views:

1726

answers:

11

I could get a MacBook or an iMac for about the same price but with obvious differences. For iPhone development which one would be best considering these main points.

Stationary iMac versus portable MacBook:

As an iPhone developer which one is more important taking into consideration performance. I am not as concerned with screen size.

I am looking for any other considerations from people who have used both or perfer one method. I want to gauge which one offers you the most productivity.

+1  A: 

Will you be working on the road? If so, go with the laptop.

I'm not so sure you shouldn't be concerned with screen size. I often have the emulator up and I often find that I wish I had more screen space for various Xcode windows.

Nosredna
A: 

As far as performance is concerned, i am sure they will both behave the same. the question really is a personal one, which do you prefer to do your development on? if you are used to developing on a desktop with a full sized keyboard, shifting to a laptop might pose problems. if, on the other hand you are comfortable developing on a laptop, it really is your choice. do you like to be tethered or do you like to move your dev environment around (home to office, business travel, to vacation, etc)?

akf
+1  A: 

I'm not aware of any relevant difference beside the screen size and the portability factor which you pointed out yourself.

I'd consider buying a MacBook Pro instead of a MacBook, though, simply because of the backlit keyboard. Also, I'd go for the 15" model (ideally including both graphics cards, but that's just my subjective opinion). You'll need some screen space because of the simulator. It would be really useful while debugging.

Huxi
I agree with Huxi - a 15" MBP would probably be the best. You might also consider getting the smaller one and an external display. I just bought a 22" flatpanel from dell (only $140!) and I'm really happy with it. Having the extra screen real-estate definitely helps for large projects.
Ben Gotow
If we are talking about external displays you should at least consider the CinemaDisplay. It is somewhat expensive but it's also more or less a docking station with only a single cable with three connectors for power, usb-hub functionality and DVI signal. I hate cables ;)
Huxi
Once the CinemaDisplay moves from it's $900 price point it might be worth considering. As it stands now, you can buy 2 top-notch similarly speced screens (say... Samsung) two power bricks, two USB hubs, two speaker sets, and optionally two iSight-compatible camera all for that price with about $50-100 left over. Considering that the Mic and Camera are built into the laptop you'd have two comparable docking stations at that price.
dlamblin
+1  A: 

The emulator is one thing but to be honest on my 15" MBP I sometimes struggle with screen space if i'm using the debugger etc and trying to cross reference things in separate files at the same time. I wouldn't even consider going for the 13", its nice, but its not an ideal working environment(my mum has one), screen and portability will always be a compromise but seriously 15" is the smallest realistic workspace before you start sacrificing productivity in a big way for xcode. In the current line up that advice forces you to think MBP in that case if your not going mobile the iMac will likely be a better choice due to getting a bit more grunt for a bit less money.

Toby
If you're working on a laptop, make SURE you check out the 'single window' mode in Xcode. It's in the preferences.
Hunter
A: 

I would recommend a 15" Macbook Pro for the purpose of coding on the go as well as the portability for meeting with other developers on your team as well as going to conferences, coffee shops, etc. If you want some more screen space when you are in your office, you could always connect your Macbook Pro to an external display.

Matthew Bischoff
+2  A: 

Performance wise, either would work. Even a mac mini makes a fine development platform.

I personally have a 15" macbook pro, and make heavy use of spaces with four screens - one for debugging, one for coding and one for IB work (the other is for mail and web). I find this works great and I don't even use external monitors anymore.

Kendall Helmstetter Gelner
A refurbed Mini is a great value and should do wonderfully when loaded with RAM.
Mark
Yeah, the Mini is great. I installed 4gb shortly after I got it, but for the iPhone development I do, 2gb was fine.
kirk.burleson
+1  A: 

Real mac programmers use 15" MacBookPros.

Rhythmic Fistman
+5  A: 

For my money, it's a no-brainer: 15" MacBook Pro + external monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

If you want to sit at your desk all day, go ahead, and you'll have the benefit of 2 screens (rather than one on an iMac). But if you're feeling confined at the desk (as I frequently am), unhook the MacBook and go code something up on your La-Z-Boy. Or at Starbucks. Or on the beach. Heck, after you sell a million apps, you can take the MacBook to Cancun and write some code there. That's my plan, anyway. :)

zpasternack
Couldn't agree more. I unchained myself from a desktop years ago and have yet to look back. Even though the screen space is limited on a 15" MBP you can still utilize Spaces or use an external monitor. The only desktop we have left is sitting in a closet running our home Linux server.
OhioDude
I'd even say you could get away with a 13" plus an external monitor. Depends on how big your code base is, how much computing power you need, etc. External 24"s are quite inexpensive these days.
Alex Feinman
Don't stop at just two displays. I got a DisplayLink-compatible USB-to-video converter and added a third monitor to a MBPro. It's great to be able to spread out when at home. (Sadly, it stopped working with Snow Leopard but they're working on a fix.)Also, when out and about without the monitors, Spaces is your friend.
Ramin
A: 

When it comes to testing on the emulator, a faster processor can actually be bad. It's too easy to look at the response time in the emulator and decide that it's "fast enough" when on the actual iPhone it is too slow. A faster processor exacerbates this problem.

Of course, the real answer is to do performance testing on the device, but the emulator is just SO convenient.

Amagrammer
+1  A: 

my coding setup is a mac pro with dual 24" 1920x1280 monitors, but i'm a screen real-estate whore

i also have a macbook for coding on the go, but honestly, i very rarely code on the road, and when I do i feel very pressed for screen space

+1  A: 

I would go with a 13" MPB + 24" external display : get all the screen real estate you need when seating at your desk and get truly portable when you need to have a latte at Starbuck