Apple iMac Vs MacBook Pro 2015: Which Should You Buy?
Apple’s iMac desktop computer Vs their laptop MacBook Pro machine. Which should you buy? It’s a very tough comparison to make. Firstly, because they are two different classifications of machine, you really need to identify whether you’re happy to be bolted to one place when using your Mac or if you want to be able to go mobile. However, it is possible that the MacBook Pro can be docked at your desk for occasional desktop-style usage. I’ll talk about that in a bit later.
The Macbook Pro begins with a slightly older model of the 13-inch version with a 2.5GHz processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive and stock Intel graphics for €1,149 or $1,099. This machine has got some older I/O and includes a DVD superdrive. It’s also sans a retina display.
Moving up the lineup the first 13-inch retina model provides decent specs for €1,349 but its limited storage is a major weakness. The best overall 13-inch MacBook Pro is the €1,549 or $1,499 edition with a dual-core Core i5 2.6GHz CPU, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of flash storage.
The most cost effective 15-inch version is the entry-level version for €2,049, just shy of $2,000. It’s got a quad-core Core i7 Processor and 16GB of RAM. All editions can have their RAM and hard drives configured if you so wish.
The iMac’s 21.5-inch entry-level machine is simply too underpowered to be considered despite its low-cost price of €1,129. The best 21.5-inch model is the €1,549 model.
The 27-inch iMac is the one I recommend however, if you can spec it up with double the RAM and a Core i7 chip for €2,499 you’ve got an excellent machine, although I personally recommend the 3TB SATA drive also.
Remember that the iMac can have its RAM upgraded at a later point if you wish, whereas the MacBook Pro’s RAM is soldered to the motherboard, so you’d better know exactly how much RAM you’ll need in the future. The retina 5K iMac as I mentioned before, isn’t really worth your time considering the GPU is a bit of a bottleneck.
The MacBook Pro obviously has the major advantage of being portable. The retina models are thin and lightweight and aren’t much of a burden when carrying them around. They’ve got plenty of power in them and you can pick up a cheap mouse, keyboard and display anywhere and turn it it into a makeshift Desktop configuration. There’s even docks and stands that you can get to easily transform it into a desktop setting. But don’t buy the mouse, keyboard and display from Apple of course. They’re way too expensive. The iMac is designed as a more long term productivity machine, but you can’t have the best of both worlds. You’re confined to one location when using it.
But it’s important to recognise that the iMac offers significantly more configuration options and way better specs. It can make for an excellent gaming desktop computer, and if you install Windows, your options open up further. I’m a desktop user primarily so I’m a bit biased, but before you decide which machine is right for you, understand the strengths and weaknesses of both machines and the practical benefits they offer.
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