Upgrade Hardware Poll

[jnat88]

I've been planning to update and upgrade my hardware for awhile now. I am still running an old PowerPC (G5) and a MBP from 07. Last week the monitor went out on my desktop, so there is not better time to upgrade.

My issue is what to get. Before I was just thinking to get a Mac Mini since I already had a monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc. But now that my monitor is dead, do I just go with an iMac?

My other thought is to just go with a really nice MB and get rid of the desktop all together. My kids are still little and not in school yet and I do travel quite a bit, so the portability is a plus. But, we also have 2 iPhones and 2 iPads in the house that get used heavily also.

Pluses and minuses to everything! Ideally, if money weren't an issue, I would just get them all and not have to worry about it! But since the budget is currently tight, I thought I would put this out for some ideas. Comments welcome!

 

[ghostface147]

What's your budget?

 

[anon(4698833)]

I like the ease of upgradability on the MBP (non-retina)...the cheap price of internal parts is also a plus. That is what i would go for (if you can afford it). We have an iMac that my wife uses for production projects but i rarely use it at all because i have no need to, my MBP or iPad are always within arms reach at home, and my iPhone is with me 100% of the time.

 

[Fausty82]

Based on the portability issue, I voted for the MBP... however, depending on your budget, the MBA may also be an option - though storage could be an issue as with upgradability... I'd lose the desktop and go with one of the MacBook entries based upon your budget...

 

[jnat88]

Thanks for the thoughts. My budget would be around $1000 or so. I don't mind buying something used or refurbished that's a year or two old either to save some money.

 

[anon(4698833)]

You should definitely be able to get the refurbished i5 MBP from early 2011 within your budget.

 

[CG68]

On that budget I agree on going with the MBP. On Apple's refurb site you can get the 2011 13' i5 4gb/500g for $929 before taxes.

 

[anon(4698833)]

On that budget I agree on going with the MBP. On Apple's refurb site you can get the 2011 13' i5 4gb/500g for $929 before taxes.

And that's actually a better deal because that's the late 2011 model...