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The New Coffee Room

  1. TNCR
  2. General Discussion
  3. Thinking about a new Mac...

Thinking about a new Mac...

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  • CopperC Offline
    CopperC Offline
    Copper
    wrote on last edited by
    #27

    Why a Dock with the mini?

    George KG 1 Reply Last reply
    • KlausK Klaus

      I may buy a new iMac when it is released with a new ARM chip (not the current one; I want more than 16GB of RAM).

      George KG Offline
      George KG Offline
      George K
      wrote on last edited by
      #28

      @klaus said in Thinking about a new Mac...:

      I may buy a new iMac when it is released with a new ARM chip (not the current one; I want more than 16GB of RAM).

      I've seen videos of performance with only 8 gigs of RAM on a MacBook Air. For the stuff that I do, 8 is probably adequate, and 16 is overkill, considering the videos I've watched. But...

      Link to video

      The other thing is that rumors say that the new iteration of iMac will be a 24" model. I really, really don't want a smaller screen than I have now. That's a big deal for me with my aging eyes.

      "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

      The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

      KlausK 1 Reply Last reply
      • CopperC Copper

        Why a Dock with the mini?

        George KG Offline
        George KG Offline
        George K
        wrote on last edited by
        #29

        @copper said in Thinking about a new Mac...:

        Why a Dock with the mini?

        Hooking up external devices: I have a 4 bay enclosure which stores my Time Machine data, media (books, music), and another backup drive.

        "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

        The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

        1 Reply Last reply
        • George KG George K

          Looking at prices for various options here.

          I'm looking at 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.

          If I go with the Mini or the Air, I'll have to spring for a monitor and a webcam (I'd keep my keyboard and mouse):

          The price for the iMac is for this year's Intel version with an i5 processor, I assume that when Apple releases a new iMac this year, as is rumored, it'll be priced pretty similarly. Looks like the MacBook Air gives the same features as the iMac for a better price, even after all the add-ons.

          Screen Shot 2020-12-26 at 7.40.49 AM.png

          jon-nycJ Online
          jon-nycJ Online
          jon-nyc
          wrote on last edited by
          #30

          @george-k said in Thinking about a new Mac...:

          I'm looking at 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.

          That's what I have.

          I just bought a webcam this week, delivered xmas eve. It's sitting in the box still by my desk.

          Up to now I've been using my iPad for zoom calls.

          "You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from."
          -Cormac McCarthy

          George KG 1 Reply Last reply
          • jon-nycJ jon-nyc

            @george-k said in Thinking about a new Mac...:

            I'm looking at 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.

            That's what I have.

            I just bought a webcam this week, delivered xmas eve. It's sitting in the box still by my desk.

            Up to now I've been using my iPad for zoom calls.

            George KG Offline
            George KG Offline
            George K
            wrote on last edited by
            #31

            @jon-nyc how big is that monitor you have?

            "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

            The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

            jon-nycJ 1 Reply Last reply
            • George KG George K

              @klaus said in Thinking about a new Mac...:

              I may buy a new iMac when it is released with a new ARM chip (not the current one; I want more than 16GB of RAM).

              I've seen videos of performance with only 8 gigs of RAM on a MacBook Air. For the stuff that I do, 8 is probably adequate, and 16 is overkill, considering the videos I've watched. But...

              Link to video

              The other thing is that rumors say that the new iteration of iMac will be a 24" model. I really, really don't want a smaller screen than I have now. That's a big deal for me with my aging eyes.

              KlausK Offline
              KlausK Offline
              Klaus
              wrote on last edited by
              #32

              @george-k said in Thinking about a new Mac...:

              The other thing is that rumors say that the new iteration of iMac will be a 24" model. I really, really don't want a smaller screen than I have now.

              True, I also want a 27". If they don't sell a 27" iMac anymore, I'll maybe go for a Mac Mini with external display.

              George KG 1 Reply Last reply
              • KlausK Klaus

                @george-k said in Thinking about a new Mac...:

                The other thing is that rumors say that the new iteration of iMac will be a 24" model. I really, really don't want a smaller screen than I have now.

                True, I also want a 27". If they don't sell a 27" iMac anymore, I'll maybe go for a Mac Mini with external display.

                George KG Offline
                George KG Offline
                George K
                wrote on last edited by George K
                #33

                @klaus I have to wonder what the thinking is behind the rumored 24" version. Monitors are getting bigger and bigger.

                Why would they do that?

                ETA: I assume that all I would have to do is hook it up with an HDMI cable, right?

                "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                1 Reply Last reply
                • CopperC Offline
                  CopperC Offline
                  Copper
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #34

                  https://ulxstore.com/collections/leather-desk-mats/products/black-leather-desk-mat?variant=49844519507

                  You forgot the vegan leather desk mat.

                  vegan leather

                  That is a new one on me

                  ![alt text](e8b221d3-3acb-4d37-a6c9-d2d03e050d3e-image.png image url)

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  • George KG George K

                    @jon-nyc how big is that monitor you have?

                    jon-nycJ Online
                    jon-nycJ Online
                    jon-nyc
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #35

                    @george-k said in Thinking about a new Mac...:

                    @jon-nyc how big is that monitor you have?

                    24".

                    https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HMUA2VC/A/lg-ultrafine-4k-display

                    "You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from."
                    -Cormac McCarthy

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    • jon-nycJ Online
                      jon-nycJ Online
                      jon-nyc
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #36

                      Funny I decry the creeping screen sizes. I remember being disappointed when they phased out the 21" iMac and I had to buy a 24. Equally when they kept making phones bigger.

                      Yeah its easier to read. But I have to carry my phone.

                      I guess I could live with a 27" monitor. Just seems so extreme. I'm right here, sitting in front of it.

