What is the best Mac and iOS setup?

The question really is, what functions are you performing that need portability? That will determine whether the rMBP route or the iPad route make more sense.

 

Why not get a non-retina MBP? You can go with the hi-res display, if you wish. Then you have portability when you're away, and can use the Tb display when you're at home.

 

Ignoring the iPhone, which is a constant, you are considering iMac+iPad (buying a new iPad) or MacBookPro + Thunderbolt Display (replacing your iMac).

Consider that a 13" MBP (or 11" MBA) and a 27" iMac cost about the same as a 15" MBP+TBD (15" needed to get roughly the same performance as the iMac), that might be a better alternative. You would then need to buy a 13" MBP or a MBA, which will cost more than your iPad solution but less than replacing your iMac.

The advantages: the big iMac for use at the desk (with its good ergonomics) and a fully functional portable computer (as opposed to the iPad) allowing working away from home.

The disadvantages: you need to sync the two systems.

Of course it really depends on how you use the systems, but after much deliberation I've continued using the pair of systems (but with a 15" MBP because I need the performance away from home), after toying with the idea of the MBP+TBD. Even though we have an iPad in the house, it's basically a non-starter for me with my needs (I've got to be able to run Mac and Windows apps and iOS is too anaemic.)

 

like everyone else said it depends on your needs. right now I run:

PC Desktop
MBP (2011)
iPad 3 (wifi)
iPhone 4S

my new plan involves selling the MBP and moving to:

iMac (2012, or whatever)

as well as possibly selling the iPad with wifi for a data iPad, then canceling my hotspot sub on the iPhone. the hotspot works great with the MBP but the iPad is really slow to recognize the iPhone hotspot for some reason. and I pretty much only use my MBP to sync the iPad and iPhone anyway. I use the iPad for 98% of my portable needs.

so that's my plan! iMac, iPad, iPhone.

 

imac 21.5 inch i7 model, ipad 3rd gen in white, white iPhone 4s, and don't forget iPod classic in silver

 

I find the iMac 21", iPad 32 3gen, to be the best combo for me. Im a full time pastor, and find myself studying and preparing my sermon on my iMac, then moving it to my iPad (via dropbox) for the actual sunday service.

 

iMac and iPad. No question. The iPad is more portable than any notebook computer will ever be, and if you're doing something complex, you have a real desktop system to do it on.

 

Just curious, how is this a disadvantage? Syncing is just a matter of turning on iCloud on both machines and your done. The whole selling point of iCloud is to make all your important information automatically synced without having to think about it. Just set it and forget it. I actually consider having all your information synced and available where you go as a prime advantage.

 

I think it depends on what your needs are. If you travel a lot [business] and need access to OSX Apple's Macbook lineup is quite good. And that's why laptops are so popular.

i do like the iMac though.

 

iMac + iPad + iPhone work out the best for me.

I totally get the iOS overkill feeling, though. I felt the same way when I first got an iPad last year but, once you work both devices into your daily routines, you learn to look at your iPhone and iPad as two entirely different devices despite their similarities.

 

Sorry to sound harsh, but what anybody thinks here is irrelevant (IMO anyway).

All you need to do is work out what your needs are and get the kit accordingly.

If you don't need to use a screen larger than a phone when you're out and about, then you have a 4S and are sorted.

If you need to work off a screen larger than a phone when you're out, then you need to think about a MBP/Air or an iPad (or both, depending on your circumstances).

It's really very subjective and only you can answer the questions in your first post, as there is no "best" setup as everyone's needs vary.

[Edit] - I've got a 27" 2011 iMac in my home office, a 4S and an iPad 3.

I would also like a MBA to give me a little more flexibility when I'm out and about, but do I need one?

Probably not, but that's never stopped me before!

 

Yes, if iCloud would actually sync everything. It only syncs things that can use iCloud, and if you go with iCloud you lose all the organizational capability that you get with hierarchical folder structures. Suffice it to say that even with Mountain Lion (which offers document sync of supporting apps) it's totally inadequate. I use DropBox in some cases, but even it is inadequate for some tasks.

I use Chronsync to synchronize the folders of interest when I get home and when I leave home. It will sync quickly, but I must remember to do it. It synchronizes 6GB of files between the systems. Other files, such as videos and photos I process, are copied manually from the originating system.

 

I find my setup is good; iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Macbook Pro, Mac Mini and Thunderbolt Display. It all depends though.

 

Depends entirely on what you do with your devices. For me, the ideal setup would be iMac + iPad + iPhone.

iMac: full-powered personal computer.

iPad: media consumption/entertainment device (may be total notebook replacement if Office comes to iPad)

iPhone: smartphone/pda.

 

I have an iphone 4 almost two years now n last year pirchased an ipad2 but after a while i sold it n bought an imac. Now im missing something n thats ipad 3 i think

 

Agreed. Not least because an iPad can have cellular networking built-in, which no MacBook offers.