Looking into First Desktop

[graydodge14]

Hey guys i currently have a Macbook Pro from 2009. I love the thing and will always be a mac user from here on out. But i am currently wanting a desktop just for the fact i like them and my MBP is running slower so time for a change.

Gonna be using the new computer mainly for college school work, and i do a lot of djing, music production stuff. I am currently thinking of the lower end 27" model.

If i was to go that route surely that would be enough for my needs, and i can always upgrade it correct? Im not to sure on what specs to look for or anything but im really wanting an Imac. So just seeing what my best options are.

 

[Ghost Rider]

First time Mac user and I recently bought the 21.5 entry model and it is plenty good. I use it for video and photo editing, music and to play games. For me the 27 was overkill but I gave it serious considerations.

My friend does pro video editing and has the 21.5 model and just upgrade the ram to 12 gigs and he says it flys and is better than his older Macpro desktop.

 

[graydodge14]

Thanks for the reply, maybe i should do dual 21" entry levels and be good to go. Really like the 27" model but it may be overkill for me too. Ill probably still use my MBP for road use for djing gigs so the Imac would be strictly for home use so the 21" model may be better suited for me.

 

[dtravis7]

The 21.5" will probably be fine for you and you can save a bit of $$$ also!

We can help you here to get your MBP back up to speed also. Glad you are keeping it for mobile usage.

 

[graydodge14]

Thanks for the help, if i went with the lower end 21.5 inch 2.5 ghz model, would that be fast enough for my needs? It would save me about 300 dollars if i went with that model and could i always add an external hard drive for more storage correct?

And with the MBP where would i begin to get it back to running smoothly again? I dont have any of the disk that came with it, i lost them somewhere in between moving from my hometown to college.

 

[harryb2448]

How much free hard drive space is available on there MBP for starters? Needs at least 15% to work anywhere near efficiently. Next download Onyx and run that for cleaning and maintenance. This link provides access to downloads for Lion OS X.7, Snow Leopard OS X.6 and Leopard OS X.5. Make sure you download the correct version. Always helps if you provide your operating system:-


http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/11582/onyx

 

[graydodge14]

Thanks. To be honest, i dont know anything about computers so thats why im here. Im not sure the operating system, i just know i bought it in may 2009 and havent changed or upgraded any software since that time.

I wish i could find all my paperwork for it, but i think its long gone.

 

[Chuckoir]

Thanks for the help, if i went with the lower end 21.5 inch 2.5 ghz model, would that be fast enough for my needs? It would save me about 300 dollars if i went with that model and could i always add an external hard drive for more storage correct?

I would say so. With the $300 you'd be saving, you could bump your ram up to 12gb and get an external HDD for circa $150.

 

[mtwedt]

If you want to view the difference that the 27" screen can make, go to a store and open iPhoto on both side by side. The difference in thumbnails was a seller for me personally. In your case, I would think the 27" would simply be too big on top of a desk for the limited of space most college students seem to have. I would think the entry level model would meet your needs quite well as it contains the quad core processor. I bought the entry level 27" because for what I do on my Mac, I would never be able to appreciate the difference in going much higher on the specs. That said, the only thing you should do is budget for upgrading to the max amount of RAM you can afford and 16GB of DDR3 has become way more affordable. Check out OWC for RAM. Changing it out is simple. I found very nice videos on You Tube for this with my first iMac. It takes 5 minutes and a small screwdriver. About your MacBook running slowly. If you haven't downloaded a housekeeping utility like Onyx, which is free, give that a try. Get rid of the stuff on it that you don't use, rehouse some of the files you don't need frequently to an external HD and then upgrade the RAM on that to the max amount you can afford as well. It isn't any harder to install the on an MacBook except for 3 more little screws. You will need an external hard drive to run Time Machine anyway and those have come down in price significantly as well. Maxing out the RAM will give you the best performance bang for the buck, in my opinion and can be done yourself.

 

[zacster]

I have a 20" iMac and it was plenty big when I bought it. I go into the Apple store or Best Buy and play with the 27" model and I want it, but then I get home and realize the 20" is just fine and that 27" would take up my entire desk.