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Why do people use Mac desktops over laptops?
- Thread starter macuser1232
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Who is possibly going to enlighten me at an Apple Store? If someone says a "genius" I am going to go hang myself.
If a person needs true horsepower, a Macbook Pro cannot compare to a Mac Pro. Desktops will always have a place for professionals. If I had to choose between a MBP and an iMac, I'd choose the MBP. However, as long as the Mac Pro line continues, I will always choose a Mac Pro + MBP + iPad.
Your average consumer, however, doesn't need the power of a Mac Pro. Heck, your average consumer probably could get away with just an tablet!
I think his point is that you'll be hard pressed to find a Mac Pro at an Apple store today, which shows the strong trend that desktops in the Apple world are in a very small minority.
Honestly these days, how much more power would you squeeze out of a desktop over a laptop, just based on better heat dissipation and bigger parts. Would you squeeze out an extra 500-1000 on geekbench? Seems like laptops, especially high end ones, are keeping up with desktops these days. Screen size is really the only meaningful difference...aside from just wanting something planted on ur desk for good.
True laptops have caught up. But you still have to pay more. And if you want a Desktop size screen, even more again.
Decided to chime in.
I think for most, its the ergonomics that you get from a desktop experience. A seperate mouse and keyboard. A larger screen and depending upon what type of Mac desktop, ANY screen of your choosing. Also, depending upon what Mac desktop, you can have many cores with many threads for 3D rendering that would just take much more time to complete on a mobile CPU vs a traditional desktop CPU. Many people dismiss this, but it is true. For high end 3D rendering and projects that require many cores and threads, a mobile CPU just cannot compete unless time (which 99% of the time equals money), isn't an option.
Now, a percentage of people that fall into the above category is pretty low when you look at Apple users, so something like a laptop to sit on the couch and read Facebook might be ideal.
For me, I enjoy a desk, seperate keyboard, seperate mouse, and a larger screen that is positioned so that I am not slouched down looking at a tiny screen titled on a 45 degree angle.
I've had many laptops, both PC and Mac, and never enjoyed them as much as a desktop computer. The ergonomics suck on a laptop, no matter how you slice it. To improve the ergonomics on a laptop, it would require:
Desk
Desk chair
Seperate keyboard
Seperate mouse
Monitor
Some sort of stand for the laptop
At this point the desktop would've been the better solution out of the gate.
But hey this is my 2 cents, everyone has their own opinion.
Long story short, if you aren't going anywhere and want the extra features that a desktop can accomodate then get it. If you want to trade these features for mobility, then do that too. There's a reason both styles of computers exist!
I agree, been using laptop + ext monitor since the day of powerbook. Bought iMac because 95% the laptop was stationary at a desk. My mbp now mirrors my iMac as backup and to meet clients.
people use mac desktops because of the vast increment in power within the cpu compared to a mac laptop.
but most people go for the best of both worlds. many mac users who have the money tend to get the 27" iMac and the macbook air combo. and i would suggest getting both if you can afford it.
but most people go for the best of both worlds. many mac users who have the money tend to get the 27" iMac and the macbook air combo. and i would suggest getting both if you can afford it.
I have an iMac 27" that even at a couple years old outperforms my current MBA. A big reason is it can draw a lot more power. When starting skyrim, it was drawing 250W, and the MBA is limited to 45W. Even the MBP is limited to something like 80W. That translates to a difference in performance.
I use my iMac for stuff that needs a bigger screen (serious PS or Illustrator work) or for stuff that needs heavy CPU for a period of time. Stuff like Handbrake, or OCR over lots of pages (my scanner is attached).
I use my iMac for stuff that needs a bigger screen (serious PS or Illustrator work) or for stuff that needs heavy CPU for a period of time. Stuff like Handbrake, or OCR over lots of pages (my scanner is attached).
No argument here. But the question was why people use Mac desktops over Mac laptops. My point is it appears many people here underestimate the difference between a professional desktop and a MBP. Ferrari's sales volume pales in comparison to BMW, but when you need higher performance and horsepower you buy a Ferrari. That is one reason why people use a Mac Pro over a MBP. That was all I was saying.
The top of the line Mac Pro 12-core (mid-2012) has a 25,000+ geekbench score (64-bit) while the rMBP has a 13,000+ geekbench score. They aren't even close when it comes to high-end computing.
