So my rMBP recently broke and I'm debating whether to sell my Thunderbolt Display and get a 27" iMac and a MBA to replace my current setup. With the current best buy deals it would cost me about $800 to upgrade to the iMac.
The new iMacs are AT LEAST as powerful as your MBP, and the MBA's are quite capable too, especially for such an ultraportable. However, if you need mobility and use your MBP for high-end graphics work like editing movies, etc, you'll not have the same experience using a MacBook Air for those tasks. It's all about what you do on your MBP.
If that's it, then you certainly could get by nicely, although if the Handbrake jobs involve ripping DVDs you have to take that into account.
The iMac is a great display, same resolution. And although the connections aren't quite the same, you of course get an attached computer.... Apple doesn't separately list the specs of the monitor part of the iMac, but I imagine it isn't super different than the ACD.
Seems like a good plan, depending on finances and how much you'd get for the display.
how did you break your rMBP?
Just bought it in January 2013 and never got AppleCare![]()
Any chance you bought it on a credit card with purchase protection? My credit card doubles the manufacturer's warranty up to one additional year and it costs me nothing (ie is a standard feature).
Definitely worth while checking if you don't know.
if i were you i'd sell the display and buy a 2nd hand iMac. i bought a 27" 2011 iMac for $800. it has thunderbolt ports so i can just use it as a display if i want to. i also have a 13" 2012 Macbook Air, but i'm gonna upgrade to 13" rMBP in a few days.
Already bought a new 27" really wanted the new form factor and a new one wasn't that much more.