What to buy?

Shabadu

Dear lazyweb,

Both household iBooks dead. Buying something new. Was going to go for a shiny PC at some stage for Spore, but figure by the time it's released we'll have flying cars and household robot slaves, so I'll stick with Mac.

Please help me choose one of the following options:

1) Wait a few weeks and buy one of the new iMacs.

Pros: We have a kid, so having a stationary computer in family area will become an issue in the next few years.

Cons: Less handy than laptop. Might have a buttload of teething problems. (Maybe not though, seeing as it's an 'upgrade' rather than a total rework.)

2) Buy a Macbook Pro.

Pros: Handy for travel, moving house, both of which we'll be doing a lot of this year.

Cons: Very easy for toddlers to throw/drop accidentally. (Hence the two dead iBooks)

3) Buy a Mac Mini and a big Dell monitor.

Pros: If we ever want a big clever PC we'll have a monitor to throw it right onto.

Cons: Not that much of a price difference between a 24" Dell monitor + Mac Mini + mouse + keyboard and a 20" iMac.

K.O.Kiki

In this case: definitely iMac, at least until the kids grow up

Plus, you'll be able to play Spore on it in some way, I'm sure (even if it means installing Windows)
*edit* Also, a friend of mine vouches that the iMac isn't that hard to travel with -- just keep the original box, the setup shouldn't take you more than a few minutes each time.

Shabadu

That is a possibility. I will conveniently blame my stupidity on the fact that I'm a parent. =D

Oriel

Simple - with kids about, don't buy a laptop.
Go for iMac - it's a great machine, without the worry of keyboard spilage.
The new iMacs will be more than a few weeks, so just go with one now.

What is it going to be mainly used for?
I mean - why a Macbook Pro, as opposed to a Macbook?
As Kiki (awkward username!) said, an iMac is little difference to a laptop when it comes to moving house - power lead - machine - ok keyboard and mouse, boo hoo.

Shabadu

Oriel wrote:

The new iMacs will be more than a few weeks, so just go with one now.

I was speaking to one of the guys in a Mac store over here (Vancouver) and he said they'll be available the 1st week in August.

I mean - why a Macbook Pro, as opposed to a Macbook?

A bit faster, higher res screen, better graphics card etc.

It's not necessarily the physical act of moving it, it's just that it'd be handy for entertaining the kid on planes/trains.

Sad Professor

Yep, definitely wait for the imac, new ones are due in August sometime.

babypink

Shabadu wrote:

Pros: If we ever want a big clever PC

PC clever? :rolleyes: ...i'll say no more


Yeah man, wait a little bit and go for a shiny (metal) iMac. Should be worth it I rekon.

Urban Weigl

Considering the toddler, I would recommend the 20" iMac. Absolutely fantastic piece of gear, and there's no reason to "buy a PC" since it runs Windows too, if you ever needed to do that.

K.O.Kiki

Shabadu wrote:

It's not necessarily the physical act of moving it, it's just that it'd be handy for entertaining the kid on planes/trains.

If that's what you're worried about -- get them a Gameboy Advance micro (if you can still find one - best check e-tailers) or, better yet, a portable DVD player. Hours of fun!