I came up against the macbook pro vs imac debate back in 2006.
I initially bought a 20" imac with upgraded c2d to 2.33 Ghz, and planned to use my powerbook 12" as its portable companion.
But then my powerbook got too friendly with a bottle of coke and I suddenly needed a laptop again.
I realised that the c2d mbp was basically the same price as my upgraded imac, and had the same specs, so I went with the mbp.
nearly six years later, my mbp is still running, and as it is small and portable, is also (crucially) still used. I would guess that the imac would still work, but it wouldn't be being used, as there is only so much desk space availible!
Funnily enough though, i wish I had kept the imac too, it was a gorgeous design (and had i known that apple would soon be axing the white imac, i probably would have!)
I initially bought a 20" imac with upgraded c2d to 2.33 Ghz, and planned to use my powerbook 12" as its portable companion.
But then my powerbook got too friendly with a bottle of coke and I suddenly needed a laptop again.
I realised that the c2d mbp was basically the same price as my upgraded imac, and had the same specs, so I went with the mbp.
nearly six years later, my mbp is still running, and as it is small and portable, is also (crucially) still used. I would guess that the imac would still work, but it wouldn't be being used, as there is only so much desk space availible!
Funnily enough though, i wish I had kept the imac too, it was a gorgeous design (and had i known that apple would soon be axing the white imac, i probably would have!)
Desktop's have desktop CPU's - including iMac - which have more stamina than mobile CPU's.They also have better GPU's (When the iMac gets updated it will probably have a better GPU than MBP's - not sure if there already better than them though) since they will have more room for them and better heat dissipation.The price/performance ratio is also better for desktops too.
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Both the price/power gap has been closing in on the desktop. Back then if you wanted a laptop with comparable power to that of a desktop you'd be looking north of $4000, yet there's still aesthetics and weight you'd have to deal with. We've come a long way. We'd all be jumping on the Airs and MBPro's of today if they were available 10-15yrs ago.
Sure laptops are plenty powerful, but for raw power, thermals, endurance it's still no match for desktops imo. If you make a living on the road then sure the rMBP is a nice compromise. But when time is money and you're stationary a desktop still gets the job done in a more productive/efficient manner.
Sure laptops are plenty powerful, but for raw power, thermals, endurance it's still no match for desktops imo. If you make a living on the road then sure the rMBP is a nice compromise. But when time is money and you're stationary a desktop still gets the job done in a more productive/efficient manner.
Seriuosly,i have an iphone4,an ipad2,a macbook pro,so Apple has earnt from me three times,i'm planning to buy a new Iphone5,an Ipad3, a new ,when available IvyBridge Imac and next year an Haswell MacBookPro..so Apple will earn 4 times with me,because of its ecosystem,instead
if they cut desktops i won't buy a macboopro neither and soonish i will consider to make the same with Ipad and all Ios devices?
Why?Because without desktops i'll need a W8 desktop and with this my Iphones,Ipad won't be able to share their Iwork (and not only)data as they do now,suddendly i'll need to have something similar with..a Surface,so i will look for a Lumia...and so on..,i can't believe Apple will make sooo happy its direct competitor.Not to mention next Xbox720 which will fill my gaming needs.
So Iphone,Ipad,MacBookPro,Imac,Xbox720or
....Lumia,Surface,Xbox720?
The only thing i'm sure its the Xbox720.
And no,no laptop will never offer the same desktop power,why?
More space for house more power and its heat.
So please Cook.wake up.
if they cut desktops i won't buy a macboopro neither and soonish i will consider to make the same with Ipad and all Ios devices?
Why?Because without desktops i'll need a W8 desktop and with this my Iphones,Ipad won't be able to share their Iwork (and not only)data as they do now,suddendly i'll need to have something similar with..a Surface,so i will look for a Lumia...and so on..,i can't believe Apple will make sooo happy its direct competitor.Not to mention next Xbox720 which will fill my gaming needs.
So Iphone,Ipad,MacBookPro,Imac,Xbox720or
....Lumia,Surface,Xbox720?
The only thing i'm sure its the Xbox720.
And no,no laptop will never offer the same desktop power,why?
More space for house more power and its heat.
So please Cook.wake up.
Ok guys let's not hate on the Macbook Pro too much now. Keep in mind, it still is the dominant laptop here!!
