Thread

My thing is that at times I have projects I need to leave running, or that are going to be CPU intensive for some period of time yet I still need to be portable. 

So having a setup like above, with a standard DVI based monitor so a two port KVM switch can be used, I can choose between dual monitor for my laptop (my primary, day to day system), or the internal screen on it, and the Mac Mini on the monitor.  All with the option of leaving the Mac Mini to do whatever, download that group of 3.4 gig DVD ISO images I need, or process through a huge file set, or whatever the case may be, while still being able to run out the door at a moments notice with my laptop in hand. 

There are a number of things to be said about having a backup system too in the event something happens to your laptop (stolen/lost on trip, in for repair, tied up for that presentation in the other room for another hour, whatever). 😊

Mac Pros are overkill for web development. Unless you need multiple monitors you should be able to do everything related to web development on an iMac or Macbook. Our studio is full of old-model iMac 24” at around 2Ghz and they all run Photoshop, Illustrator, Textmate, Flash etc. very fast. We even have After Effects and some video editing tools on one of them and it runs fine as well.

The owner and I both have MacBook Pros, and two other employees have MacBooks. My MBP is getting pretty old… the Applecare expires in less than a year. That’s about as long as we push the computers though—about 3 years. Boss just upgraded a couple months ago so in a few months I’ll probably be getting a newer MBP.

Still, I can do everything I need with mine. I’m out of disk space (it only has 120 GB) but I just ordered a new 320 GB 7200 RPM HDD that will solve that problem 😊

My point is that you can get by with a MacBook or iMac, so the only reason you’d buy a Mac Pro is tons of monitors or bragging rights…

The thing I find incredible is that a 2500$ (for the base model) desktop tower ships with an entry-grade video card (the GT120 is just a rebranded 9500 GT and the PC version typically retails for about 50-60€) and 1 640GB harddrive. They must be making a killing on these towers.

I agree that for webdesign the processing power of the current towers is overkill… to me the best value machine in the current line-up is the 24” Imac (2.93GHz with the Radeon 4850 option). I just wish Apple would include a matte screen option, I just can’t stand the glossy displays (a personal preference as I know some people love them).

I’m keeping my 2006 24” iMac as there’s nothing in the current line-up to tempt me to upgrade.
My next Mac might very well be a laptop too 😊

I’m partial to the matte screens too… but I’m on a MacBook Pro. Current machine IS a matte screen, but when I upgrade I’ll lose it (I have a 15” and there’s no matte option for it).

Not really happy about that but I guess I can live with it.

I made the switch from matte to gloss and the glare sucks.  Apple really, really needs to make this optional.

I made the switch from matte to gloss and the glare sucks.  Apple really, really needs to make this optional.

Gloss everywhere. That may be the most disappointing thing to happen since EE 2.0’s delay.

I’m using my wife’s glossy iMac while waiting for a new Mac (haven’t decided what model), and after having used Apple Cinema Displays, both clear plastic and aluminum, for the past six or seven years. The glossy displays are attractive until you get up close to use it for any length of time, then it’s distracting.

My home office has a single light which is behind the iMac, and still there is glare. I recently had cataract surgery and a new lens implanted (highly recommended) and now I can move the screen brightness down to a very low setting of one or two blocks. That helps. I like the vibrant, saturated colors of the LED display, but the gloss has to go.

I don’t mind the glossy, especially not on the iMac displays.  Easier to keep clean and I find it looks nicer as a part of your home and not a messy gadget.  I don’t have any particular vision problems though, so I only notice reflectivity on dark screens, and even then only if I divert my eyes to “look into” the screen to find my reflection.  Heck, I even regularly use my MacBook outdoors in full sun.  Not extremely fun, but still very usable.  If I had to use a notebook outside constantly I’d go for matte, but indoors and definitely on my iMac, I much prefer the glossy.