MacPro vs. iMac Questions

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pcbogertpcbogert
Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited January 2014
I'm close to buying a mac, and was leaning toward a 20" iMac but have been thinking about getting a 15" MacPro instead. The screen on the iMac is incredible, and most of my computer use is at my desk. However I have a few questions:



1. Are any of you using the MacPro as a desktop replacement?

2. Does the glossy screen of the MacPro compare favorably to the iMac?

3. Is there any problem using USB hubs? I need to plug four USB devices.



Thanks for your help!

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 8
    backtomacbacktomac Posts: 4,579member
    The Macbook Pro ( the only Mac with a 15" screen) only has 2 USB ports. You need to decide if you want a portable computer or would be haapy with a desktop. Once you do that the choices are easy as Apple's offers are pretty distinct and it's easy to find the model that fits your needs. What do plan on doing with your Mac?
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  • Reply 2 of 8
    pcbogertpcbogert Posts: 6member
    I currently use to machines. I work 95% of the time on my desktop (Dell), but I use a laptop (Gateway) for projecting sermon notes, etc. on Sunday morning. I also use my laptop if I am away to stay in touch with my email, do work, etc.



    I would envision that if I purchased an iMac, I would still be able to transfer files to the MacPro (using MS Office or a mac equivalent). I'd have used my current laptop as my desktop, but I need more than the 2 USB ports and I'm not sure I like having to type regularly on the laptop keyboard. It's just not as big or full-featured. Yet it is obvious that people use their laptops for daily work, so it can't be that hard to learn.



    Thanks for your answer.
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  • Reply 3 of 8
    wircwirc Posts: 302member
    A few things:



    1. The MacBook Pro is the high-end laptop. The Mac Pro is a desktop tower aimed at the highest-end users. You probably do not need a Mac Pro.

    2. It sounds like you might prefer the MacBook Pro, rather than the iMac, because it would be easier to take around, and you wouldn't have to worry about incompatible files on the Gateway. The iMac has better specifications for the value, but it sounds like most of the activities won't see a performance hit on the MacBook Pro.

    3. The glossy screen is for looking at videos and graphics on the screen, but can make it harder to see in bright lights. It is optional. You can get the matte one, which is better if you are using it all kids of places.

    4. I recommend getting a stand like the iCurve for the laptop and a separate keyboard and mouse, especially the wireless Apple options, which are integrated into the software. This will solve most of your problems for unfamiliarity with laptops.

    5. There are plenty of other kinds of ports on the MacBook Pro, which you should look up, since many of them duplicate or exceed the function of USB 2.0. But you can still get a USB hub if you need them all plugged in at once, or, if you get the wired Apple Keyboard, it comes with two low-power USB hubs. These are fine for a mouse, printer, or camera, but not for anything with a dock or an iPod.

    6. Get iWork, and use Keynote to make those presentations much cleaner, clearer, and prettier. Pages will also read most MS Word files. It does not have an Excel equivalent.

    7. You can actually use your MacBook Pro as an external Hard Drive with firewire, by restarting it and holding down the "t" key as it boots up, or you can just send it via Bluetooth or a flash drive. But you need to get Bluetooth on the iMac to do this.
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  • Reply 4 of 8
    hi_qhi_q Posts: 31member
    I currently have a 17 inch iMac, and I LOVE IT. I cannot stay away from it - and have considered getting a 24 inch iMac once I come across some extra cash. However, within the next month, I plan on making a purchase of a MacBook Pro 15 inch to allow me mobility. I plan on keeping them both, and using both frequently.



    iMacs come built in with BlueTooth as a little bell and whistle. Face it, iMacs are one of the most versatile machines out there. Im not speaking biased, because I have worked on all different machines before, and I have found the iMac to be the most enjoyable of them all.
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  • Reply 5 of 8
    pcbogertpcbogert Posts: 6member
    Well, I ordered the 20" iMac. I appreciate what is being said about the portability factor, but that is not the most important thing. I am wondering, though, given what one person posted about getting iWork, what people use for a spreadsheet. I have read that iWork 2007 will have one, but what are non-MS Office people using??
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  • Reply 6 of 8
    backtomacbacktomac Posts: 4,579member
    I caved in and got MS office. There is open office for the Mac and Tables.
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  • Reply 7 of 8
    galleygalley Posts: 971member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by pcbogert View Post


    Well, I ordered the 20" iMac. I appreciate what is being said about the portability factor, but that is not the most important thing. I am wondering, though, given what one person posted about getting iWork, what people use for a spreadsheet. I have read that iWork 2007 will have one, but what are non-MS Office people using??



    An Apple Sales Consultant assured me that iWork '07 would include a spreadsheet app; YMMV.
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  • Reply 8 of 8
    rextraverserextraverse Posts: 72member
    NeoOffice is a very good alternative to Office. It's basically a Mac-native version of OpenOffice, designed to integrate with OSX better and uses an Aqua interface. It also has the benefit of not needing X11, which is how OpenOffice works under OSX.



    I've found NeoOffice a decent crutch. I absolutely need MS Office (and I'm running 2003 in Parallels), but until a UB version of Office comes out, it's been working out alright.
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