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Starting From Scratch w/$5,000 What Should I Buy?

Freewayjim

Freewayjim

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 2, 2008
222
0
Metro Atlanta
I'm a newbie poster but have read many forums here so I know that you all really know your stuff so here's the scenario; My 24" 2.8GHz iMac was fried in a lighting strike/fire at home last month and I'd like some opinions of what to buy as I rebuild my setup. What I have currently is a 2 year old 15.4 MPB and a 4 Year old 17" Dell XPS2 Windows Machine (from before I became enlightened and switched to Mac in 2006)

The iMac was great but I want to downsize to one Apple machine and it's got to be a laptop (15.4 or 17" MBP) w/Applecare. I would be using this machine at work and in my home office (a short commute), I travel a couple times a year (By Car) and don't frequent the local Starbucks at all :)

I'll need an external monitor for at home, I'm open to the ACD or Gateway 30" models but if there is a great choice in the 24"-26" size I'm open to that too

Also, what would you recommend for Windows? VMWare Fusion or Parallels 3.0? (I use Parallels 2.0 on the MBP and it's passable)

The Mac programs I use most are Final Cut Express 4, Photoshop Elements 6, Toast 8, Parallels & Microsoft Office 2004 (Will probably upgrade to 2008 w/new machine)

Between insurance, selling my 15.4" MBP and some "mad money" there will be roughly $5K to work with, so what should I buy?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
 
Wow...well, if it were me...

I'd get a 17" Hi Res. with all but the memory upgrade [get that 3rd party]. Then go for the DELL screens. Size is up to you, but the ACD's are a little overrated IMHO. Then get something like TC, or AE [unless you already have that].

If u really wanted a backup system, then go for a low end MB...
 
UPS (uninterrupted power source with battery power and surge protector)
Firewire 800 drives for Final Cut
Separte drive for backup
VMWare
 
Get the 17" Hi res Macbook pro if you don't kind carrying it on your short commute. If not go for a 15" with the 7200 rpm HD. Add a 30" cinema display to complement your macbook pro perfectly. I am using a 30" ACD with my mbp and it think it's the perfect combination. A true work horse with versatility for mobility.

Contrary to what people say about the ACDs being overrated. I think they're largely underrated with people calling them outdated and old tech, with high prices. I personally find none of that to be true. The heart of any lcd is its panel and the ACD's s-ips panel is excellent. Price wise, it's also reasonable compared to the Eizos, Lacies etc.
 
zer0tails said:
Get the 17" Hi res Macbook pro if you don't kind carrying it on your short commute. If not go for a 15" with the 7200 rpm HD. Add a 30" cinema display to complement your macbook pro perfectly. I am using a 30" ACD with my mbp and it think it's the perfect combination. A true work horse with versatility for mobility.

Contrary to what people say about the ACDs being overrated. I think they're largely underrated with people calling them outdated and old tech, with high prices. I personally find none of that to be true. The heart of any lcd is its panel and the ACD's s-ips panel is excellent. Price wise, it's also reasonable compared to the Eizos, Lacies etc.
Click to expand...

The ACDs are amazing monitors. They come with an equally amazing price tag. Unless you're a professional working in a business that requires absolute color accuracy, get a Dell; they make some good monitors.
 
Hey. I actually bought that gateway you were talking about...the XHD3000. Im sure you have read reviews,etc...so you know it's a pretty highly regarded piece of equipment. Just wanted to say I love it as well, best monitor I've ever owned by far, and costs less than similar-sized monitors as well. Anyway, what ever option you choose, Good Luck!
 
hmm

Depends what model MBP you have...

If you have the core 2 duo, then I would hold off alittle while. The new ones aren't that much faster then your current one. I would still probably buy the 30" LCD though.
 
rvrugg90 said:
Hey. I actually bought that gateway you were talking about...the XHD3000. Im sure you have read reviews,etc...so you know it's a pretty highly regarded piece of equipment. Just wanted to say I love it as well, best monitor I've ever owned by far, and costs less than similar-sized monitors as well. Anyway, what ever option you choose, Good Luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks! I've looked at/played with that monitor, it' very nice and $200 cheaper than the 30" ACD ($1599 at Micro Center). The trade off I see is the extra Firewire Ports and the "Apple Brand" in exchange for 4 More USB Ports, HDMI and all the other ports the Gateway offers, plus $200! The Dell 24" is a nice option too.

I love the idea of working in 2560x1600 resolution but I wonder if the extra $1000 or so is worth having that. One poster suggested getting a MB as a back-up, that is an interesting thought although I have easy access to a 20" iMac if need be.

Thank you so far to everyone for your input, it's much appreciated.
 
The Dell's are ok IF they work for more than 6 months. Too many of
my friends have had nothing but bad luck with Dell stuff. And to top it
off then you get to deal with their Customer "misery" dept. (in India).
 
