Difficult switching problem.

[Fahrenheit]

I really like my iMac, but come September next year, I will be going to University (hopefully!) and I would appreciate the MacBook for lectures etc (I have a second screen available). Now I feel at some point I will need to trade my iMac (1.83 Core Duo 1Gig RAM) for a MacBook (base will do) and I want to know when to.

Now the obvious answer would be wait until as near as possible as a new model might come out, but I'm at a standoff, as all the while, my iMac is dropping in value.

So, for starters, what will my beautiful iMac get? and what do you reckon the MacBook would cost (happy with refurb, standard spec)? UK people please as the US prices are cheaper and there coud be complications in the discussion!

And as a second point, does a second screen work ok on the Macbook and is it extended, not just mirrored?

Cheers, people. Also, if anyone on here is looking for an iMac and/or is looking to sell their Macbook, just yell.

PS: Am I being nuts? Is this a fair computer transfer to make? I am not really in it for the power to be honest, more the conveniance. :)

[chucker]

And as a second point, does a second screen work ok on the Macbook and is it extended, not just mirrored?

You will need to buy an appropriate adapter from the MacBook's mini-DVI to what you need (VGA/D-Sub or DVI-D), and you won't have dual-link DVI (so, the maximum resolution you'll get is 1920x1200), but other than that, yes, it'll work great, including full spanning support.

[Fahrenheit]

Ok Chucker we'll discuss all those acronyms nearer the time :D

I get what you mean, one of these maggigers right?
http://80.194.98.132/punchoutcommerce/images/products/cables/12042006121701.jpg

I thought that came with my iBook when I bought one in 2004. :confused:

[chucker]

Ok Chucker we'll discuss all those acronyms nearer the time :D

I get what you mean, one of these maggigers right?
http://80.194.98.132/punchoutcommerce/images/products/cables/12042006121701.jpg

I thought that came with my iBook when I bought one in 2004. :confused:

The iBook shipped with a mini-VGA to VGA adapter, and had a $19 mini-VGA to Video (S-Video/Composite) adapter option.

The MacBook, sadly, ships with no adapter at all, and its mini-DVI port is virtually useless without one, as Wikipedia so eloquently puts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini-DVI):
The Mini-DVI connector is used primarily on Apple computers

I.e., there are virtually no devices other than certain Macs itself (in particular, most 12" PowerBook G4s, Intel-based iMacs, and MacBooks) to use the port with.

So to do something useful with it, you have to buy one (or more) of three different adapters: the DVI one (M9321G/B), the VGA one (M9320G/A) or the Video (S-Video/Composite) one (M9319G/A).