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April, 2025

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IMac vs. MacBook Pro

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michelle
Posts: 6290 - Karma: 428
I'm really torn right now, so anyone who is in college (preferably a photo major), could you please help?

So I didn't get into my first choice college, but I was told I could go to community college for a year and transfer in as a soph. If I were to do that, I would get an internship with a local photographer for the year I was home, and I would be shooting a lot.

I'm still waiting on my second choice college, SCAD. Yes, it is down in Georgia. Seeing as I'd have to bring down all my stuff, I would think transporting a 24 inch iMac would be quiteeeee the difficult task.

Right now I own an iMac with..

2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme
2GB memory
500GB hard drive1
8x double-layer SuperDrive
ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB memory

I've used only 102 GB, so I'm doing pretty well. I absolutely love the computer. I have about 10,000 photos stored on it, and it runs perfectly. BUT. Having a laptop would be a lot more practical in a way, because then I can bring my photos and everything with me. So I was thinking of purchasing this..

MacBook Pro

2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB memory
200GB hard drive1
Double-layer SuperDrive
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB




Honestly, I don't know anything about computers. All I know is I need a damn good graphics and a shitload of memory. My library of photos will probably double in the next year, so I have no idea what to do. I've heard from many college kids that a laptop is a terrible investment. I have another screen (I'd use with the laptop) and I have more external harddrives than I know what to do with too. So help! Please!! What should I do!
17 years ago
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DRPSET
Posts: 309 - Karma: 44
I'm in a similar predicament except I need a computer for video editing,  I'm already in school and I have to fly to my internship in the summer.  Right now I have a G5 mac pro but I pretty sure I'm going to get a Mac Book Pro.  I honestly think a laptop is the best choice of a college student because It sucks taking your desktop home over breaks,  if you go on trips to shoot you're going to want to put your photos on your computer as fast as possible and there has been several times where I really wanted to bring my computer to classes.  There is reason why you see few college students with desktops and Apple just updated the MBP so its a good time to buy, do it.
17 years ago
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Coter
Posts: 659 - Karma: 31
Same boat...I had the G5...now i have the same macbook pro you have stated...minus the 200gb hardrive all i got is 120...Get an External Hardrive if you need more space...and thats a good enough grahics card..atleast u have 2GB ram which is most imporant..if u got extra cash..bump the ram up and buy an external hardrive...

I love my macbook pro....defn dont miss my imac...it has been great...if ur serious grab a wireless mouse...external hardrive..more ram if u got extra cash to toss around...but seriosuly its all i need...and do not regret shit..i love just chillen out around the house..on the plane..travelling..airports...etc viewing and editting all your ppics whereever you go...

goodluck
17 years ago
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je_te_baise
Posts: 251 - Karma: 10
macbook pro str8 up...
17 years ago
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eastAR5
Posts: 15084 - Karma: 732
somehow make it so you can get both


i have the brand new 24" widescreen imac and its dope as fuck, High-def , super thin , super fast, im glad i got it bascally like having a tv in my room too
17 years ago
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michelle
Posts: 6290 - Karma: 428
I have the same iMac as you, but I can't keep it.

It's either one or the other, which is why I'm so torn!
17 years ago
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.makuma.
Posts: 2258 - Karma: 43
i would def go with the macbook pro..they are really sleek now and my has never been slow.  also, you can get upgrades if you dont have enough memory   etc...
17 years ago
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Xave
Posts: 2672 - Karma: 18
your MBP will have a sickkk video card, so if you're looking for that i'd recommend switching.
Plus its a nice portable computer that you can move, always a plus for school.
And if you said you have a second screen and ext hard drives, dont even hesitate. go MBP
17 years ago
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Literature
Posts: 13673 - Karma: 3,087
I would say get the MBP, as the portablility is really nice.

And if you get a wireless mouse, be careful with the Mighty Mouse. The scroll ball on mine randomly stops working.
17 years ago
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Bentley@DOSMedia
Posts: 1410 - Karma: 1,827
heres what im thinking. Since your just dealing with pictures 2 gigs of ram is enough (and you can always add three). The bummer thing about the MBP is that you can not add on to it much. For storage buying an external hard drive is the simple cure (buy them for backup as well).
I would say go with the MBP, im sitting on one right now and i love it.
Its really convenient too for those times where your flight is delayed several hours and you need something to do.

17 years ago
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mothaeast
Posts: 2923 - Karma: 13
portable>non-portable
17 years ago
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Static
Posts: 8588 - Karma: 4,098
You kids buying top end computers for school work are all a bunch of rich spoiled suckers.
17 years ago
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Xave
Posts: 2672 - Karma: 18
Don't hate, man. If michelle wants to have a "top end" computer, why insult her? And it's not like she's entering high school, she's going to college in photography...chances are, she'll need a "top end" computer in a couple of years when she graduates, and why not have it right now and learn to work with it, doing "school work" that's going to involve dealing with high-quality pictures?
It's not ANY kind of school work, and if she has the money to buy it, why not?
17 years ago
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michelle
Posts: 6290 - Karma: 428
I'm getting a MacBook Pro simply because Aperture and Photoshop won't run on the regular MacBook correctly. I'm not too happy forking up an extra $600 or so bucks just so I can run the programs I need. Learn the whole story instead of assuming things.
17 years ago
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michelle
Posts: 6290 - Karma: 428
And of course, thanks everyone. This really helped, and I think I'm going to go with the laptop. It just seems so much more practical.
17 years ago
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2+2=5
Posts: 3676 - Karma: 18
the laptop is more conveniant for photography and school. but the imac will be a lot faster, and last a lot longer.
17 years ago
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St.Steezy
Posts: 4228 - Karma: 20
The laptop is right choice for post secondary. It makes life way more easier. I couldn't survive without my macbook.

I would honestly recommend you consider the 2.5ghz 15 inch. model. If you can afford it the upgraded video card would be a worthy investment.
17 years ago
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Shpadoinkle
Posts: 10437 - Karma: 85
I went with a MacBook. I shouldn't have done it. I should have gone with the biggest iMac.
17 years ago
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Dick_Squandel
Posts: 737 - Karma: 10
take both when you go away, im taking my 75lb mac pro and my macbook when i go away to school.

you have the best of both worlds.
17 years ago
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sbark
Posts: 300 - Karma: 11
Personally I would suggest the macbook pro. I currently have the newest model and it is fast enough to do pretty much anything I can even dream of.

since you are a photographer if you weren't already I would go with the same spec you said above, coupled with the glossy screen(takes more care but sharper images). also if need be you can get an external hard drive to hook up for extra space. Also if you weren't planning on it (probably are) I would defiantly get aperture, it is easily my favorite photo program after using both mac and windows programs.

but that is just my take. also you can take your laptop to shoots for instant uploads during breaks.


17 years ago
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mackinnon
Posts: 5153 - Karma: 161
i have a macbook pro and i love it. i think what should be your deciding factor is if you want to have a laptop to be able to carry around.

and as for storing media on your computer and needing a lot of space, get an external hard drive. that way if your computer crashes you won't lose your stuff. also, by keeping everything on the external, your computer will run as fast as the day you got it since you won't be clogging it up with photos/vid/music.
17 years ago
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jack_weisman
Posts: 2310 - Karma: 169
i have both, and they are both sick. but the macbook pro is almost as good has my imac, and its much more versatile, so i'd probably go with the macbook
17 years ago
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