Which new iMac & laptop should I buy?

[anneweinberger]

I'm going to buy the new 21.5" iMac and wonder if I'll get better performance with SU from the more expensive one. Spec comparison:

2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i5
Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz
8GB (two 4GB) memory
1TB hard drive1
NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M with 512MB

2.9GHz quad-core Intel Core i5
Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz
8GB (two 4GB) memory
1TB hard drive1
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 512MB

Also, looking at 13" MacBook Air. Though it doesn't have a separate video card, I could do some basic operations with it when experimenting in the Apple store, Anybody know if I'll get bogged down when, e.g., importing 3D components from the warehouse?
13-inch : 128GB
1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
Turbo Boost up to 2.8GHz
4GB memory
128GB flash storage1
Intel HD Graphics 4000

[jeff hammond]

@anneweinberger said:

I'm going to buy the new 21.5" iMac and wonder if I'll get better performance with SU from the more expensive one.

yes.. but barely.. you probably wouldn't notice a difference in real world usage…

@unknownuser said:

Also, looking at 13" MacBook Air. Though it doesn't have a separate video card, I could do some basic operations with it when experimenting in the Apple store, Anybody know if I'll get bogged down when, e.g., importing 3D components from the warehouse?

bogging down from importing components? no
possible visual glitches? yes.. you might need to turn off hardware acceleration in sketchup in order to use it..
personally, i wouldn't get a MBA but i do a lot of 3D work.. all my laptops have had discreet graphics in there and they've been great.. i often read about problems with the intel cards though..

tough call.. i'd say either try sketchup on the laptop you're looking at buying (extensively if possible) or ask around on some other forums to see if anyone has any hands on experience with the intel4000 and 3D apps.. (macrumors.com forums is really active… maybe post over there)

[edit] actually, for accuracy sake, i had a powerbook(2002?) once with onboard graphics.. 64MB AMD card and a motorola processor 1.3ghz(?).. less than a gig of ram... and sketchup ran ok on that...