To each, their own. I’ve never liked computer systems where the cpu and monitor were combined for desktop use. Being a Mac guy, and not being wealthy, the Mac mini does it for me. I’ve got two late 2012s, and they’re still going strong, however, I finally had to replace my Apple usb keyboard last week when the asdfghjkl keys stopped working.

My buddy and I are big into hifi audio, and we were discussing him upgrading his old Apple TV to the latest Apple TV coming out at 5he end if this month. He uses Apple TV to stream his music from his MBP in another room). He called me up yesterday with the thought of just going with a Mac mini like what I run for my music source.

I told him I could get him a new M1 chipped at the PX tax free or have my student daughter purchase it for him using Apple Pay where she’ll give him the 3% back for using Apple Pay at Apple Store. Also, she would get $50 off being a student. The added option at Apple is to get 0% for 12 months, so that would make a new mini for about $70 per month for a year.

So, just throwing the Mac mini out there as an option.

I’m really tempted by the new M1 24” iMac.

I currently have a 16” 2019 MacBook Pro that is loaded and no desktop computer. I do have a 32” LG monitor for times when I want more screen real estate.

The MBP pretty much never leaves the house as I use my iPad Pro for mobile needs.

I am thinking the 24” combined with my 32” monitor would be a pretty sweet set up and given value of my MBP would be little if any money out of pocket.

^^^ Yes I've considered the Mini too, along with an LG Ultrafine Mac monitor - 24" 4K or 27" 5K. I think they are the same panels Apple uses...

The latest rumors include 14" & 16" new form factor MacBook Pros to be announced at the WWDC on June 7th, both with upgraded processors & more ports. New larger (30+") & Pro Mac Mini this fall. New Mac Pro with 20 or 40 cores & 64 or 128 graphics cores probably next year.

Rene Ritchie breaks down the rumors & the upcoming Apple Silicon improvements. I have no idea what the final names will be ... M1X, M2, something else.


Just as an FYI, Luke Miani posted a video comparing performance of the base iMac, the intermediate iMac, M1 Mini, & MacBook Air. Surprisingly the Mac Mini wins at most of the benchmarks.


I've seen the M1 Mini as low as $600, but YMMV.

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
I’m really tempted by the new M1 24” iMac.

I currently have a 16” 2019 MacBook Pro that is loaded and no desktop computer. I do have a 32” LG monitor for times when I want more screen real estate.

The MBP pretty much never leaves the house as I use my iPad Pro for mobile needs.

I am thinking the 24” combined with my 32” monitor would be a pretty sweet set up and given value of my MBP would be little if any money out of pocket.

Not sure of what apps you use. But the rumored larger iMac may have 8 high performance & 2 energy efficient cores along with increased RAM availability. Rumors only at this point.


Check out the Luke Miani review to help you in your choice.

There are several drawbacks to the base model:
• Only 2 Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports (each full speed).
• No Ethernet port
(These could be resolved with a TB 3 dock adding more ports.)
• Only 7 graphics cores on M1 processor. (Can affect performance)
• No Touch ID

My 2019 16” MBP has the 2.3ghz i9 processor, 64gb RAM, AMD Radeon Pro 5500M GPU with 8gb VRAM, and 2TB SSD.

Apple refurb selling same model for $3479. Hmmm…

If I could get $3K for it, that would just about cover an M1 MacBook Air AND a Mini (both upgraded from base models)


Very tempting…

To satisfy your curiosity.

iFixit has a teardown of the new M1 iMac.

Well, damn. As of this week, it appears that the big A will not be launching a refreshed 27" (or larger) iMac at all, with the M1-based 24" iMac possibly finishing out the product line (though there are rumors it will be eventually refreshed with the M2 chip).

But maybe not still! Although the 27" Intel-based iMac is now officially discontinued, rumors persist that a new iMac Pro (a name used on a previous model) is in development with a 27" display. Same difference?

So many maybes. Maybe it's time to scrap the all-in-one solution altogether, and try the new Mac Studio cube paired with the new 27" Studio Display?

Mac Rumors
Mac Rumors

Damn is right. I've been limping on my 10 year old 27" in hopes for the new 27" M1 that I thought was being released about now.

I would wait.

The M2 chip (which the new iMac will come with) is light years ahead of anything else.

