New Computer Poll

[nicolewi]

I desperately need a new computer that I will order soon and I keep flip-flopping on which direction to go.

I have a desktop Mac and I like it; it works for me. I really don't need portability often as mostly I just surf internet, email, etc, but I don't know if it would come in handy for some reason in the future. The only thing I can think of is that right now I need to make a photo book for my parents' anniversary and it would be nice to work on it while out of town...but if organized enough, I could upload the photos and do the rest from an iPad anyway. Other than that, all I can really think of are things like updating a few spreadsheets I have, but nothing major at all. 

Keep it simple and just get the iMac and have one clean set-up? Or get the MacBook in case I'm missing some reason I would end up wanting the portability?? And have to buy cords/external monitor and set that up?

Specs are similar and price is similar.

[VillainV]

I have a MacBook Air because we are Apple people and it’s easier to just have everything talk to each other. When I need to do actual work, I take it upstairs to our “office” and connect to an external monitor. When I’m just messing around checking email or whatever, I just use it on my laptop in the living room. My previous Air lasted about 10 years, and I’ve been using this one for about 2-3 years. I like that I have the option to use it portably, and the option to use it with externals if I want a real monitor or keyboard. I will say it’s a little bit of a pain only having two USB-C ports, so if I’m using a monitor and external keyboard, I can’t also be charging it.

If you get the MacBook, you can probably use it with the monitor and keyboard you already have? Cables are not really a big deal (you may need a few that adapt to USB-C, but those are easy to find).

[Aloe Vera]

Get a laptop and a docking station. That way, you’ll have the convenience of a desktop when plugged to the docking station and if you need the portability, you’ll have that option too.

ETA: this is basically my setup at home. I just need to unplug 1 cable when I need to use the laptop as a laptop. I leave it closed when at my office because the screen resolution is different from my 2 monitors.