iMac and Macbook Pro with retina

[Rottie]

I already have a 8 months old Mid 2012 rMBP 15 inches base model and I am thinking about getting a 2013 27 inches base model iMac. The purpose of iMac is for videophone/Facetime and Final Cut Pro X video editing and Photoshop CS6 touch up work. I know my rMBP is capable of doing those apps.

Do you think it is silly to get an iMac if you already have a good rMBP?

 

[Rottie]

By the way, I assume an iMac is not memory upgradable?

 

[TreVader]

I believe the iMac memory is upgradable. If you need the extra screen real estate and have the money I don't see any problems with an iMac and a rMBP, although both are very capable of using CS6 and Final Cut.

 

[Tweak155]

I wouldn't waste my $$ but that's me. If you're going to buy the iMac, just know it's because you WANT one, not because you NEED one

 

[Rottie]

Alright thanks everyone I think I will go ahead and order high end Mac Pro!

 

[kbp]

Just buy a 24-27 inch monitor and plug it into the rMBP. (Best of both worlds.)

 

[Rottie]

kbp ok which 27 inches monitor?

 

[saratoga172]

kbp is likely referring to this one:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC...-inch?fnode=53

We have a couple at work and they look amazing. Very clean, crisp picture and haven't noticed any issues with them. They have a glossy screen so you won't want reflections in the room but it looks good. You can really use any 27-30 inch 1440p or 1600p monitor that has displayport though. Just get a mini displayport to displayport cable and save some money on another brand. The Apple monitors just have full compatibility for cables and such. They allow you to charge the laptop off it. Pretty cool.

 

[BuCkDoG]

I would save the money as well Just get an external monitor and run it that way if your just looking for screen real estate. As you mentioned you already have a rMBP and know its definitely capable of this so just get an external and enjoy.

 

[Rottie]

After watching YouTube videos I think I might try use my 2009 22 inches monitor for my rmbp but it has DVI and VGA port I don't how it will affect rmbp's thunderbolt performance?

 

[saratoga172]

You'll just need to pickup a Mini DisplayPort to dvi adaptor. Just watch out for the max res they can output. I'd assume a 22 inch monitor is either 1600x900 or 1600x1050. Should support those. As for thunderbolt performance it's pretty much end of line. Not sure if you can leach that off something else, you'll need pass through for that which a lot of devices support. But if it's solely the monitor you should be fine.

 

[vbuggy]

Personally, when I need to use a Mac I configure it for what it ultimately is - a looks-first trinket, so I don't like having multiple cables strung out of the rMBP's. Sure it's capable of doing what you need, but an iMac will:
a) take up less space on a desk than an rMBP + Thunderbolt display as well as look tidier
b) Look considerably tidier than a third party monitor + rMBP.

You get a desktop CPU with an iMac - however the bottom-feeder 27" model is probably only as powerful as your bottom-feeder rMBP15" from 2012. Add to that the fact that cooling isn't necessarily any better for intensive duties than an rMBP - my 12 & 13 iMacs idle significantly higher than any (even far more powerful) desktop I own, bar the XPS 27 - which are comparable machines and run only slightly cooler, but obviously in Windows I don't have to make a casual-kitchen-use-grade computer a working PC, but rather leave'em where they belong.

The memory is the only thing you can upgrade on an iMac.

But if you're going to get an iMac, I'd get something that would be an improvement on the notebook, i.e. not the bottom-feeder.