Comments on: iMac Or Mac Pro, Which Desktop Mac Should You Buy?

By: Hadi

Hadi — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 05:07:02 +0000

just to clarify, by the “mac pro” in the previous statement I mean the macbook pro.

Thanks again

By: Hadi

Hadi — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 05:01:45 +0000

Am a college student of Chemistry and Mathematics majors. I am pretty confused whether I should get an imac or a macbook or a mac pro. I have a 17′ dell laptop/ windows vista. I had it for 2 yrs so far (pretty heavy to carry around). Am also a musician. So the mac m buying is basically to use for study, intensive use of web browsing (MIT online courses, etc), music recording, web design(not intensively though). I like the monitor to be large and comfortable. Am a student, so i dont have much of a budget, but I get $50/$100 student discount, a free ipod touch, and a printer.

Am thinking about buying the 20′ imac, or 13′ mac pro, or just the 13′macbook (since this would be my first apple computer device (second if I buy the iphone tomorrow))

please let me know. (the student offer ends on 9/8)
thanks

By: Max Cruise

Max Cruise — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:24:33 +0000

Intel iMac with 2GB of memory will run Pro Tools LE with lots of processor-intensive plugins including convolution reverb, virtual instruments and sample-based instruments. You will get CPU overloads occasionally so when tracking, make sure you turn-off the expensive plug-ins or you will be embarassed in front of your customers. Products like Focusrite Liquid Mix are relatively inexpensive ways to off-load your CPU(s) while adding to your sound palette but you’ll have to contend with track latencies manually.

To run Pro Tools HD, you will need full-length PCI slots (not available on iMac). HD handles track latencies for you and gives you access to TDM plugins.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:37:23 +0000

I produce music as well, primarily running a Logic Pro 8 Suite with a ton of plug-ins as well. I think one thing that needs to be considered as well is, will you be using the Mac primarily and only for “work” or will it be your happy go at everything machine (surfing the net, chatting on IM, work rig etc).

I have to use my current rig (Mac G5 2x 1.8′s w/ 3.5GB Ram) for an everything rig, I have 3 external HD’s which really help. The one thing I have on my side is I am not a gamer. I am strictly work and chatting/surfing the net and listening to music.

I want to agree with the review in the sense that, yes, if you want to buy a machine that is going to last you for you years to come, a Mac Pro is the way to go. You can upgrade anything on it, pick and choose screens, add additions FW ports etc etc. With a iMac, you are limited to what you buy, no going back, if you were to suddenly realise she is lagging behind after a few months, your stuck.

Mac Pro for me…. my wallet is going hate me for the next few years he he

By: Si

Si — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:28:34 +0000

I produce music, and edit audio. Currently using an end of the line g4 ibook and need to upgrade. The top of the line
Imac looks like it suits me perfectly only im worried about the lack of upgrade options in future?. As asked above, has anyone run pro tools LE on an Imac recently? I primarily want a protools system for editing and producing music, only cant really afford to upgrade every 2 years

By: ingez

ingez — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:25:08 +0000

Has anyone worked with logic and protools (m-powered) on an imac? If so, is it fast enough (12 tracks, lots of plug ins) The mac pro is powerfull but a bit expensive. Thinking about buying the imac or should i wait?
btw (its for professional use)
tnxs,
ingez

By: Stacie Mulso

Stacie Mulso — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:26:42 +0000

I am a designer that works at a University. The volume of work that I do is quite large in a given year. I am on a 3 year rotation in getting a new system – currently I have a G5. The computer services area is urging the Intel Imac because they feel the Mac Pro is way more than what I need. I would tend to disagree. It is nothing for me to have a 100m photo to have to manipulate and some of the jobs I produce are 2g files by the time I am done. Bottom line, what can I say to convince them that the Mac Pro is the way to go and discourage the Imac? Thank you.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 00:12:26 +0000

So here I am, a thirty something having spent the last 15 years using Windows OS, working in a Windows OS environment and fixing, installing, building Windows system & saying that “Mac is Crap”, just because I didn’t know any better.

