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Between this iMac that has a 2.5 CPU BUT has SATA hard drive and this MacBook Air that has SSD hard disks but has a 1.7 CPU ( looks like both are i5 CPUs ), do you think which one is faster and has a better performance? If you wanted to choose which one would you pick? In addition to web browsing, I like to learn some web design and Java Dev with Eclipse to learn with this Mac too. Which one should I select?

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC965LL/A?select=select&product=MC965LL%2FA

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC309LL/A?select=select&product=MC309LL%2FA

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Technically the iMac is faster as it has a desktop processor, but you will most likely notice overall more speed with the MacBook Air since it will not be hindered by mechanical hard drives. The SSD will give you fast boot times and overall quicker access to things giving the appearance that it is faster. However, if you're doing something intensive like video rendering then you'll probably notice that the iMac is faster since it's hitting the CPU/GPU harder. So for your specific application, you will probably notice that the iMac is faster once your computer is booted and loaded. – kobaltz Jan 2 at 6:38
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I've used both. Performance wise, the iMac is much more powerful. The air seems smooth, but you'll see it bogged down by applications pretty easily – Simon Sheehan Jan 2 at 6:56
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For development, iMac. For browsing and general office productivity, MacBook Air. For portability, MacBook Air. No matter what, you'll pay about the same, but you have to ask yourself what are you trying to accomplish. If you're looking to do Java Dev, why limit yourself to a mac? Web Development can be done on any platform. Personally, anything not Java or .NET, I run linux for. Anything Java or .NET I run Windows. XCode, OSX. – kobaltz Jan 2 at 7:06
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I would personally drop it into a MacBook Pro 17" WUXGA with Optibay + 256GB SSD Primary and a Secondary Monitor. You'll easily drop 3G but would be idea. Or you could go with Windows setup. I'm rocking a Core i5 2500k with 4 monitors HD6970 and Core i5 Lenovo Lappy with 128GB SSD for under 3G – kobaltz Jan 2 at 8:04
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3 Grand. It's > 3AM where i'm at. I'm tired. – kobaltz Jan 2 at 8:10
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closed as too localized by nhinkle♦ Jan 2 at 6:37

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