two options, personally I think the MacBook pro didn't get much of an upgrade, so I personally wouldn't even consider it. I already have an iPad and am in the process of selling my MacBook air 1.6ghz laptop in order to get an iMac. So I'm very in favor of your iMac + iPad option. But for me I'm waiting for the next rev of the iMac, rumors running around the web, suggest the iMac will get a touch scree iOS type interface (a hybrid of both operating systems). That to be would be assume and worth the wait.

Good luck,
AE
 
I would go for a desktop and then a portable tablet/notebook/netbook, in your case being the iMac + iPad.

If you feel the iPad's keyboard too small or the iPad + Keyboard/Keyboard Dock too bulky, a used Macbook Air is another great alternative. You get a MB Air which you can use Parallels on. The Macbook Air option will obviously cost more and doesn't have 3G, but personally I don't mind sacrificing those for a bigger screen, graphics, compatibility and more.
 
Why not get a refurb 2.4Ghz 15" i5 MBP ($1529) + a refurb 21.5" iMac with the ATI Graphics card ($1299)


Total: $2828. So it might be a little bit more expensive, but you're getting two fantastic machines!
 
Clete2 said:
OK. I have an iPhone. I will be in college (undergrad -> grad school) for around 4 more years. I currently have a Dell laptop that I lug around to classes to take notes and to work on homework.

I am a Computer Science major; so I understand that the iPad will not allow me to use Visual Studio (via Parallels) or any other utilities I need for classes.

Here is what I am considering:
I can buy one MacBook Pro -- nearly maxed out. (17", upgraded processor.. etc.. wait for Arrandale)
$2,614 estimated USD

OR

I can buy an iPad and a top-of-the-line iMac.
iMac 27": $2079
iPad: $629 (16GB 3G)
Total: $2,708

Is it worth it? Losing the mobility of being able to do projects right after class for the portability of an iPad and the better hardware of an iMac?

Also, I have an iPhone 3GS 32GB.

Any input is appreciated.
Click to expand...

I would go with the MBP. Since you lug around your laptop now, I'll assume you're using for taking notes and working outside of your dorm room. Although I love my iPad, it's not practical to use for taking notes unless you have a BT keyboard. Carrying the iPad and keyboard around in a backpack would be a pain. Just my $.02.
 
you guys bumped a thread that was over 5 months old...i'm hoping the OP made his/her decision by now.

but i was in the same predicament for what i should do and i think, in my opinion, the macbook pro would be your ultimate choice. transferring the notes from the ipad to the imac would become a pain after a while. and do you really think it would be more practical to take an ipad to class other than its size? with a macbook pro, you have everything right there, just like your dell.
 
This is what i did

When at university my first apple computer was the 17" 2.33 C2D MBP, I loved the thing. I was a graphic design and photography undergraduate. But my first years digs were a mile away from the campus walking 2 miles (there and back) with the 17" was a big problem, im not a small guy but even the best most expensive bags were a. huge and b. dug into my shoulder when carrying the 17" a mouse, power adapter and books! like 8kg.
But I loved the screen real estate especially for both my subjects. I kept this for the 1st+2nd year, but i dont know how your uni works but, student accommodation first year, on your own second and third (so further away). I just got fed up of carrying it! great to start with and perfect at home attached to a 23"ACD but too cumbersome and the specs were becoming outdated so i sold it.
Being a photographer i was using it alot on location too, with all my camera equipment and the laptop it was too much! In 3rd year i managed to get into the professional field and got a good job, So when the unibody macbook came out i got that. 13" perfect for location loads of power half the weight smaller bags! perfect! comparable spec! and at the time the newer nehalem mac pros had just come out so i got myself a new discounted mac pro 2.8 octo for £1500! bargain!! so i spent £2500 sold my 17"mbp for £1000, bort a 1tb drive for £70 spent £300 on 8gb's of ram and eventually built myself my perfect professional set up. Now i am a professional graphic designer and photographer in a promising career and i made the best choice!
I know your situation is different, but everything you are looking at goes out of date so quickly! iPad = pointless for anything but the home and is the first gen will be updated within a year... potentualy could be great but not yet. iMac - non upgradable! except ram, pointless for a pro to be and outdated in a year and the screen is terrible for a main desktop machine, MBP kinda have to deal with the fact that laptops are non upgradable but if you have a solid desktop then the laptop is lees of a problem. Just looking at your situation from a professional point of view. hope this helps.
 
You added the cost of iMac and iPad wrong...

Anyway, I would just get the macbook pro. You say you travel a lot and an ipad cant suffice what you'll be doing (im guessing you wont be lugging the imac around) so getting the macbook pro would be the best of both worlds.

EDIT: Addition corrected.
 
Clete2 said:
OK. I have an iPhone. I will be in college (undergrad -> grad school) for around 4 more years. I currently have a Dell laptop that I lug around to classes to take notes and to work on homework.