I’ve had my last Intel P4 2.6Ghz, 2.5GB RAM for about 3 years, and I just installed Vista Ultimate on it. It runs like a dog, prompts me everytime I want to install something :-( and has required me to re-install 3 years worth of applications, which I haven’t even come close to finishing. I am tired of Windows and all it’s flaws. I need a change.

I spend +- 4 hours a day surfing the internet, blogging, downloading films, music, photos, editing photos, building websites, msn’ing, socializing etc. I have a top of the range 17″ laptop for ???? (god knows what), since I only rarely use it when I am in bed, or if I want to quickly check email, without having to start my desktop up. It was a waste of money… but hey!

I am into Digital Media in a big way. I have a 1TB NAS drive that holds all the video and audio. I have a XBOX360 in the lounge for gaming and video streaming, and would like to have it all hooked up and working together.

How does the Mac do streaming, networking etc? (Can it do it)?

I hear / read you can install Windows XP / Vista on the Mac – How does this work, and if I were to do that, which system would be better equipped? iMac or Mac Pro?

So finally, which one to go for?

By: Glenn Wolsey

Glenn Wolsey — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 02:27:53 +0000

[quote comment="24695"]Timely discussion. I am torn between ecomnomics of a maxed out 24″ iMac and deep plunge for a quad 2.6 Mac Pro with the Apple cinema display. I’ve been shooting a lot of RAW recently and need to standardize on workflow/storage. Als have a 30 GB iTunes library, and am wondering how efficiently it will run off a firewire drive. It’s a bloatd pig on my current end of life G4.

iMac with cash left over for a nikon lens or 2nd mortgage for a Mac Pro?

Appreciate the feedback.[/quote]

They are two very different machines which suit two different tasks. Want a Mac which will last you years and years? Get a Mac Pro. Want something which will be amazing for the next 2 years? Get either, the iMac or the Mac Pro.

Overall, for value, the iMac looks great, but remember after a few years you’ll be left with a perfect screen which you’ll have to get rid of because the internal elements won’t cut high end work..

We also have a more recent iMac vs Mac Pro post here.

By: Jeff Faubel

Jeff Faubel — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 20:16:36 +0000

Timely discussion. I am torn between ecomnomics of a maxed out 24″ iMac and deep plunge for a quad 2.6 Mac Pro with the Apple cinema display. I’ve been shooting a lot of RAW recently and need to standardize on workflow/storage. Als have a 30 GB iTunes library, and am wondering how efficiently it will run off a firewire drive. It’s a bloatd pig on my current end of life G4.

iMac with cash left over for a nikon lens or 2nd mortgage for a Mac Pro?

Appreciate the feedback.

By: John R Garland

John R Garland — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:34:16 +0000

This is a very good site, my thoughts. Am 63 years old and retired in the Ozarks of MO. Glad own two Macs. 1999 G4 which I have upgraded far as she will go. And a 2000 clam shell laptop. Use DSL and they are both adequate for our uses. Web surfing and email. Everyone I know who has PC’s are always having troubles.Being on a tight budget as a retiree, don’t see us buying anything new for quite awhile. If and when we do have the money we like the 24 inch model.Thanks for the site. John R

By: roy

roy — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 16:56:14 +0000

I just got the imac 24″ are u all saying that i would need a new in two years? I dont do ram hogging things

By: Mackie

Mackie — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 19:31:28 +0000

The problem with the Mac Pro is that it’s so damn expensive. Even the base model costs $2000, and of course, you’d need a monitor with that ($1000) plus extra RAM, and a backup drive, which will drive you up to the $3500 range very quickly.

A MacBook or Mac mini is obviously out of the question here.

The iMac is not a bad machine, but doesn’t it make more sense to get a MacBook Pro and an external display? Same (or better) specs, greater flexibility. Sure it costs more, but all laptops do.

