Which iMac
Author
Discussion

AdamIM

Original Poster:

1,267 posts

56 months

Friday 11th March 2022
quotequote all
I was hoping for a new 27" iMac (retire old 27) but Apple have discontinued it. The Studio is complete overkill so looks like the mini will have to do. Could someone lend me their expertise on what I need. Must have 27" screen, 1 TB. I don't do anything that needs particularly high power. Edit documents. Might run a few 365/adobe apps at one time.

I've used my wifes MacBook pro, just hate using a track pad and the screen is too small. I like a big monitor and a mouse. I suppose I could get a MacBook and plug it into a big screen?(just an HDMI cable? The mac OS is exactly the same. My old iMac is running Sierra so that is probably why it looks different! But happy to use an iPad Pro for travel needs.

Which monitor? Must have a built in webcam and be 4k I suppose. up to 32"
I'd like to have an external drive for 'Photos' and backup.
Assume i'll need a USB adapter bank which I believe you can mount to the screen

TIA

anonymous-user

84 months

Friday 11th March 2022
quotequote all
Why does the camera have to be built in? You will get much better quality camera if you buy an external one you can clip on top.

Having said that, the Apple Studio Display fits your needs.

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 11th March 21:34

AdamIM

Original Poster:

1,267 posts

56 months

Friday 11th March 2022
quotequote all
wyson said:
Why does the camera have to be built in? You will get much better quality camera if you buy an external one you can clip on top.

Having said that, the Apple Studio Display fits your needs.

Edited by wyson on Friday 11th March 21:34
It’s very nice but £1,500 for a monitor

anonymous-user

84 months

Friday 11th March 2022
quotequote all
AdamIM said:
It’s very nice but £1,500 for a monitor
So what sort of budget are you looking at?

People were recommending a 4k 32 inch LG Ergo 32UN880 in another thread. About £600 ish.

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 11th March 21:50

AdamIM

Original Poster:

1,267 posts

56 months

Friday 11th March 2022
quotequote all
wyson said:
AdamIM said:
It’s very nice but £1,500 for a monitor
So what sort of budget are you looking at?

People were recommending a 4k 32 inch LG Ergo 32UN880 in another thread. About £600 ish.

Edited by wyson on Friday 11th March 21:50
Actually, just looked a bit closer. It’s £1.5 for a stand to mount the £1.5k monitor. Im never giving Apple, as much as I love their products, that

anonymous-user

84 months

Friday 11th March 2022
quotequote all
AdamIM said:
Actually, just looked a bit closer. It’s £1.5 for a stand to mount the £1.5k monitor. Im never giving Apple, as much as I love their products, that
Huh? The non height adjustable stand is ‘free’ as is the VESA mount. The height adjustable stand is a £400 option, but you’d be mad to get that when a decent monitor arm can be had for £100.

robbieduncan

1,993 posts

266 months

Friday 11th March 2022
quotequote all
AdamIM said:
Actually, just looked a bit closer. It’s £1.5 for a stand to mount the £1.5k monitor. Im never giving Apple, as much as I love their products, that
You have misunderstood. As you select options it shows you the total price. So standard glass with the tilt stand is £1500, with the height adjustable stand its £1899. As the the value: that’s up to you!

Add a Mac Mini and it’s a pretty good machine. Probably faster than the outgoing 27” iMac. But that’s £2,200 minimum.

Unless you really need at 27” screen I’d just get the 24” iMac or wait for the M2 refresh in a few months time

AdamIM

Original Poster:

1,267 posts

56 months

Friday 11th March 2022
quotequote all
Thanks chaps.

anonymous-user

84 months

Saturday 12th March 2022
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https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/FRR12B/A/Ref...

TBF, a new 27 inch iMac, if it existed, would cost about the same as getting a Mac Mini and an Apple Studio display. This combo is the closest you are currently going to get I reckon. Plus its more flexible. You could probably keep the display for a while and just upgrade the Mac Mini as it becomes obsolete, although LCD displays also ‘wear out’ as their backlights dim over time.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 12th March 04:12

Jenny Tailor

1,727 posts

67 months

Saturday 12th March 2022
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Mac mini?
£1099

Chose your favourite keyboard, mouse and monitor


IIRC if you have an old iMac current enough to run the required OS - you can stream to it.

Aunty Pasty

786 posts

68 months

Saturday 12th March 2022
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The MacBook with another monitor is an option. You will need a USB C to HDMI adapter to your monitor.

I use a MacBook Pro with external monitor, mouse and keyboard for work. The webcam is built into the MacBook.

Coincidently I also have an old iMac, probably from the same era as yours (2010) as it also topped out at High Sierra. Still going strong.

If it died personally I would just go with a MacBook (Pro)

AdamIM

Original Poster:

1,267 posts

56 months

Saturday 12th March 2022
quotequote all
hadn't thought about studio screen+mac mini.

