Replace iMac with Macbook Pro + Dock?
Discussion
We've had an IMac in one form or another for the last 9 years. Current one is a 2012 i5 27"'er.
Its main uses are general business admin type stuff (excel, email, word etc), photo editing and occasionally video editing. It's been spruced up along the way with 32gb of RAM and a big SSD.
Alongside that we have a 2013 13" macbook pro. That gets used for work tasks, web stuff and a bit of photo editing away from home.
The iMac is still great for most stuff but very slow now for editing large photos and really challenging for video.
Starting to look at replacements. A new 'basic' imac seems to be around £2k but I'd want to add an SSD to that, probably go for a higher end graphics card and up the standard 8gb RAM a fair bit. Would guess that would end up nearer £3k, which is a lot.
I'm pondering whether we should consider a higher end MPB instead and dock it to an external monitor most of the time. On the face of it, once I've bought a monitor, a dock and a laptop, it's probably a bit more expensive for slightly worse spec but it would have the advantage of being multi purpose so might be justified.
I think my main worry is just how 'desktop' like the user experience is when working from a dock. Can it just be woken from the keyboard / mouse? and basically sit there unopened until you need to take it somewhere?
Its main uses are general business admin type stuff (excel, email, word etc), photo editing and occasionally video editing. It's been spruced up along the way with 32gb of RAM and a big SSD.
Alongside that we have a 2013 13" macbook pro. That gets used for work tasks, web stuff and a bit of photo editing away from home.
The iMac is still great for most stuff but very slow now for editing large photos and really challenging for video.
Starting to look at replacements. A new 'basic' imac seems to be around £2k but I'd want to add an SSD to that, probably go for a higher end graphics card and up the standard 8gb RAM a fair bit. Would guess that would end up nearer £3k, which is a lot.
I'm pondering whether we should consider a higher end MPB instead and dock it to an external monitor most of the time. On the face of it, once I've bought a monitor, a dock and a laptop, it's probably a bit more expensive for slightly worse spec but it would have the advantage of being multi purpose so might be justified.
I think my main worry is just how 'desktop' like the user experience is when working from a dock. Can it just be woken from the keyboard / mouse? and basically sit there unopened until you need to take it somewhere?
If you're looking to consolidate the Macbook and iMac into a single device it probably makes sense.
However, if you're current iMac has 32Gb RAM you're probably going to need similar in a replacement Macbook... which will be big $$$ on a Macbook and it's worth remembering you cannot upgrade the RAM in a Macbook, or the HDD for that matter.
So you will need to spec that up to the eyeballs to futureproof that decision.
Not the answer you are looking for, but something to consider.
However, if you're current iMac has 32Gb RAM you're probably going to need similar in a replacement Macbook... which will be big $$$ on a Macbook and it's worth remembering you cannot upgrade the RAM in a Macbook, or the HDD for that matter.
So you will need to spec that up to the eyeballs to futureproof that decision.
Not the answer you are looking for, but something to consider.
Gad-Westy said:
I think my main worry is just how 'desktop' like the user experience is when working from a dock. Can it just be woken from the keyboard / mouse? and basically sit there unopened until you need to take it somewhere?
I have an Apple Thunderbolt Display with an older style Macbook Pro, it just sits there working as a desktop, everything plugs into the screen then its one thunderbolt cable and one power connector to the Macbook.
The only thing you have to do is put it to sleep when you are not using it, to wake up, move the mouse or hit a key.
Gad-Westy said:
I think my main worry is just how 'desktop' like the user experience is when working from a dock. Can it just be woken from the keyboard / mouse? and basically sit there unopened until you need to take it somewhere?
Yes it will work like that, although there is not really a dock like you might get for a thinkpad or something.Another option is to keep it open and use it as a second display.
Freakuk said:
If you're looking to consolidate the Macbook and iMac into a single device it probably makes sense.
However, if you're current iMac has 32Gb RAM you're probably going to need similar in a replacement Macbook... which will be big $$$ on a Macbook and it's worth remembering you cannot upgrade the RAM in a Macbook, or the HDD for that matter.
So you will need to spec that up to the eyeballs to futureproof that decision.
Not the answer you are looking for, but something to consider.
