Which way to go?

[MrScorpio]

I'm about get a new Apple...

I've pretty much figured out what I'm going to get. But I'm going to let you into my thought process. These are the choices:

An iMac: It does everything that I'm going to ask it to.. Judging from the amount of time I've had my current iMac, I'm probably going to get a good six years of use out it before I have to replace it.

A Macbook Pro: It would, be pound for pound, more expensive than the iMac. Plus a laptop won't last as long as a desktop iMac, but the key advantage would be portability and a smaller footprint. However, I don't plan to lug a computer with me wherever I go.

A Mac Pro: The bigger desktop model. More expandable, versatile and is more amenable to upgrades than to configure than the other two. However, I'd have to add on a microphone and the camera, if I wanted them, they'd already be in the other two. I need a mic for my show. Now for the price that I can get one, this puppy will last a very long time.

I'm going with the iMac.

Tell me why I'm right or wrong

[qnr]

1. That sounds strange. Certainly obtaining a camera and mic can't be that hard or

expensive. But what do I know, I'm pretty much strictly alternative OS, so maybe they are.

Edit: Voted other since I don't feel qualified to make a recommendation - though if you held a water gun to my multi-outlet strip, I'd probably vote for the Mac Pro.

[hermaphroditos]

2. just get a cheaper PC and install a linux distro on there like ubuntu.

because ... it's all free! :D

[begin_within]

3. How much traveling do you do and what are your main uses for the computer?

[MrScorpio]

4. I don't travel at all

And the iMac would be used mostly for doing music and talking to all you guys on DU

[begin_within]

7. So then your Mac will never move,

so that rules out the laptop, unless you really want to go to coffee houses and sit there with your Mac. Music doesn't require as powerful of a processor as video does, the data rate for music is much less. So, the iMac instead of the Power Mac. The new iMac is plenty powerful, so you could still do video. You could even get by with just buying a Mac Mini. Then you would be able to run both Mac and PC software. But that new iMac is pretty impressive and about what I paid for an eMac 5 years ago.

[quakerboy]

5. Like the other response, how hard/expensive is it to get a mic and cam?

I would imagine the included ones are not superb quality, which means you might actually be better off getting aftermarket ones. Plus versatility is sometimes handy. If you are planning for about 6 years use, that upgradeablity could end up being key, depending on what comes down the pike.

And if you are wanting longevity, a laptop may not be your best choice. Particularly if you don't care so much about portability and do care about price.

Why Apple in particular?

[MrScorpio]

6. I've been a Mac User since '94, I'm not planning on changing that

BTW, I didn't mention the extra cost of a decent flatscreen monitor with the Mac Pro

At least the iMac is all in one.

[quakerboy]

8. Flat screens aren't all that spendy

When my computer and monitor were taken, I got a great deal on a 24 inch LCD to replace it. Damn near as big as my TV, and better quality. Plus, the flip side of that is that if anything happens to the monitor(burned pixels, gesture and toss a pen into the screen, cracking it), or if you just want an upgrade at some point, you can replace that easily with the pro, where I feel certain it is harder with the integrated screen.

Going to the mac-store, On top of not wanting the portability, the macbook costs as much as the imac, and in my experience has less likelihood of lasting as long (laptops and heat issues go hand in hand, in my experience), so I would mark that off from the start

From the macstore,
Imac runs 1199 to 1999.
Mac pro runs 2499 to 3299

So your Imac is actually less expensive. But it ain't as fancy. I think the cost of a screen is less than the price difference between the computers.

What do you do on the music level? Internet use isnt all that demanding, some music can be more so, by my understanding. Do you expect that your use needs will remain constant for the next 6 years that you expect to have this computer?

I guess it comes down to whether you expect that the Imac will do what you need for as long as you need it too, or whether you think your needs may increase in the future enough to justify the greater expense of a computer with greater capacity. And only you can really venture a guess at what your future holds.

[Sebastian Doyle]

9. Hackintosh

Build your own PC and run Mac OS on it.

http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

[HopeHoops]

10. Get a Mac Mini. It has plenty of power and a small footprint.

The new ones apparently come with a second monitor port. Mine only has one.

[ROFF]

11. You mentioned 'my show'

Would the built-in mic on the iMac have the quality that you need? How do you feel about the reflectivity of the iMac screen? Some people prefer a matte screen over the glossy screen.

Do you have an Apple Store or Reseller near you? Hands on, if only for a few minutes, might help.