Why did you go for an iMac instead of a MacBook with a monitor?

iMac
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Wade said:
I’m trying to decide between an iMac or a MacBook with an external monitor… What made you pick one over the other?

I used to own MacBook Pros, but when I upgraded, I realized I barely took the computer out of the house. So I bought an M1 iMac three years ago, and I love it. It’s got a beautiful 24-inch 5k screen, and I use it all the time, even to watch TV on my kitchen counter.

22

Wade said:
I’m trying to decide between an iMac or a MacBook with an external monitor… What made you pick one over the other?

At work, an iMac is just easier to use. Start a new job? Just plug it in and use the existing monitor as a second screen. When I’m done, I pack a few cords and move on.

At home, I use a MacBook for mobility.

23

Wade said:
I’m trying to decide between an iMac or a MacBook with an external monitor… What made you pick one over the other?

At home, I’ve got an iMac, a MacBook Pro for traveling, and a Mac mini with an external display at work. The iMac’s display is great, and it wakes up quickly when it’s asleep, which helps me avoid procrastinating. I tried using the Mac mini at home, but the display wasn’t reliable when waking up quickly. I also use the MacBook Pro and iPad for research while working on my iMac.

Edit: The iMac’s screen is fantastic. I’d love to have one for my Mac mini, but it’s not worth the cost when the display aspect ratio doesn’t work with my projector screen.

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Wade said:
I’m trying to decide between an iMac or a MacBook with an external monitor… What made you pick one over the other?

If you already have good monitors or want something like an ultrawide or curved display, the iMac might not be the best fit. We still have a 2015 iMac for casual tasks like school and work, but I use a MacBook Air with a widescreen monitor. I’d recommend the iMac only if you like Apple’s built-in hardware.

25

Wade said:
I’m trying to decide between an iMac or a MacBook with an external monitor… What made you pick one over the other?

When I got my first iMac, the color quality was top-notch, and it still works great to this day. I mostly just need the space that a desktop provides, so I haven’t switched to anything portable.