So my macbook is awesome and all, but it isn't really getting used as a laptop. Thanks to my new job not requiring me to use a laptop and not going to uni this year my macbook spends most of its time hooked up to the 24" dell and an external keyboard and mouse.

So I've been playing with the idea of just getting a desktop and selling the macbook. Except the choice isn't an easy one to make. So I need some help.

$3,319.80 will get me the following:

* 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
* 1GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x512
* 250GB Serial ATA Drive
* NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT 256MB SDRAM
* Apple Wireless Keyboard & Wireless Mighty Mouse + Mac OS X
* 24-inch widescreen LCD
* 2GHz Intel Core Duo
* AirPort Extreme
* Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR

And I can use the 2GB of memory in my macbook to boost the iMacs memory. Also screen spanned with the 24" dell (both just fit on my desk) gives me a whopping 3840x2400 pixels of joy.

$3,639.90 will get me:

* Two 2GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon
* 1GB 667 DDR2 FB DIMM ECC - 2x512
* 250GB Serial ATA 3GB/s drive - 7200rpm
* ATI Radeon X1900 XT 512MB SDRAM
* 1 x SuperDrive
* Airport Extreme & Bluetooth 2.0+ERD
* Apple Wireless Keyboard & Mighty Mouse

A little bit more gets me more graphics grunt, 2 extra cores, a much healthier upgrade path(RAM/HDD/CPU) but half the RAM and half the Pixels...

I spend most of my time either playing with photos, writing code web/apple/windows(via parallels or bootcamp) or doing basic recordings in Garage Band.

I don't do any video editing right now, it's a possibility in the future, a slim one though.

Which way should I go? Have I missed anything in my comparison?

Go the imac

I don't see what you mean by "half the RAM and half the pixels", you say both machines have 1GB, and the 24" Dell would be the same size of the iMac's screen. Do you mean that you'll have 2 monitors with the iMac?

Edit: Opps, just re-read...I must have skimmed over the explanation of RAM and screen.

thats a unfair comparison, you have the mac pro at 512mb graphics card and you get two CPUs in the mac pro.

also, a mac pro isn't $3600... it starts at $3999

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(designers_hub @ Sep 20 2006, 09:05 PM) [snapback]216280[/snapback]</div>According to the Apple Store, selecting the 2.0ghz CPU instead of the 2.66 takes off $499 off the price, which takes it down to $3499.99.

Starts at $3,518.90 with an educational discount.

wow, didn't know you could downgrade the cpu lol

I probably shoud have mentioned that the prices are EDU prices. Since that's what I pay

Seeing that what u do most of the time don't seem to require quad power, i'd recommend going with the iMac. 24" x 2. ooohhhhhh. save a bit of money, get some awesome speakers (or a pair of monitors if ur serious about garageband).