Virtualization

Dump both Parallels and VMWare, I would go for VirutalBox, http://www.virtualbox.org/

It is free, robust, fast, stable, and did I mention free? By far the best product out for running Virual Machines.
 
A Second to Sun's VirtualBox

jbolls said:
Dump both Parallels and VMWare, I would go for VirutalBox, http://www.virtualbox.org/

It is free, robust, fast, stable, and did I mention free? By far the best product out for running Virual Machines.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I use VirtualBox for my Linux distro and Windows XP and it works just fine. Maybe not near as fancy as Fusion or Parallels, but who needs fancy when you get the functionality for free. If you use VirtualBox, be sure to install Guest Additions.

Here's the link.
https://cds.sun.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/CDS-CDS_SMI-Site/en_US/-/USD/ViewProductDetail-Start?ProductRef=innotek-1.6-G-F@CDS-CDS_SMI
 
Gateway XHD3000 is great as long as you shutdown

rvrugg90 said:
Hey. I actually bought that gateway you were talking about...the XHD3000. ......I love it as well, best monitor I've ever owned by far......
Click to expand...

Hm. I got the XHD3000 for a MacPro a few months back and I like it, except if the Mac system goes to sleep then the display won't wake up when the Mac does. No support resolution from Apple, Nvidia, or Gateway. Any other XHD owners experienced that?

Otherwise it's a sweet display at a competitive price, and it's the only one I found that can be used for more than just a computer display; I've got a Playstation plugged in and I use it for cable TV. Has inputs for just about anything. The speakerbar is junk, but I knew that when I saw the picture in the magazine;)
 
I'd recommend the 15" MBP, the middle configuration. And for a display, go Dell. Gateways stinks (they are low-end) and Dell monitors are cheap, with good quality. The ACD is due for a refresh and is overpriced. A Dell 30"/24"/26" are all good build quality monitors.

For running windows, I'd say Fusion, but Parallels also works. I use Boot Camp, since I hardly touch Windows at all these days... The MBP configuration I recommended above will zip thru your listed apps, and more, although 2008 is more sluggish than 2004, but with the new update, ppl claimed its faster. I have yet to test it myself.

Again, for people like me, 17" is not "portable". It's simply huge, although if you want the hi res screen.. its a tradeoff.
 
SnowLeopard2008 said:
I'd recommend the 15" MBP, the middle configuration. And for a display, go Dell. Gateways stinks (they are low-end) and Dell monitors are cheap, with good quality. The ACD is due for a refresh and is overpriced. A Dell 30"/24"/26" are all good build quality monitors.

For running windows, I'd say Fusion, but Parallels also works. I use Boot Camp, since I hardly touch Windows at all these days... The MBP configuration I recommended above will zip thru your listed apps, and more, although 2008 is more sluggish than 2004, but with the new update, ppl claimed its faster. I have yet to test it myself.

Again, for people like me, 17" is not "portable". It's simply huge, although if you want the hi res screen.. its a tradeoff.
Click to expand...

I saw the Gateway for $1449 at a local Fry's and having all the inputs is a nice feature (I'd hook up a PS3 as well) but since my main use for it is Photo/Video editing I'll take a closer look at the Dell monitors.

Would any of you spend the extra $800-1000 for a 30" display or go with a top 24"-26" and use the $$ elsewhere (or save it)? The 2560x1600 resolution would be a big plus for me but I just don't know if it's worth the money.

I have Parallels 2.0 on my current MBP, it works OK, I have heard Fusion is a better program which is why I'd consider it. For work I need to go back & Forth from Windoze to OS X alot so Boot Camp would not work as well for me.

The part I'm really struggling with is 15" or 17" (I must have a laptop) I've read other threads and honestly I like what both sizes have to offer, it's very a tough call that I'm still weighing.

Thanks to everyone for your input and insight along the way.
 
Whatever you go with get a UPS, as someone said. Best investment you'll ever make for your computer. It's absolutely idiotic to NOT use one.
 
Are the mbp getting upgraded along with the mb's in september? This is, of course, assuming the MB's do in fact get upgraded. If so I'd probably wait till then.

15" MBP
30" dell LCD
UPS
 
I would definitely go for the "base line mac pro and put 2 or 4gb more ram in it, get two apple 20" cinema displays (total size = 40" and total 3360x2100 resolution), wireless keyboard and mighty mouse. + a entry level macbook with maxed out ram for portablity
 
dasikes said:
Whatever you go with get a UPS, as someone said. Best investment you'll ever make for your computer. It's absolutely idiotic to NOT use one.
Click to expand...

Had one, half the items plugged in to it, including my 24" iMac fried during a lightning strike & fire, the 17" Dell XPS2 plugged in to the wall in the SAME ROOM survived just fine. Also my son's 20" iMac in the next room was plugged in to a UPS and got fried.

I probably just need to get a bigger, more expensive UPS model.
 
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