Hello! I have searched these very helpful forums and can't seem to find a RECENT answer to my question. There are a lot of responses from 2007-2009, but nothing about the current generation iMacs, so I'd appreciate anyone who can give me actual numbers or URL's to help make my decision. Thanks!
I am going to purchase an iMac for development purposes. I'm an experienced Windows/web developer, fluent in multiple languages, and I have some ideas for a couple of iPad apps. I have been working with xcode on a MacBookPro (C2D model) for a couple of weeks now, and I've concluded that I want a dedicated computer for development.
I started with the thought of using a MacMini for development, but after reading reviews and comments, I bailed on that. I would prefer NOT to develop on a laptop (yes, I know all the pros/cons, especially the higher cost), and I don't want a tower, so that leaves me with an iMac. After reviewing the product line in detail, I'm pretty impressed with the specs. I've narrowed it down to a choice between the entry-level 21.5"/3.06Ghz iMac and the 27.0"/3.2Ghz iMac.
My choice will be used for development about 80% of the time, with the other 20% for home tasks (photos, maybe some video creation, email, word processing, some music creation, semi-frequent FPS games, etc). On the development side, it will primarily be xcode, but also some development in HTML, PHP, Ruby, ColdFusion (NetBeans) and VisualBasic/VisualC++. And yes, that implies I will be running multiple VM's (VMWare, Parallels and VirtualBox), to get to certain platforms (Win, webOS, etc).
What I'm looking for is advice to help choose between those models. I don't need differentiation between the HDD, ports, video card, etc., as much as I need some real numbers that would help me decide if there is going to be a tangible performance increase in the tasks I am likely to perform.
For example, with nothing else running in the foreground, how much faster will an average-sized xcode compile be? How about a complex xcode program compile?
And if I'm running, say, VMWare with Win7 and VirtualBox with WinXP, then try similar compiles, is there a marked difference?
I've seen the raw benchmarks (http://www.macworld.com/reviews/product/586736/review/apple_27inch_core_i3_imac32ghz.html) and they aren't conclusive. So any developer thoughts, comments, advice or benchmarks would be VERY appreciated.
Primarily, I'm hoping this will help me decide if it's worth the extra $500 to get the faster unit.
Again, thanks for your help! Let me know if anyone has questions.
Bruce
I am going to purchase an iMac for development purposes. I'm an experienced Windows/web developer, fluent in multiple languages, and I have some ideas for a couple of iPad apps. I have been working with xcode on a MacBookPro (C2D model) for a couple of weeks now, and I've concluded that I want a dedicated computer for development.
I started with the thought of using a MacMini for development, but after reading reviews and comments, I bailed on that. I would prefer NOT to develop on a laptop (yes, I know all the pros/cons, especially the higher cost), and I don't want a tower, so that leaves me with an iMac. After reviewing the product line in detail, I'm pretty impressed with the specs. I've narrowed it down to a choice between the entry-level 21.5"/3.06Ghz iMac and the 27.0"/3.2Ghz iMac.
My choice will be used for development about 80% of the time, with the other 20% for home tasks (photos, maybe some video creation, email, word processing, some music creation, semi-frequent FPS games, etc). On the development side, it will primarily be xcode, but also some development in HTML, PHP, Ruby, ColdFusion (NetBeans) and VisualBasic/VisualC++. And yes, that implies I will be running multiple VM's (VMWare, Parallels and VirtualBox), to get to certain platforms (Win, webOS, etc).
What I'm looking for is advice to help choose between those models. I don't need differentiation between the HDD, ports, video card, etc., as much as I need some real numbers that would help me decide if there is going to be a tangible performance increase in the tasks I am likely to perform.
For example, with nothing else running in the foreground, how much faster will an average-sized xcode compile be? How about a complex xcode program compile?
And if I'm running, say, VMWare with Win7 and VirtualBox with WinXP, then try similar compiles, is there a marked difference?
I've seen the raw benchmarks (http://www.macworld.com/reviews/product/586736/review/apple_27inch_core_i3_imac32ghz.html) and they aren't conclusive. So any developer thoughts, comments, advice or benchmarks would be VERY appreciated.
Primarily, I'm hoping this will help me decide if it's worth the extra $500 to get the faster unit.
Again, thanks for your help! Let me know if anyone has questions.
Bruce