                      "You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from."
                      -Cormac McCarthy

                      George KG 1 Reply Last reply
                      • jon-nycJ jon-nyc

                        Funny I decry the creeping screen sizes. I remember being disappointed when they phased out the 21" iMac and I had to buy a 24. Equally when they kept making phones bigger.

                        Yeah its easier to read. But I have to carry my phone.

                        I guess I could live with a 27" monitor. Just seems so extreme. I'm right here, sitting in front of it.

                        George KG Offline
                        George KG Offline
                        George K
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #37

                        @jon-nyc that monitor is pricey! The 27" runs even more, LOL.

                        Perhaps I'll have to reconsider my analysis of "break-even."

                        @mark what kind of monitor are you using? My needs are pretty simple, and my eyes are pretty shitty.

                        "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                        The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                        markM 1 Reply Last reply
                        • jon-nycJ Online
                          jon-nycJ Online
                          jon-nyc
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #38

                          I just bought a ViewSonic for the boy, I believe on Mark's or Xenon's suggestion.

                          I got the 21" for him but their 27" is under $200 I believe.

                          "You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from."
                          -Cormac McCarthy

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          • AxtremusA Offline
                            AxtremusA Offline
                            Axtremus
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #39

                            It takes only 3~4 years for Apple to drop support for PowerPC from the time it launched its first Intel Mac. If you plan on keep using your Macs for more than, say, 5 years and plan to keep updating its OS, you pretty much need to go with the Apple silicon now for any new Mac you get. Good luck.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            • George KG Offline
                              George KG Offline
                              George K
                              wrote on last edited by George K
                              #40

                              It looks like there's a significant difference between the 7-core GPU and the 8-core GPU in the MacBook Air.

                              About $250 difference.

                              For someone like me, whose needs are pretty basic, is it worth the premium in price?

                              Screen Shot 2020-12-26 at 8.06.00 PM.png

                              Note: The price difference doesn't account for the SSD storage difference.

                              "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                              The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                              Aqua LetiferA 1 Reply Last reply
                              • George KG Offline
                                George KG Offline
                                George K
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #41

                                Eh, never mind.

                                The difference is only $50 when you add the same SSD/

                                "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                • George KG George K

                                  @jon-nyc that monitor is pricey! The 27" runs even more, LOL.

                                  Perhaps I'll have to reconsider my analysis of "break-even."

                                  @mark what kind of monitor are you using? My needs are pretty simple, and my eyes are pretty shitty.

                                  markM Offline
                                  markM Offline
                                  mark
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #42

                                  @george-k said in Thinking about a new Mac...:

                                  @jon-nyc that monitor is pricey! The 27" runs even more, LOL.

                                  Perhaps I'll have to reconsider my analysis of "break-even."

                                  @mark what kind of monitor are you using? My needs are pretty simple, and my eyes are pretty shitty.

                                  LG 38WK95C-W 38" (Actual size 37.5") WQHD+ 3840 x 1600 HDMI, DisplayPort, USB FreeSync (AMD Adaptive Sync) Built-in Speakers Curved 21:9 UltraWide WQHD+ IPS Curved LED Monitor

                                  https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16824025890?Item=9SIAC4ZA692767

                                  jon-nycJ 1 Reply Last reply
                                  • markM mark

                                    @george-k said in Thinking about a new Mac...:

                                    @jon-nyc that monitor is pricey! The 27" runs even more, LOL.

                                    Perhaps I'll have to reconsider my analysis of "break-even."

                                    @mark what kind of monitor are you using? My needs are pretty simple, and my eyes are pretty shitty.

                                    LG 38WK95C-W 38" (Actual size 37.5") WQHD+ 3840 x 1600 HDMI, DisplayPort, USB FreeSync (AMD Adaptive Sync) Built-in Speakers Curved 21:9 UltraWide WQHD+ IPS Curved LED Monitor

                                    https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16824025890?Item=9SIAC4ZA692767

                                    jon-nycJ Online
                                    jon-nycJ Online
                                    jon-nyc
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #43

                                    @mark

                                    I've been in movie theaters with smaller screens. lol

                                    "You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from."
                                    -Cormac McCarthy

                                    markM 1 Reply Last reply
                                    • AxtremusA Offline
                                      AxtremusA Offline
                                      Axtremus
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #44

                                      Apple M1 MacBook Pro vs. Dell XPS with 11th gen. Intel core i7:

                                      Link to video

                                      George KG 1 Reply Last reply
                                      • AxtremusA Axtremus

                                        Apple M1 MacBook Pro vs. Dell XPS with 11th gen. Intel core i7:

                                        Link to video

                                        George KG Offline
                                        George KG Offline
                                        George K
                                        wrote on last edited by George K
                                        #45

                                        @axtremus thanks for linking that.

                                        He has another video comparing the MacBook Air with the MacBook Pro (both M1). Very little difference other than screen brightness and better battery life in the Pro.

                                        Link to video

                                        "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                        The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                                        AxtremusA 1 Reply Last reply
                                        • George KG George K

                                          @axtremus thanks for linking that.

                                          He has another video comparing the MacBook Air with the MacBook Pro (both M1). Very little difference other than screen brightness and better battery life in the Pro.

                                          Link to video

                                          AxtremusA Offline
                                          AxtremusA Offline
                                          Axtremus
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #46

                                          @george-k said in Thinking about a new Mac...:

                                          He has another video comparing the MacBook Air with the MacBook Pro (both M1). Very little difference other than screen brightness and better battery life in the Pro.

                                          Yeah, when comparing the Air and the Pro, the 'touch bar' and the added weight of the 'Pro' were deal breakers, so I went with the Air. And yes, after equalizing the options to the bigger SSD and 16GB RAM, I paid the $50 extra for the 8th GPU core.

                                          George KG 1 Reply Last reply
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