I am a Computer Science major; so I understand that the iPad will not allow me to use Visual Studio (via Parallels) or any other utilities I need for classes.

Here is what I am considering:
I can buy one MacBook Pro -- nearly maxed out. (17", upgraded processor.. etc.. wait for Arrandale)
$2,614 estimated USD

OR

I can buy an iPad and a top-of-the-line iMac.
iMac 27": $2079
iPad: $629 (16GB 3G)
Total: $2,708

Is it worth it? Losing the mobility of being able to do projects right after class for the portability of an iPad and the better hardware of an iMac?

Also, I have an iPhone 3GS 32GB.

Any input is appreciated.
Click to expand...

Let me give you some advice. I recently was currently in your situation in regards to "my setup".

I've now come to the conclusion that I will be purchasing a iPad 3G and iMac.

I currently have a wi-fi iPad and it's my only "computer". I have all the iWork suites for iPad and they work and have actually became extremely useful. I've typed up 15 page documents on this and never had a problem.

So in short. "My Setup" will be as follows:

iMac i7 w/16GB ram
iPad 3G (64 GB)

And that's it. All I do is type ( I plan on doing more keynotes soon) browse the web and do e-mail (Lots of it) so the iPad is excellent for that and having 3G makes it a more practical and portable device for someone like myself.

My iMac will be the heavy lifter, (Lots of Photos, Podcast, Personal Movies & a storage center with that 1TB HD)

Once Apple gets there iDisk app more efficient and take mobile me to the next level then that would make the iPad 3G a real laptop killer. In my opinion it's one now, but not everyone uses it for what I do.

PLEASE NOTE IM NOT A "GAMER" of any kind. Nor do I " Stream " movies.
 
I think that the iMac and iPad route is a good choice. I agree that an iPad will never be able to replace a MBP to run software (in my case design modeling software) but as a general task manager I think that it is a brilliant replacement.
I am at University and I use a 15" MBP with an external screen, and I find that I never do any excessive work when I am traveling or away from my desk. In september I plan to buy a 27" iMac and an iPad, as I know the iPad will allow me to complete my normal tasks when i am away such as ammending a dissertation or presentation and using the 27" iMac for what it can do with such a great spec desktop!

But it all depends if you feel your going to be really working that much away from your desk or at Uni when your traveling or back at home.

And give the iPad some time, i think its functionality will become more diverse as more apps are released, and the new software update for the OS is released in the next few months.
 
Based on our experience, I'd go for iPad+iMac. Spring a little for a bluetooth keyboard.

We have a MacBook and an MBP (15", Unibody) and bought an iPad 3G. The primary reason for doing so is there are times when my wife (a freelancer) needs email access and the cost of the iPad data plan was significantly less than upgrading our joint mobile account to data. Plus, it was a birthday present.

Our experience has been for being out and about, the iPad does nearly everything one needs for mobile computing. The missuz actually took it on a 2 week travel assignment instead of the MacBook without a hitch. I wouldn't see any problem for note taking. Then again, I survived using an ancient instrument known as the pencil. I'd also note that hauling around a 17" MBP will get tiresome.

Unless you do plan on doing some serious computing on the go, iPad + iMac is a good combination. Getting the iPad allowed us to defer our next computer purchase and we'll probably be getting an iMac.

BB
 
RogueVasion said:
you guys bumped a thread that was over 5 months old...i'm hoping the OP made his/her decision by now.
Click to expand...

There was another thread like that recently. This must be a timestamp error on MacRumors. The pricing of the iPad wasn't known in January and this thread couldn't have started back then.

BB
 
Just to add to this, I am in the process of selling my UMB and 24" ACD for a 27" iMac to go with my iPad.

Since I have had the iPad I hardly use my UMB anymore so have decided to go for a "pure" computer and keep the iPad for casual browsing in the lounge/bed/etc. I think this is now the perfect situation. Are many people finding this too? I wonder if the iMac has become more popular since the release of the iPad!
 
I used to have an iMac (and still haven an iPad). I bought myself a MBP 13 and i sold my iMac 21. I wanted to have one pc setup instead of relying on the iPad for mobile and iMac for at home. I wanted to have everything with me at all times. So far i'm loving the 13 MBP and i'm not really regretting the lack of screen space (i still have a 26 inch screen but haven't hooked it up yet). I also wanted to sell the iPad since it became a bit less used because of the MBP... but i can't seem to part from it :p I guess its just something totally different. iOS may not a fully capable OS, but its special. So i'm keeping the iPad for comics, for ultramobility, for games and apps and to explore and follow the iOS platform ... and my MBP as a main computer.

I would say... go totally mobile. You can always hook up a external screen on your MBP, but you can't schrink an iMac. The iPad had the potential to be made in something productive, but you are always going to be faster and more productive on a MBP/iMac.
 
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