MacBook or iMac?

I'm unable to make up my mind on this one... I don't know whether to sell my MacBook and buy an iMac, or just keep the MacBook

If you had the choice between a MacBook (plastic one) or iMac, which would you choose? My MacBook is early 2008, 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 250GB HD, 2GB RAM, Superdrive.

OK - first of all

make a list of just WHY you want to replace your MacBook - this does also mean why you want to spend money at this time.

Now I've seen everything- a woman querying someone's motive for spending money .

Seriously... if I had to choose between my iMac and Macbook (aluminium version), and assuming portability wasn't a factor, the iMac would win by a street.

Display size and I/O ports being the major factors in that.

But his MacBook is a plastic one

He needs good reasons to discard a perfectly good working MacBook [ he can't say he wants rid of it because it is cracked - it's got a new topcase :) ]

He should list the pros and cons of each .

I'd love a unibody MacBook BUT - do I actually NEED one ? - sadly the answer is no - I don't.

Yes my HD is filling up and I really must do something about that.

I've always been a fan of notebooks. I hate being strapped to a desk so they give me the ability to move around the house if I get bored of one location! Plus performance is pretty much the same unless you're doing major league gaming/video editing. Love my new 2009 MacBook- runs like a dream!

Just get a Mac Pro. (You know you will one day - why not now.)

Reasons why:

• My MacBook is a year old and out of warranty
• I use my MacBook at my desk 95% of the time, the other 5% being in bed where it has the potential to get damaged if I fall asleep (as happened to a friend recently)
• 13.3" just isn't big enough for a screen. I'd prefer 20 or 24"
• My MacBook is in great condition, making it optimal for selling

Pretty much sums up why. I love my MacBook - it's fast, light, portable, very easy to use and the battery life is a treat, but I feel it's time to go desktop.

It'll run a second screen, I assume. Why not use it as a desktop, docked to a nice big screen and maybe a kbd and mouse, and retain the option to walk away with it when you want a change of scene.

OK - I see what you are saying .

Next - have you done the calculations - cost of nice new shiny iMac [ or better :P ] against AlanH's siggestion of a nice big screen and keyboard +/- rodent ?

And how much do you reckon you will get for your MacBook.

Even with your Educational Discount [ I think you mentioned that some time back ] can you really afford the changeover ?

If you went with the suggestion of the Screen etc , you would really get the best of both worlds.

Alan's alternative suggestion is something I hadn't thought of, and it's certainly an intriguing idea. For all intents and purposes my MacBook is a portable iMac with a small screen and a trackpad, so it'd make some sense to keep it.

If I go ahead with it I'd probably go for a 24" LCD widescreen monitor for about £250ish, Then I'd need a Mini-DVI to DVI/HDMI (depending on monitor) cable for about £15, Apple keyboard for £28 and Mighty Mouse for £38.

Hmm...