my thoughts about whether to buy an iMac(retina), rMBP or PC ?

[baris3]

i want to know can i built a good pc with the price of an entry level retina iMac, a good monitor included ? i know can't expect the retina quality of course but i don't want to regret buying a pc instead of iMac if both will cost the same price. a mac would be good, but i don't care about OS that much, i will do photography and video editing, also play some games on it.

i am also thinking about buying a rmbp since i don't want to stick to the desk, likewise bring my computer with me anywhere. also, rMBP and iMac benchmark scores are so close to each other.

and what about the iMac displays.. it seems they are defective from what i've read on the forums, so i think it will be a smarter move to get a rMBP because i had very first generation of rMBP (early 2012 i remember) and it was all defective. and as i knew apple should fix later generations, the new rMBP's are fine, since there is no display complaint from users on the internet. i regret for returning my first generation rMBP though, because even though it was an entry level, it has a discrete gpu that which later entry level rMBP generations did not get.

the new rMBP won't be released before fourth quarter of 2015, i think. and im sure apple would do the same strategy as before, they would render entry-level rMBP worthless, and will force people to buy upgraded version of it, which costs too much.

what are your thoughts on this ?

 

[Erasmus]

The main benefit of a home built PC is you can get something much more powerful in the graphics department. And a little faster in CPU, especially if you're willing to overclock.

My suggestion is to do what I did. Buy the MBP. It will do anything you need it to, anywhere you need to do it. And if you decide you need more power in a year or two, decide what you want it for. If you want it for demanding games, build your own PC. If you just want a nice computer that may not be as fast as a home built PC, but may be more reliable, and is much more stylish and cool (and has a much better screen) then get the iMac.

The upgrade path of the MBP is interesting, as I don't consider that they have been seriously upgraded in the internals since 2011. If you actually check, my 2011 MBP is still relatively fast, even compared to the modern lot. It will, for example, beat a brand new 13" MBP. CPU technology seems to have been stalled for the last 4-5 years. I'm not sure about graphics.

I say you should get the best MBP you can afford, and shop around to get the best deal on it that you can. You won't be disappointed.

 

[baris3]

The main benefit of a home built PC is you can get something much more powerful in the graphics department. And a little faster in CPU, especially if you're willing to overclock.

My suggestion is to do what I did. Buy the MBP. It will do anything you need it to, anywhere you need to do it. And if you decide you need more power in a year or two, decide what you want it for. If you want it for demanding games, build your own PC. If you just want a nice computer that may not be as fast as a home built PC, but may be more reliable, and is much more stylish and cool (and has a much better screen) then get the iMac.

The upgrade path of the MBP is interesting, as I don't consider that they have been seriously upgraded in the internals since 2011. If you actually check, my 2011 MBP is still relatively fast, even compared to the modern lot. It will, for example, beat a brand new 13" MBP. CPU technology seems to have been stalled for the last 4-5 years. I'm not sure about graphics.

I say you should get the best MBP you can afford, and shop around to get the best deal on it that you can. You won't be disappointed.

thanks for your reply.

about the upgrade path, i think the same with you. as i said, i regret so much that i returned my 2012 entry level rMBP. even 2011 machines beat new small generations, and 2012 rMBP's superior than the newer generations. now they are going for 12-inch ****, which is a complete nonsense to me.

since i can't afford so much money, im struggling to decide what to buy. i mean i can only buy a rMBP, and im done. i can't afford to buy a new one even 2 years later because i don't have that much money to spend.

any suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[Erasmus]

Apple's refurb store?

I'd recommend getting a quad CPU if you can, no matter how old it is.

If you really don't need portability, an iMac is a lot better value for money.

 

[twingo]

Retina Macbook Pro is the smartest buy.
But if you want to play games, get a PC.

 

[baris3]

Apple's refurb store?

I'd recommend getting a quad CPU if you can, no matter how old it is.

If you really don't need portability, an iMac is a lot better value for money.

i really don't see a point for spending money to iMac since it benchmarks roughly the same with rMBP's.

 

[maflynn]

i really don't see a point for spending money to iMac since it benchmarks roughly the same with rMBP's.

iMac has a larger display, larger storage options, etc/

MBP's advantage is its portability. I think if you don't have any mobility needs, then the iMac is a better choice. Just my $.02

 

[robgendreau]

iMac displays are not defective.

I'd suggest you go with a PC and save some money. You can get a decent screen on a laptop for a lot less than a Mac, since the OS doesn't matter to you. I've also heard Windows 10 will be a free update, so go for it. None of your needs require a Mac.

 

[26139]

Huh?

This sounds like you're saying:

"I'm looking to buy a Honda Accord I can modify with aftermarket parts, a higher-end AWD I can put the kids in, or a mid-end sports car that I can race with."

If price and not value is your concern, go with the PC.

 

[loybond]

I've been wondering about that myself, and while yes, you can build a superior-specced PC for the same money, the difference really comes down to software.

For example, Dell now has a good 4K 28" IPS monitor for $700 (as low as $550 with coupons and stuff). That's probably the best value at the moment. It leaves you with ~$2000 to build your PC, and that's definitely enough to build a 6-core, 32GB DDR4 RAM monster with a 1TB SSD and GTX 980, or even multiple GPUs. The benchmarks won't even begin to compare. It'll be easily upgradeable and accessible.

However, it won't have the speakers, webcam, mic built into a simple package, and it won't have OS X (unless you hackintosh it, which is a different thing altogether). It will come down to Windows vs. OS X... how important is OS X to you?

 

[baris3]

iMac displays are not defective.

I'd suggest you go with a PC and save some money. You can get a decent screen on a laptop for a lot less than a Mac, since the OS doesn't matter to you. I've also heard Windows 10 will be a free update, so go for it. None of your needs require a Mac.

My needs do require a mac, i said in the first post that i will do photography and video editing. But there is a point when you think about price tag of systems and sacrifice some for your needs. And there is a false knowledge that "you can't use mac for gaming" of course you can, but not as good as a PC. The same for "you can't use pc for rendering, designing etc.". I am just trying to maintain the balance when im thinking what to buy, since not all macs are the same and the fact is actually so much option which you are ignoring.

As i said in the first post, by PC and good monitor i meant a desktop pc with a minimum 27" 4k display monitor. Buying a laptop like you said would be total waste of money.

 

[baris3]

I've been wondering about that myself, and while yes, you can build a superior-specced PC for the same money, the difference really comes down to software.

For example, Dell now has a good 4K 28" IPS monitor for $700 (as low as $550 with coupons and stuff). That's probably the best value at the moment. It leaves you with ~$2000 to build your PC, and that's definitely enough to build a 6-core, 32GB DDR4 RAM monster with a 1TB SSD and GTX 980, or even multiple GPUs. The benchmarks won't even begin to compare. It'll be easily upgradeable and accessible.

However, it won't have the speakers, webcam, mic built into a simple package, and it won't have OS X (unless you hackintosh it, which is a different thing altogether). It will come down to Windows vs. OS X... how important is OS X to you?

thanks for your comparasion, i did not know about that Dell 4k 28" monitor, it must be new. i'd like to buy that like kind of a setup, if only i could find that monitor in my country.

os x would be good, since it has final cut, and more stability. speaking of stability, i did not test a mac versus windows machine regarding to video, photography editing experience. it is hard for me to tell which is really better at most.