By: johny

johny — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 18:14:34 +0000

Do you think, 2-3GB of ram wont enough for few years?
I’m going to buy a MacBook with 2 gigs of ram, and I want to use It for webdeveloping for next three years…
This will be my first mac, so I don’t is this a good way.

Oh, and sorry for my english.

By: Tiger!

Tiger! — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 09:31:09 +0000

Reading through all these comments I think it is safe to assume that no matter what the ‘rule of thumb’ is when buying a mac, or indeed any computer for that matter it is really going to come down to the end user. I think the comments that ‘desktop computers are becoming obsolete’ are fairly inane. Computer choice is wholly subjective thus there can never be a general rule of thumb.

I think the big downside to imacs is the fact that when you want a faster computer you have to waste a perfectly good screen. To me thats a great waste.

Having enjoyed 2 generations of powerbooks/macbooks, iMacs and Powermacs/MacPros I can honestly say if I had to choose just one it’d be the Powermac with a big display (30″ which I don’t know I ever survived without). Second choice would then be a 15″ MBP + 30″ display and lastly an iMacs.

By: Andre

Andre — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 05:21:49 +0000

Buy a new machine isn’t always so convienient. I’m typically strapped for cash, and it took me a few years to save up for the 15″ 1.83GHz MacBook Pro I’m typing on now. When I got it I figured I’d have it for at least four years, but it turns one this month and it’s already rather obsoleet. It desperatly needs more RAM, and the 1.83GHz part of it already falls into the “low end” category of computers, even though I payed $2300 CDN for the beast. What’s it going to be like in two years? Three years?

If I could do things over, I wouldn’t have bought it. At the time I thought having a laptop would be great, but I’ve found out that I rarely actually take it anywhere. And if I do I don’t have internet access, which makes it nothing more than a 5lb paperweight. I also chose the MacBook Pro for the graphics card, but I’ve found I’ve only run two applications on it that needed it; Call of Duty 2 and Disco. Nowhere near enough to justify the extra $1300 price tag. No, if I could do things over I’d have gotten the higher end Mac Mini and a 23″ Apple Cinema Display. It would have done the exact same things as this machine, but with a larger display for a lower price. Plus, as the time comes you can just upgrade the computer for about $800 CDN, compared to the thousands you would pay to upgrade an iMac or a MacBook Pro because of their displays / mobility. I may fall into the category of iMac as far as your article is concerned, but even that is a bit overblown for me.

[/rant] (it removes anything that looks like HTML, dammit)

By: Glenn Wolsey

Glenn Wolsey — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 07:32:24 +0000

I couldn’t agree more Matt. The “closed computer” idea is very nice, when you want to upgrade, it’s simple. You buy a new machine.

By: Matt Brett

Matt Brett — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 02:47:58 +0000

It really is a tough call with Apple having such a great line of products.

When it was time for me to get a new machine, I bounced back and fourth between the 24″ iMac and a MacBook Pro (with external display for working, etc.) for ages. For me, a big issue is actually removing myself from work. And I figured if I had a portable computer, I’d drag it around with me everywhere I go. Like a few have mentioned above as they’re posting from their couches. That would be no good for me at all.

I also considered the Mac Pro, but having been a PC guy for 10+ years and used to regularly cracking the case to make adjustments, replace parts, etc. – the idea of having a closed computer that I couldn’t really tinker with was massively appealing. So, I ended up with the 24″ iMac and I love the beast.

By: Glenn Wolsey

Glenn Wolsey — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 02:33:22 +0000

I tend to agree with many of you on the portable front, which is why I have my MacBook in addition to an iMac. It’s the perfect machine to use for web browsing, email, and writing when I don’t want to be attached to the desk.

By: alej744

alej744 — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:49:33 +0000

Oh and btw, I hate portables. I’ve been a desktop user for a long time and don’t think I’ll ever change.