Many people here own both Apple desktop and laptop machine. But when you're budget conscious or restricted on one choice, that's when nasty things come out .
I meant top of the line iMac and MBP released in the same year. Comparing a 4 core against a 12 core is obviously goin to yield different results.
mac mini costs a lot less than mac pro 13" and the 800 dollar model has Radeon Graphics (with is at least twice as fast as the intel GPUs) which mac book pro 13" lacks. The 15" mac book pro is much faster (3 times faster than the radeon) than a mini but you could buy two radeon mac minis and still have some money to spare.
The new 27' iMac the high end model with the Radeon 6970m can be configured to be faster and cheaper than the entry level Mac Pro.
basically apple gives users with various needs the system that fits their need.
There are a lot of users who like the posibility of portability but don't actualy utilise it. laptops give that, plus the noobs don't have to worry about the cords or cables other than the charging adapter
I am laughing at the above question!
Current High End MBP ....
2.7 Ghz CPU ( Upgrade Option - 2.6 Ghz Standard 15" Ratina MBP )
1GB Video Ram
Current High End iMac ...
3.4 Ghz CPU ( Upgrade Option 3.1 Ghz Standard )
2 GB Video Ram ( Upgrade Option 1 GB Standard )
Like I need a computer in the ......
*Bathroom ( I am either taking a shower or taking a sh...... - no need for computer to do those )
*Bedroom ( I got there to be with my wife
, or to sleep ... don't even have a TV there )*Kitchen ( I go there to prepare food )
*Garage ( I go there to work on my vehicles and an iPad with Service Manuals beats a laptop )
*Family Room ( This is where we relax, watch TV and play video games. )
*Office / Work Room ( This is where the computer belongs )
HONESTLY: If you need your computer with you in every room in the house, you might want to take a close look at yourself ....... YOU NEED A LIFE! ( Facebook is not having a life! )
Why do MBP buyers create such silly threads to justify their purchasing lower powered notebooks as opposed to more powerful desktops.?
.
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After going through several variations of the " Notebook w/external screen " and the " Desktop w/tablet " combinations what I found to be best was the following ......
27" iMac
32 GB iPad
I use the iPad in two productive ways ......
1) Show prospective clients my project portfolios
2) Service Manuals for the various vehicle I own/operate
The 27" iMac is the workhorse and no Macbook Pro can match its performance for me.
The iPad is an extension of the iMac as all things on the iPad are based on the iMac.
Notebooks are OK, but when you are crawling around under a vehicle, or in the engine compartment or other tight places, the notebook fast becomes a liability and not an asset.
With the iPad I can breeze through any Service Manual or Portfolio with a single finger ..... cannot do that on a Notebook. ( I know because I have a 15" MBP here .... I let the kids play on it as it is of no use to me! )
I like to think it is illogical to use a macbook pro where you can use an iMac with ease. a MBP should only be for those where you can't place an iMac, or you work on the go as your main computer IMO. The macbook air would rather side an iMac as a secondary computer, whether it be you take it to school with you to write notes on, or you just decide to browse the web in the lounge downstairs away from your iMac....
but then again, even an ipad would suit those needs if you aren't doing stuff unique to a computer. There is also more bang for your buck for an iMac than you would for a mac laptop. as an example,
Macbook pro 13":
£999
dual core i5
4GB RAM (1600)
Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics.
iMac 21.5":
£999
quad-core i5
4GB RAM (1333)
AMD radeon 512 discreet graphics
the only thing that the 13" macbook pro has over the 21.5" iMac is the slightly faster RAM, but that's because it is newer than the iMac, but for the same price as the macbook pro 13" the iMac comes with a quad core processor and discreet graphics for the same money. =more bang for your buck.
but then again, even an ipad would suit those needs if you aren't doing stuff unique to a computer. There is also more bang for your buck for an iMac than you would for a mac laptop. as an example,
Macbook pro 13":
£999
dual core i5
4GB RAM (1600)
Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics.
iMac 21.5":
£999
quad-core i5
4GB RAM (1333)
AMD radeon 512 discreet graphics
the only thing that the 13" macbook pro has over the 21.5" iMac is the slightly faster RAM, but that's because it is newer than the iMac, but for the same price as the macbook pro 13" the iMac comes with a quad core processor and discreet graphics for the same money. =more bang for your buck.