Opinions on another (but different) MBP V Imac thread!

[nc016163]

Hi All,

Need some opinions if you can spare me a moment!

Been reading all the MBP V IMac threads and have a pretty good idea about waiting for the Imac if you are buying soon, but if MBP you want then buy now.

My dillema is, I am lucky enough to get a discount on Apple products in the UK (Although the buy price of a Mac here in the UK is about 35% higher than the US ) So I am thinking of getting a 13" MBP and a Apple Cinema display as I really do want an Imac but portability would be an issue.

My general usage is, web surfing, photo organising, word process, presentation creation,

My Dillema is between these 3 choices, which one do you guys think is best (UK Prices I will pay converted to USD)

13" i5 MBP with Apple Cinema display @ $2800
15" i7 MBP on its own as its faster and bigger @ $2200
27" i5 Imac @ $2719

I do want portability and in an ideal world an Imac and a Mac air or somethng would be ideal but costs do play a factor. Is the 13" too small? is the cinema display worth it? how do the graphics fair when using a 13" I5?

Thanks in advance for all your opinions and help, especially from anyone with a MBP 13 and Apple cinema display already

 

[jimmyhii]

have you thought of getting a 13" MBP with a monitor of other brand? i believe ACDs are pretty expensive 0:

 

[eaf7s]

For your uses, the baseline 13" would be absolutely fine. Couple that with a different brand's external monitor--if you're on a budget, BenQ is a fantastic value; if not, you can still get something amazing for half the price of a cinema display. You'd save a LOT of money by going down that route. From the looks of things you don't do anything that requires a quad-core etc. and having the option of portability in addition to the external monitor means you're suiting both purposes just fine.

 

[nc016163]

Just checked out the BenQ stuff, only around $300 dollars for top end 24" thats pretty awesome...

So would I just need the mini display port adapter? and would the picture still be of good quality? I notice when I use my TV (yes I know its a TV) to display out on my current Toshiba laptop its pretty poor.

Also what about sound, does this also work through the Mini Display Port or is this another lead?

Not sure I want the desk too cluttered but if its saving me $1000 its a small price to pay!!

 

[eaf7s]

Just checked out the BenQ stuff, only around $300 dollars for top end 24" thats pretty awesome...

So would I just need the mini display port adapter? and would the picture still be of good quality? I notice when I use my TV (yes I know its a TV) to display out on my current Toshiba laptop its pretty poor.

Also what about sound, does this also work through the Mini Display Port or is this another lead?

Not sure I want the desk too cluttered but if its saving me $1000 its a small price to pay!!

Yup! Depending on the model you get, go with DVI to mini displayport, or if it's available on your monitor, HDMI to mdp . The quality will be just fine. I've been using a 22" BenQ here in England, as has one of my housemates (his is 24"), for years and neither of us have had any problems. A friend of mine back home (stateside) is in the same boat. All of us saved a LOT of money in making that decision

 

[nc016163]

Mint mate, thanks for that