Worth It?

[EcHoFiiVe]

I was just wanting some outside opinions about this. My family only has laptops, we all use MacBooks, so I only have access to my laptop, and nothing more powerful. I am really big into video editing and image stuff using programs like Adobe After Effects and Photoshop, but my laptop just can't handle all those programs. It is not built for that kind of constant high processing power use. So recently I was thinking about buying an iMac to do all of this stuff on. The cheapest iMac being 1200$. Does anyone think this is worth it? I just can't do big projects on my laptop anymore, because it doesn't have the memory/speed to handle it.

 

[thiosk]

If you are a purely mac person, you don't really have other options.

You can probably do a fully-photoshop-functional computer for much better than 1200, parted together from a site like newegg.

Hell, my uber-megagaming computer was parted together for far less than 1200, and i went buck wild with some of the components, like the 1000 watt power supply.

But those are PCs.

 

[smearyllama]

Yes, it's an apple product.
I've never used a mac before, but from what I've heard, go for it.

Also, welcome to the escapist.

29th, let's go!

 

[Sleekgiant]

Build a PC from Newegg for less than a grand, install hacintosh, STOP WASTING MONEY.

 

[EcHoFiiVe]

Build a PC from Newegg for less than a grand, install hacintosh, STOP WASTING MONEY.

I was asking whether or not it would be worth buying a whole new computer for this purpose. Not for your opinions on Macs...

 

[Sleekgiant]

Build a PC from Newegg for less than a grand, install hacintosh, STOP WASTING MONEY.

I was asking whether or not it would be worth buying a whole new computer for this purpose. Not for your opinions on Macs...

Well its obvious you need a new computer if your old one can't do what you need, correct? Now I'm saying its much cheaper to make a hacintosh computer than buy an iMac

Not only will the custom built one be faster, but it will last as long, if not longer since you can upgrade it easily.

 

[Sightless Wisdom]

Your going to get a lot of "BUY A PC!!!!11!!1!!" I'm going to tell you that buying a PC is cheaper. That's it.

You should definitely buy a new computer if your laptop can't handle what you want to do, if you want to spend more money than is necessary and buy a Mac desktop, go right ahead. If you want something that works equivalent to how much it costs, build a PC.

 

[DiMono]

If you need a new computer to do what you want to do, then you need a new computer. Whether getting an iMac just because it's what your family has is the best choice is another topic entirely. Personally, I think you should get the best system for your purposes, and if that ends up being a PC rather than a Mac, so be it. And if it ends up being a Mac, same thing.

 

[Infinatex]

Go for the iMac. It's what you are used to and they are great for design and video editing. To build a PC with identical specs would cost around $850. (+ then to buy software) I knew these facts when I got my iMac and still opted for the Apple because ultimately it was what I wanted and saving a few hundred dollars didn't change that.

In short just go for what you really want or else you will always be thinking about it.

 

[Blue_vision]

I'd say yes. Though, if you're a laptop person, and depending on how old your Macbook is, would a Macbook Pro not work simply as a replacement laptop? They have tonnes of memory, I think on par with the Imac, but in convenient laptop format.

Though if you need it to do what you do, I'd say it's a worthwhile investment.

 

[newwiseman]

Not Worth It,

All the production software that is cross platform like the adobe suite looks exactly the same on windows. Buy a desktop, for under 1700 you can build a AMD hex-core system with 3Gb dedicated video 3Tb of storage and 8GB of RAM. Solid for gaming and better for video editing.

The only downside is if you want Final Cut Pro for video editing. But you'd need a 2000$ Macintosh Tower minimum for Final Cut Pro not to hammer your machine while multitasking. Having used all the big named tools I'll say it's the best for straight video, Premier is still too buggy. If your focusing on the audio (not the music) then ProTools beats out Digital Performer, and has a solid video editor... back on topic buy a pc. Graphic designers love macs, not sure why anymore (old reasons no longer valid), but the production side of things has always and will always be pc dominated because of the cost/performance ratio. Furthermore all the best suites are cross-platform. Just make sure to buy an anti-virus program; or if your ISP provides one use it.

 

[newwiseman]

*double post