Mac Pro or iMac in nice home office

[ks-man]

I posted this in the iMac thread so I wanted to post it here as well to get people from both sides responding. I apologize if you already saw it there.

My wife and I will be moving into a new home in the next few months. One of the rooms will be an office with pretty expensive furniture. We're trying to decide whether to get an iMac or a Mac Pro with a 30" screen (or 2 30" screens) for the office.

Ignoring everything about performance and price and sticking simply to aesthetics, does anybody have an iMac in an office with high end furniture? Do people think it looks professional in that type of surrounding? I could see us spending upwards of $10k-20k for a desk and buying other expensive furniture to go with that.

Personally I think the iMac would look really great even surrounded by expensive furniture, but my wife is a little more concerned just b/c the iMac is more of an entry level computer so may look cheap in the surroundings. I don't want to give off the impression that we are snobs, far from it, we just want to make sure that our home office comes together nicely if we are willing to spend the money.

If anyone has pictures to post that would be wonderful.

Thanks for the helps and the thoughts.

 

[Tallest Skil]

An iMac look like a cheap computer?! An iMac looks like something from 2035. While I don't condone domestic violence, flick your wife's nose fairly hard.

Then get a Mac Pro.

It depends on the computer's projected use. For what will you be using it? You may find that a Mac Pro is overkill for your needs. If you run Final Cut Studio/Aperture/Logic on a regular basis or live through that, get a Mac Pro.

Don't buy more than what you need or can afford just because your wife thinks that the current iMacs belong in a redneck's front yard. In fact, put her on; I'd like to ask her what her idea of a good design is.

 

[ks-man]

An iMac look like a cheap computer?! An iMac looks like something from 2035. While I don't condone domestic violence, flick your wife's nose fairly hard.

Then get a Mac Pro.

It depends on the computer's projected use. For what will you be using it? You may find that a Mac Pro is overkill for your needs. If you run Final Cut Studio/Aperture/Logic on a regular basis or live through that, get a Mac Pro.

Don't buy more than what you need or can afford just because your wife thinks that the current iMacs belong in a redneck's front yard. In fact, put her on; I'd like to ask her what her idea of a good design is.

I think the processing of the Mac Pro is probably overkill for what we would need, however the thought of 1 or 2 30" screens is certainly appealing. I think in the end the room could cost a significant sum of money, so the difference in price between the two computers won't be enough to make us choose one if the other looks better.

That being said I do think the iMac would look great in the room. For now we're focusing solely on aesthetics and will compare price vs. performance and screen size later on.

 

[iSail]

Depends more on the display, since that's what you'd see. Two 30" ACDs are impressive, but a 24" iMac is a very clean design...the base is the same as on the ACD and the lack of any other visible hardware...other than display, mouse, keyboard...adds to the effect.

In my not-so-humble opinion, both are well-designed machines, both from a form and a function standpoint. It's a tool. Buy for what you need/want. If that includes impressing the neighbors, factor that in.

If you're not doing high-end video processing or similar CPU-intensive tasks, you don't NEED the MP. No reason not to get it, if that's what you want.

 

[hakuryuu]

I think the 30" ACD would be much more visually striking and is rather fitting to be placed next to expensive office furniture. The screen is also better than the one in the iMac.

 

[ks-man]

Depends more on the display, since that's what you'd see. Two 30" ACDs are impressive, but a 24" iMac is a very clean design...the base is the same as on the ACD and the lack of any other visible hardware...other than display, mouse, keyboard...adds to the effect.

In my not-so-humble opinion, both are well-designed machines, both from a form and a function standpoint. It's a tool. Buy for what you need/want. If that includes impressing the neighbors, factor that in.

If you're not doing high-end video processing or similar CPU-intensive tasks, you don't NEED the MP. No reason not to get it, if that's what you want.

I think I agree with everything you say. Both would look great in the right surroundings. We really must sound superficial and I hope I'm not coming off that way. We just want to make sure the room looks good as we are excited about our new home. I think the choice will mainly come down to screen size. In the end as long as the general look is Apple white (vs. crappy Dell or HP) it will look beautiful.

Edit: As was pointed out, neither are the "Apple White" but rather the aluminum/titanium look (whatever it would be called).

 

[amik]

I think an apple cinema display looks cleaner than an iMac. I'd go for the Mac Pro as it allows the 30" display without having to mismatch it with a 24" iMac. The glossy screen on the iMac is also a turnoff for me.

I'd also consider a MacBook Pro with a 30" display. I see you already have an Air but the new MBP looks pretty nice and can look very clean while using the external display.

Edit: Just to make sure you know, since I just saw your last post, neither option is white.

 

[ks-man]

If we do like the option of the Mac Pro, the tower would almost certainly sit under the desk. Is the fan likely to stay quiet in this type of environment (maybe a little less ventilation)? Also is it easy to open it up to get dust out after it accumulates?