I assume I can set up Dropbox back up on an external SSD (plugged into the mini) this plug Photos takes up about 500GB on my current set up and I want to run it externally to get away with a 500GB SSD drive

tim0409

5,962 posts

189 months

Saturday 12th March 2022
quotequote all
I would consider a Mac Mini with an LG 4K 27” -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/LG-27UN83A-Inch-Monitor-3...

I use one with my M1 MBA and it’s great, especially the Type C connectivity, and is only £380.

AdamIM

Original Poster:

1,267 posts

56 months

Saturday 12th March 2022
quotequote all
robbieduncan said:
AdamIM said:
Actually, just looked a bit closer. It’s £1.5 for a stand to mount the £1.5k monitor. Im never giving Apple, as much as I love their products, that
You have misunderstood. As you select options it shows you the total price. So standard glass with the tilt stand is £1500, with the height adjustable stand its £1899. As the the value: that’s up to you!

Add a Mac Mini and it’s a pretty good machine. Probably faster than the outgoing 27” iMac. But that’s £2,200 minimum.

Unless you really need at 27” screen I’d just get the 24” iMac or wait for the M2 refresh in a few months time
Thanks Robbie, the way they've listed it is a bit confusing. I think i'll go for the studio screen-I really don't need the power of the Mac studio machine

page3

5,197 posts

281 months

Saturday 12th March 2022
quotequote all
wyson said:
So what sort of budget are you looking at?

People were recommending a 4k 32 inch LG Ergo 32UN880 in another thread. About £600 ish.
CCL are currently doing it for less. Ordered 6pm Wednesday, arrived 8am Thursday!

So far I’m finding it excellent. I was worried about brightness (shouldn’t have been, as 30% is bright) and 4K scaling (again, it looks stunning at 3008 x 1692).

I will miss the integrated webcam and speakers of the iMac. I’ve bought a Logi Brio which seems ok (software looks poor) and plan to use my KEF Egg USB speakers.

Also pretty amazed no keyboard/mouse included in what is a £2K+ computer. Not too fussed as I’ve switched to a Keychron K2 which I prefer.

AdamIM

Original Poster:

1,267 posts

56 months

Saturday 12th March 2022
quotequote all
page3 said:
wyson said:
So what sort of budget are you looking at?

People were recommending a 4k 32 inch LG Ergo 32UN880 in another thread. About £600 ish.
CCL are currently doing it for less. Ordered 6pm Wednesday, arrived 8am Thursday!

So far I’m finding it excellent. I was worried about brightness (shouldn’t have been, as 30% is bright) and 4K scaling (again, it looks stunning at 3008 x 1692).

I will miss the integrated webcam and speakers of the iMac. I’ve bought a Logi Brio which seems ok (software looks poor) and plan to use my KEF Egg USB speakers.

Also pretty amazed no keyboard/mouse included in what is a £2K+ computer. Not too fussed as I’ve switched to a Keychron K2 which I prefer.
I saw a review of this screen and its fancy mounting brackets-mighty impressive screen!

megaphone

11,686 posts

281 months

Saturday 12th March 2022
quotequote all
I'm in a similar process, my 2009 iMac is getting on a bit, but I am running Mojave on it without any issues and can still update further with a patch. I' waiting for a new 27" M iMac to come out.

However I have also thought about going MacBook and monitor, I do currently have a 2013 Air which I use out and about, would be sensible to just have one Mac.

I think for me a sweet spot will be a new Air and a decent monitor.

LeeM135i

711 posts

84 months

Saturday 12th March 2022
quotequote all
I have a M1 MacBook Pro which I use for everything.

Plugs into a Belkin USB C hub which has;

A 27" HP 1440p monitor connected VIA HDMI port.
USB to USB C cable which connects to the monitor.
USB external 4TB HDD.
Power connector.

Monitor has the following connecter VIA its internal hub;
1080p webcam
2x ring lights

Also have a magic keyboard, mouse, tracked and xbox controller.

It's an ace setup and will run teams calls and big spreadsheets all day and play CS go and edit photos in the evening.

You could easily replace the MacBook with a mini and have a setup thats very very capable.

thebraketester

15,807 posts

168 months

Saturday 12th March 2022
quotequote all
Mac mini M1 £900

32” 4K monitor £400-500

LeeM135i

711 posts

84 months

Saturday 12th March 2022
quotequote all
I have a M1 MacBook Pro which I use for everything.

Plugs into a Belkin USB C hub which has;

A 27" HP 1440p monitor connected VIA HDMI port.
USB to USB C cable which connects to the monitor.
USB external 4TB HDD.
Power connector.

Monitor has the following connecter VIA its internal hub;
1080p webcam
2x ring lights

Also have a magic keyboard, mouse, tracked and xbox controller.

It's an ace setup and will run teams calls and big spreadsheets all day and play CS go and edit photos in the evening.

You could easily replace the MacBook with a mini and have a setup thats very very capable.