Displays vs. Imac vs. MBP

[radzack]

I can't decided whether to buy an iMac/Macpro for my editing machine, and leave my laptop for personal fun...or just do it all on one machine.

The truth is, my current macbook pro is a beast and does everything I need flawlessly. But when I upgrade, I was thinking about grabbing the new LED display that couples with the new MBP's.

Thoughts?

Is that display worth the money (the pairing functionality is great) ?

Should I look at another brand of display?

Just get the iMac/macpro?

help meeeee

[boldfire]

If you're doing serious editing work (and with BBB I'd imagine you are) I would go with a suped up Mac Pro just so you are guaranteed to have power for a long time to come.

[radzack]

If you're doing serious editing work (and with BBB I'd imagine you are) I would go with a suped up Mac Pro just so you are guaranteed to have power for a long time to come.

I've always needed a machine for serious edit work...in all honesty though. My current MBP eats up whatever I need done. It's 2 years old and works like the day I bought it. I'm sure with 8 cores on a MacPro my render time and compression time would be cut in half...but as far as being a well rounded one purchase machine for me...the new 5.3ghz's mbp and 4gb ram would destroy.

But then it raises the question...do i want my work machine to also be my play? I could always get a souped up iMac then...itbaljdflakdfj;ladfjs

Such a hard decision...thoughts?

[boldfire]

Sounds like you're happy with your laptop so I'd just stick with it :)

[tokenuser]

If you're doing serious editing work (and with BBB I'd imagine you are) I would go with a suped up Mac Pro just so you are guaranteed to have power for a long time to come.The iMac does have more power, and a larger screen though ... so that might be a consideration.

However, I would still go with the MBP. The power of the current machines is phenominal, and at "desktop replacement" standards ... and it gives you a portable machine for "outside broadcast" capabilities.

If you are doing any sort of editting - be it word processing, programming, or video, if you are using a single monitor, you are doing yourself an injustice.

For example, I bought a Macbook - the 2.4GHz previous model, not the current Aluminium one - as a programming platform for iPhone development. I could have gone iMac or MBP, but for me the processor was fine, it has a firewire port for my video camera (not important for programming, but useful for video later), and above all, was small enough to use on an airplane with the person in front of me reclining. Great portable rig ... but at my desk, I have a monitor, a keyboard, and a two button mouse.

So ... get the MBP .. and get a decent large monitor. Apple are slick but way overpriced. Hearing good things about the large screen Dell's at the moment, but was recently blown away by prices of large monitors at BJ's. Shop around.

[radzack]

I don't think I would use the mbp monitor as a second monitor though. I'd probably keep it closed to run cooler.

Also...I wouldn't like a big pretty 24 inch screen, and then a little 15 inch.

Where's the continuity??

But yeah...apples aren't worth it?

[tokenuser]

Seriously, dual monitor is the way to go. Running "headless" isn't going to cut down on the joules or BTUs a MBP is producing. The LED backlight technology on the monitor is "cold" anyway - no heat.

I run my monitor as my primary display. My laptops (yes, MB and HP hooked together via KVM) screen act as a secondary display that I keep IM, email, and a file browser (sometimes a web browser) open on. It means that I dont need to go to "spaces" or virtual desktops to have everything open I need.

Even with different sized screens (granted my monitor is a 19" running at 1280x1024, and both the laptops run 1280x800), the added screen realestate is invaluable.

Apples are apples. They are built to a high quality, look great, but with a monitor ... they dont manufacture the LCD. Its sourced from the same places everyone else gets theirs from. You are paying extra for te aesthetics of the monitor. OK, the new ones have Mini DVI cables so you dont need an adapter. BFD. Buying an equivalent sized Dell (or other brand) will save you $200 (guesstimate) ... and then you can easily afford the $20 for the adapter.

[burkhartmj]

I have to say i agree with token. With the way computers handle dualscreen, you don't need resolution continuity, each screen runs native. Anyone I've ever talked to including myself] agrees that the extra screen becomes invaluable and you can't easily go back to a single screen after experiencing dual-screen. Studies have shown it noticeably increases productivity as well.

[radzack]

I'd ideally have two 24 inch LED displays then :)

hmmm

I just love the new all in one cable too.

[tokenuser]

I'd ideally have two 24 inch LED displays then :)

hmmm

I just love the new all in one cable too.Nice in theory, but I seem to recall that the GPU (of the MBP) can't drive mutliple monitors of 24" in size at maximum resolution (1920x1200). Something that you might need to be confirm BEFORE dropping $900 per monitor.