Help, cant decide between (Mac content)

darius

Updating the ancient iMac, literally at a procrastination-nondecision over:

Refurb iMac 27" 2017 - does everything, big screen, not portable

Refurb MBP15" 2017 - portable, medium screen, has the butterfly keyboard

New MPB13" M1 2021 - portable, small screen, would need a desk screen and a hub for ports

All the same £1400ish machine budget, extra screen would make the MBPs more £

Planning on running Logic, FinalCut

Head says desktop, internet says avoid MBP2017 keyboard, Apple says YouDontNeedABigScreenOrUSBPorts. But maybe i'll miss the portable-ness. Record stuff away from the home desk.

therefore....?

hollywoodrox

There are some reasonable priced ultra wide monitors available for £200 and less if you can get a good deal on the MacBook 

77ric

If it helps any, I have a MBP15” 2017 and the keyboard really isn’t that bad, and it’s certainly far better than the internet wisdom suggests.  

darius

yep, and this is why I am flip flopping between MBP+screen and iMac. I'm guessing a laptop would end up being used 90% as a desktop, but then that 10% would be fun to play with.

Danny1969

I would be careful of spending a fair bit of money on a refurb, all the laptops past the 2015 / 2016 ish years are basically a bit prone to various faults which are expensive to fix. The iMac is generally pretty good but even that needs the screen debonded and removed to replace the HD which will fail at one point. 

I would go for a new M1 Macbook with Apple care and a large monitor. Get the longest warranty you can, as some repairs simply aren't possible anymore on the latest boards ... you can't actually buy certain chips used because Apple have told suppliers not to sell them to anybody. 

spark240

Surely the M1 Pee's all over the others for performance no?

Stratavarious

New chip...  years more lifespan