Decaflon

Since you already have a notebook, I would say get an iMac, so you have options as far as mobility is concerned.

I second the imac. If you don't need portability, go for the bigger screen and better comfort!

ok erin, you are facing down the same question i did right before i moved. the big question is, will you at anytime need to be mobile with a high powered machine.

before i moved i had a 24" imac and a macbook, but with my job change i realized that i would need to be able to work on large items while on the move to show clients/bring to meetings and the macbook was not gonna work. Also i can't exactly bring an imac with me, so i settled on the 17" macbook pro. It can do everything I could do on my imac but with the portability I required.

So in the end thats the biggest question. Is it something you need to be able to bring with you, or something thats mainly gonna stay at home? If home, I'd say imac hands down, if you need to move, then macbook pro

Thank you all for your advice, but a question: why are you all recommending the iMac? Because it's $150 cheaper? Or is there something that I'm overlooking?

No, I just don't see the point in having two notebooks, especially when you can have a desktop, with a bigger monitor and for less money. Laptop + desktop = best of both worlds.

Bigger screen, probably quieter do to the larger surface area for cooling. I use the heck out of my macbook but I'd rather be sitting at my 17" iMac G5 just due to the ergonomics.

If the price difference is $150... Any way you could sell your current MacBook? You can probably trade it in for a bigger monitor to dock your new MBP into.

I've been in a similar position. When I was upgrading from my PowerBook I couldn't decide whether to get an iMac or MacBook Pro.

I decided on the 24" iMac and, unfortunately, kinda regret my decision. The thing is, I feel like I work better when my work can move when I need to move. I also find it easier to get into a zone when I feel physically closer to the screen and everything on there..

Now, don't get me wrong.. the iMac makes a superb machine for watching movies and playing games - I'd never want to do that on a laptop when I have this screen. It's just, I can't code on it as good as I can on a laptop.

So, my solution was to buy a MacBook as well. Just a normal low-end one.

My advice: opt for the MacBook Pro. If you're that bothered by the screen size just grab an external monitor at a later date.

Just my two pence (I'm British).

Get MacBook Pro, and get a good external monitor. I've never regretted that choice...

Hey ol' man!
I say an iMac.
Why? Cause I have one! Derr....

Well, getting a MBP and an external monitor would really send the price shooting skywards, so I don't know about that... the main idea here is to get a computer that I can use if my Macbook borks. (Which it did, for 6 weeks I was without, and I'm a writer. Yeah, it was bad.) I'm still on the fence, but I must admit that the new iMac is so incredibly sexy. I think I'm going to head to the Apple store this weekend to check them outl

And Bonita, last time I checked, I was a girl. And not too old, either. :)

Don't spend 2k on a laptop no matter what, that's an amazing waste of money.

What's a bigger waste — spending 2K on a laptop that will last you YEARS, or $600 on one that's going to be no better use to you than a paperweight in six months? Something to consider.

I am loving my MacBook Pro and would highly recommend it.

The freedom to be mobile while on a powerful machine capable of doing all my work is highly undervalued. For more, read my review.

i'm just saying.. there's no point in getting a laptop for processing power. $600 for a laptop is fine, you could get a refurbished ibm thinkpad off ebay. best laptops ever made. they have titanium casing, they're very ergonomic, nasa uses them in space shuttles. a 2k laptop will be only an average computer when you buy it. you could build a quad core desktop for under 1k, and there are hardly even quad core laptops now (they exist, but are like 3k.) the only things that will work better on a 2k core 2 duo laptop are photoshop and games.

I just had to make a similar choice myself. I have an ageing powerbook though so the laptop I did have that was apple wasn't as up to spec for my work. I have a 17" and this time I'm going for a 15 and external monitor. I personally prefer a laptop - don't know why but I do. I certainly don't think it's wrong to have more than one laptop either - I have 2 already (a windows dell cheapo one for testing and accounts and a powerbook). I disagree about the gaming point - even my powerbook I can happily play games on. Ultimately, I'm a laptop person so won't ever be getting a stand alone machine - or at least can't see me doing so. I like the portability and when not using that an external monitor works just fine.

My decision to not get a 17" again was not just based on money. I don't actually overly like the 17" I have now. Don't get me wrong the screen size is great but it's cubersome and quite a lump to carry around. I'm looking forward to getting more mobile with a 15" again.

imac is better , only for me

I am in the market too for a mac. The iMac looks great, particularly the 20" ones. The clarity on that monitor is amazing.

The only things that make the macbook pro a better option are:
1. keyboard (I like larger keys)
2. multi-touch (with the new ones)
3. better processor (new penryn with 6MB L2) (the same on the new MB)
(That for me != $700 - compared to the higher end white MB)

So if you are doing anything processor intensive, get the MBP and it has just been updated, and will be some time before the next upgrade. They will be upgrading the iMac soon to the latest line of processors, so you might want to wait a while before buying an iMac.

Also, in your case, since all you want is a backup computer, I would say wait a couple of months and buy the iMac when they upgrade it or get one refurbished for $200 lesser, since you can also hookup an extra monitor to the iMac and have huge desktop space or you can hook up your macbook (when it works :) ) and have the desktop span to your iMac too.

Me, I am going for a MB since now the MB can take upto 4 G of RAM and have the same processor as a lowest end MBP.

I've got a 24" Intel iMac and the display is absolutely beautiful. I've only got 1GB of RAM though, definitely needs at least 2GB to be snappy.

If anyone wants to send me their old one I'll gladly accept ;)

My poor 2004 iBook G4...

@ia_ : not for an Apple. I'm still using my PB G4 from 4 years ago with no trouble. I'm thinking the expense of it was worth my lack of issues.

@ErinR: I say the iMac. All the reasons above are correct. Get your iMac and enjoy the ergonomics. Then, when you get more dough, go for a refurbished MBP. THAT would be the best of all worlds.

Yeah, I'm a fanboy.