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General Discussion

Joe Consterdine
Joe Consterdine
13,965 Points
Posted by Joe Consterdine
Joe Consterdine
13,965 Points

MacBook Pro + External Monitor or IMAC?

I need a new computer to work on web design. I currently have a cheap Acer which is slowly dieing.

Do I get a 13inch MacBook Pro with an external monitor or an IMAC?

Price isn't much of an issue I just wanted to see what people think!

Thanks :)

2 Answers

rydavim
rydavim
18,813 Points
rydavim
rydavim
18,813 Points

It's really going to depend on what you're looking to get from your computer. It might be different for a design person than a developer person.

Personally, I really like my MacBook Pro for the portability. So if it were me, I'd go with the MBP and a monitor. In fact, I have. :)

Sam Cooper
Sam Cooper
502 Points
Sam Cooper
Sam Cooper
502 Points

Hi Joe,

I HIGHLY recommend the macbook + external display combo!

Here's why:

I first started out in web design on a iMac and all was fine, I had an iPad for trips and out and about and thought it was perfect.

Then as business started taking off I felt the need to have access to my work more often, I was wasting time on trains and busses and planes when i could have been earning money rather than watching top gear :-/ (I have since paid for flights simply by doing freelance work on the plane itself!)

I got a macbook and an external display and didn't look back, within two weeks of changing set up I was working on a big contract in London 2 days a week and had an external monitor provided for me by the startup there, If I had not 'levelled up' a few weeks before that job came across my table I don't know how I could have done it.

My agency is now based at a co-working space than I run, I have 12 desks and a great group of people all come into to work, talk, listen to spotify and drink good coffee, we all have external monitors on our desks and bring our laptops in, its def the way to go!

Hope that helps!

Sam