If you had $2500 to buy a MAC. What would you do?

Ok, if you had $2500 to get a Mac what would you get? How would you use the money? Would you buy a 15in Mackbook pro? Would you buy a Macbook with a Monitor? Would you buy an IMac and save some money for lenses? What would you do?

I would buy a Macbook Pro as Macbooks have no dedicated graphic card to support the vibrant colour properly. Also, It takes longer to process as integrated gfx card shares your ram to run.

I'd buy a regular MacBook and save the rest for software, lenses, etc..

I bought the 17 inch macbook pro, 2 GB RAM, you'll LOVE IT. it's amazing. I'd get the 15" macbook pro if you can't get the 17 inch. the portability and status symbol it presents is amazing. the portability mostly, of course. haha. I love it, you will too. I think you'll regret getting the macbook, because you'll always want to know what it's like to have the macbook pro with the metal casing and the higher processor. I think you'll regret getting the imac because I think you'll wish you had the portability - there's absolutely no reason to go with a desktop now unless you REALLY need the tower with a MASSIVE processor and the HUGE screen, the laptops can do most of the same things! AND YOU CAN TAKE THEM ANYWHERE!!!!!

- RE

$1,000 is a lot to pay for the "status" of a MacBook Pro. If you're only doing photography as a hobby a regular MacBook is plenty of machine.

I would get a REFURB mackbook pro from apple.com (when they get it running) and spend the rest on other gear.

Not sure of the price of the Macbook/macbook pro, but I have been doin a lot of research lately. My plans (when I return from deployment in August) is to purchase a Macbod pro and purchase the 30'' cinemad sisplay that apple offers. That way i have a desktop when im home, simply unplug, and i have a laptop for portability. Along with using the 30" as a monitor, it will also be my TV.

If anyone has heard about this method being used, could you please PM me. I am not sure if its gonna work but with the research i have been doing, it seems like it "should" work, but if someone tells me know i would REALLY apprecaiate not to wast the money...lol.. Thanks

I'd get a fully featured 20" iMac since I already have a 12" iBook for my on the go needs. I'm not a computer user that needs a powerful portable computer. I think a decent portable computer capable of doing generic daily tasks paired up with a powerful desktop computer is more versatile for my needs.

Plus a 20" iMac would go well paired up with my Dell 2005FPW.

I own two 17 inch MacBook Pros, one for work (not photography) and the other for my home computer and photography.

They are both excellent computers.

If portability is not an issue, I'd probably go for the iMac with the 23 inch screen. It's a real nice machine.

The cost of the 17 over the 15 is only $200, I believe, which made it a no brainer for me.

As to the question about pairing the 30 inch, even though it's come down about $1200 from its original $3,000 price, it's still quite expensive to use as a TV.

The screen on the MacBook Pros is so good, I gave my daughter my 24 inch Dell Ultrasharp as it was just not needed.

You're better off buying the Panasonic 42 inch plasma which can be had as low as $1200 and use that as a TV. Remember, one drawback to Apple notebooks is the complete lack of docking stations. I have five plugs plugged into mine, and it's a real PIA to unplug them and replug them in whenever I want to move it.

mark

Oh yeah, I am going to be in the photography program at the University of Central Florida this August. I have me gen eds out of the way, so I am starting into photography. This will be my job after I get my degree. Hopefully before I finish as well.

feel free to flame me for this, but for $2500 you could get two PCs, each just as good as the Mac.

It ok. I am tired of PCs I have been wanting a Mac for some time now. I am willing to pay the extra for less headache on my part.

hell, for $1500 you could build a top of the line intel rig, get a nice 23-24" lcd, and have a grand left for a lens/other goodies

24inch iMac and stuff it full of ram.You'll have money left over.

EOS MAN1 wrote in post #3211561
Oh yeah, I am going to be in the photography program at the University of Central Florida this August. I have me gen eds out of the way, so I am starting into photography. This will be my job after I get my degree. Hopefully before I finish as well.

Better be Daytona Campus 'cause the Orlando one sucks. I went there for that. Gave up 'cause it was bad!!! Besides, a degree in photography means little with nothing to show for it. I'm right there now. Instead I'm about to shoot weddings, portraits, and who knows what (they haven't given me the offcial details) 'cause of background.

Obviosuly not a problem for you, but one reason I dind't go was 'cause all they used was Mac's. Nice ones though. Very top of the line.