Wasn't necessarily to consolidate both although I can certainly see beneifts in having the 'main' computer a bit more portable. Probably more of a value for money thing. Not sure I need loads of RAM. Current iMac is stuffed full but it's really only because it was one of the few things I could upgrade to drag its life out a bit. Not sure we see much benefit from it generally. But I guess 16gb would be a minimum. However, if you're current iMac has 32Gb RAM you're probably going to need similar in a replacement Macbook... which will be big $$$ on a Macbook and it's worth remembering you cannot upgrade the RAM in a Macbook, or the HDD for that matter.
So you will need to spec that up to the eyeballs to futureproof that decision.
Not the answer you are looking for, but something to consider.
TheRainMaker said:
Gad-Westy said:
I think my main worry is just how 'desktop' like the user experience is when working from a dock. Can it just be woken from the keyboard / mouse? and basically sit there unopened until you need to take it somewhere?
I have an Apple Thunderbolt Display with an older style Macbook Pro, it just sits there working as a desktop, everything plugs into the screen then its one thunderbolt cable and one power connector to the Macbook.
The only thing you have to do is put it to sleep when you are not using it, to wake up, move the mouse or hit a key.
gregs656 said:
Gad-Westy said:
I think my main worry is just how 'desktop' like the user experience is when working from a dock. Can it just be woken from the keyboard / mouse? and basically sit there unopened until you need to take it somewhere?
Yes it will work like that, although there is not really a dock like you might get for a thinkpad or something.Another option is to keep it open and use it as a second display.
Gad-Westy said:
Cheers. Would I be right to assume that on a new MBP, everything can be done through a single USB-C cable including power or is that wishful thinking?
I have a macbook rather than a macbook pro which only has 1 usb-c connector. I have an LG 4k external monitor with usb ports and speakers. I have a full size windows style desktop usb keyboard connected and a bluetooth mouse, single usb-c to the macbook and everything works fine.Apparently you have to choose the monitor carefully as not all work properly with macs and power, this is the monitor I chose
https://www.amazon.co.uk/LG-27UK850-Adjustable-Dis...
Gad-Westy said:
Cheers. Would I be right to assume that on a new MBP, everything can be done through a single USB-C cable including power or is that wishful thinking?
Yes, provided the dock has power pass-thru with at least 87W (for the 15"). Decent quality docks with a lot of ports (like this OWC job) can be expensive - depends how many USB-C/thunderbolt devices you want to connectI have been through this pain and only last month bought a mid range 2019 Imac from John Lewis.
I worked out that it was pretty much the same to buy a Macbook Pro as a 3.1ghz i5 27inch imac.
I bought my imac with a fusion drive and 8gb ram on the basis I already had a 1tb Samsung T5 SSD and I could actually upgrade the ram myself with a 27" imac.
I bought the latest 2019 iMac for £1699, the 1tb TF ssd was about £130 and I have only today put in a 16gb ram kit from Crucial, making a total of 24gb Ram for £64+ VAT.
I have velcroed the SSD drive to the back of the stand and used a USB C connector. Operating system is on the fusion drive apart from my home folder with all the apps which is on the SSD drive.
The machine absolutely flies.
Boots up in around 23 secs and uses about 9gb memory with a few apps running with no swap file usage.
Very pleased, especially with a second monitor. I got a Samsung 4K 28" monitor for about £175 which tthe iMac can run at a high res.
The thing that put me off a macbook was small screen, faffing with connectors and docking stuff, still would need a keyboard and mouse etc etc. I would love a macbook as well, but in the end the imac won.
I worked out that it was pretty much the same to buy a Macbook Pro as a 3.1ghz i5 27inch imac.
I bought my imac with a fusion drive and 8gb ram on the basis I already had a 1tb Samsung T5 SSD and I could actually upgrade the ram myself with a 27" imac.
I bought the latest 2019 iMac for £1699, the 1tb TF ssd was about £130 and I have only today put in a 16gb ram kit from Crucial, making a total of 24gb Ram for £64+ VAT.
I have velcroed the SSD drive to the back of the stand and used a USB C connector. Operating system is on the fusion drive apart from my home folder with all the apps which is on the SSD drive.
The machine absolutely flies.
Boots up in around 23 secs and uses about 9gb memory with a few apps running with no swap file usage.
Very pleased, especially with a second monitor. I got a Samsung 4K 28" monitor for about £175 which tthe iMac can run at a high res.
The thing that put me off a macbook was small screen, faffing with connectors and docking stuff, still would need a keyboard and mouse etc etc. I would love a macbook as well, but in the end the imac won.
Edited by andygo on Friday 9th August 13:43
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