I'm typing this from a Mid-2012 MacBook Pro.

I'm waiting until the new 2022 MacBook Air with the M2 chip is released later this year.

Ten years of solid use from a computer is more than you can ask for these days.

quote:

Originally posted by slosig:
Depends how long you’re willing to roll the dice on the current machine continuing to work. As a recovering geek, I have no interest in being the first to get the new hotness. I’d want it to be out long enough to hear how they’re holding up before I sign up to be a beta tester...

while I've been out of the Mac world for some time, I think Apple gear is the best around. Please don't give me arguments on this, it's just my option, so leave it at that. If (and I don't) had a need for a new Mac, I wouldn't hesitate to go with the latest release from Apple. They don't put stuff out without thorough beta testing, and will stand behind and address any issues.

quote:

I would wait.

The M2 chip (which the new iMac will come with) is light years ahead of anything else.

Are you certain? Some of the rumors I've seen say that the new large iMacs would still come with M1 chips. It's another maybe.

I have rebuilt a mid-2012 MacBook Pro and a 2014 Mac mini. The 2014 mini will run the latest OS, for a while. It is good to have iOS devices and the desktop on the compatible OS. But, what other company makes hardware that after ten years still performs and does whatever I need it to do? I am glad you sent back the new item and reinstalled the OS.

The issue with the Apple hardware is always the connectivity. Mini-display port only, for example. So, even though the older hardware works fine, you can't find a hub anymore for the FireWire connection, so you are left with multiple wires. Gee, so challenging to disconnect display AND power.

The older I get, the more accepting I am of sub-optimal situations.

The new 27" Studio Display with an M1 Mac Mini will perform better than the previous 27" iMac. The Mac Studio is overkill for most people. I actually like this idea because I could swap out the mini every 2-3 years often and keep the monitor a lot longer.

If the current mini's are easy to open up to swap out the SSD for a larger one then all the better.

A Mac Studio + Monitor is going to be about $4K which is a bit too much.

^^That's actually a good plan and certainly an option, especially for the budget-conscious. I think I can swing the Mac Studio/Studio Display deal Apple is obviously pushing (released at the same time with a similar name...coincidence?), although significantly more expensive, as my machine would be a combination home/work system.

Yet another option ('cause we don't have enough) is the possiblility of a refresh of the top-of-the-line Mac Mini, a position currently occupied by an Intel-based machine. This could happen sometime in 2022 or even 2023, with the draw being the possibility of an M2 chipset. Presumably the price would be someplace between the M1 Mini (starting at $699) and the new Mac Studio (starting at $1999).

Decisions, decisions...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kkina,

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:
Maybe it's time to scrap the all-in-one solution altogether, and try the new Mac Studio cube paired with the new 27" Studio Display?

I scrapped the all in one solution after my first iMac, back in 2011. I never did like it, as you were locked in to so much. I much prefer a stand-alone computer, with my choice of monitor. To that end, I went to the 2011 Mini. Since 2015, I've been using a 32" Eizo monitor (their desktop line, not the high end photographer model), running at its native resolution of 3840 x 2160. I've used it with the 2013 Mac Pro (the "trashcan Mac"), and currently with a 2018 Mini. With the computer/monitor separate, you are free to upgrade either or both at any time.
 
If you do go with the Studio set up (it looks good), stick with the basic M1 Max chip, and compare the Studio display with other options, such as Eizo's desktop line. Or you could just go with the full package, a Studio computer maxed out with the M1 Ultra chipset (two M1 Maxs connected together), plus all the extras on RAM (128GB), storage (8 TB), and the high end Studio monitor, and you'll only be out >$11,000.

I have a new 14" MBP arriving tomorrow. I am docked 99% of the time, but I do like to be able to move as needed (vacation for example). That new Studio has my eye though.

The more I thought about it, the more I decided not to pay for high performance that I didn't need. So at this point I'm leaning towards an M1-powered Mac Mini and a reasonable non-Apple display (looking at one from Dell, which seems the most often recommended for pairing with a Mini). Would come in well under $2,000.

Mac Mini


Dell U2720Q UltraSharp 27"

You will want to add another $300 or so for a CalDigit Thunderbolt dock to greatly expand the port selection on the Mac Mini. I've got one for my M1 MacBook Air and it has every plug in I need in one package.