We have a dell desktop that sits on the floor and the fan is quite loud and annoying and I'm wondering if an iMac will stay quieter for the most part.

 

[iSail]

If you are used to a Dell you won't think the MacPro is on.

If you're not used to a Dell you won't think the MacPro is on.

Seriously...you won't hear the fans. Period.

Same on the iMac, although the hard drive can occasionally be faintly heard.

Both are very quiet machines.

Edit: The whole side of the MP is removable, but getting ALL the dust out requires some creative removal of fan shrouds etc. It's as easy or easier than any other tower, though.

One of my quarterly computer maintenance tasks involves an air compressor...

 

[Spikeanator6982]

I could see us spending upwards of $10k-20k for a desk and buying other expensive furniture to go with that.

Personally, If you throw down $10k plus for a desk. You might as well put a MP and 2 30" displays on the baby.

and..well You said leave performance out, but include aesthetics, so dont forget that the imac will "need" external hds if you need more room, while the MP you can easily pop 4TB into. Idk if you feel hds would hurt the aesthetics or not.

and, when you get this done, pics or it didnt happen.

 

[ks-man]

Personally, If you throw down $10k plus for a desk. You might as well put a MP and 2 30" displays on the baby.

Now you are starting to sound like an interior decorator

 

[Spikeanator6982]

Now you are starting to sound like an interior decorator

How so?

 

[fernmeister]

Get a Macbook Air. Put the the airport, printers, time capsule and so on behind cupboards out of site.

You don't mention any technical requirements, so from an elegance point of view, go for the smallest thing you can.

If you need something on a desk, go for the iMac with wireless keyboard and mouse. The Mac Pro wants more cabling and only looks impressive to other geeks.

 

[cohibadad]

if you are asking from a strictly aesthetic standpoint, iMac 24" with wireless kb/mouse is my vote. Mac Pro is industrially stylish but for what you are describing, the iMac is the way to go. iMac is dead quiet too. I have both.

 

[Wild-Bill]

I could see us spending upwards of $10k-20k for a desk and buying other expensive furniture to go with that.

I am available for adoption immediately.

 

[Pili]

What you would also have to consider with the iMac is the peripherals. With the mac pro you could have all of your drives within the machine whereas to backup the iMac (if your not going the wireless option) plus extra storage you would have an external harddrive or two cluttering up the area.

 

[Sonicjay]

I am available for adoption immediately.

I was going to say the same thing, lol

 

[Karpfish]

My father used to have an iMac in his nice home office and now has an MP. Without a doubt, as long as you can keep the cables cleaned up, the MP is a better choice. A 30" ACD is as much a design part of the room as anything else, its simply beautiful. An MP with BT KB/Mouse, a 30" ACD, all necessary storage internal, and the stock video card(NOT the 8800, too loud) will give you a whisper quiet machine with great performance and aesthetics.

 

[MikeL]

What you would also have to consider with the iMac is the peripherals. With the mac pro you could have all of your drives within the machine whereas to backup the iMac (if your not going the wireless option) plus extra storage you would have an external harddrive or two cluttering up the area.

That's exactly what I was going to say. With a Cinema Display and wireless keyboard/mouse, you can have just one cable coming off the desk. It's damn near impossible to use a computer these days without something hanging off of it, and with an iMac that'll literally be the case. You can't get around the fact that the only places to connect things is on the back of the iMac.

At least with the MP, you can arrange to have commonly used devices out of sight without having to connect and disconnect them all of the time.

There's also a symmetry issue. iMacs have that large section below the screen. It's always looked a little off to me. Get a Cinema Display, and you'll have similar looks to an iMac, but there'll be symmetry amongst the size of the display borders.

The new MP is a very, very quiet machine.

 

[gazfocus]

Just curious to what the OP decided to go for in the end

 

[Asu]

For a man of your taste and means, there is a more appropriate option, sir

Pardonnez-moi, monsieur, but have you considered how chintzy would a mass produced piece of hardware look on your $20K desk? tsk, tsk! People may start talking ...

With your anticipated permission, sir, s'il vous plait, I would like to call your attention to a product appropriate for your unique tastes, the 24 carat gold plated iMac with the diamond studded Apple logo, from Computer Choppers. http://www.computer-choppers.com/gallery.htm

You'll need to buy two actually, as I'm sure you already suspect, and display the second one with its back to the room so the logo can be clearly seen.

I am available for a biweekly shining and buffing contract. I'll bring my own shining and buffing ecoutrements. I'd require first class airfare round trip from/to San Diego, an overnight stay at the Hyatt nearest to your residence, limo from/to hotel, escort service to relax with after shining and buffing, I prefer olive skinned tall brunettes.