Thinking about a new Mac...
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wrote on 26 Dec 2020, 14:15 last edited by
@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.
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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.
wrote on 26 Dec 2020, 14:46 last edited by@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.
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@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.
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@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 videoThe 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.
wrote on 26 Dec 2020, 15:13 last edited by@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.
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@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.
wrote on 26 Dec 2020, 15:15 last edited by George K@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?
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wrote on 26 Dec 2020, 15:29 last edited by
You forgot the vegan leather desk mat.
vegan leather
That is a new one on me
image url) -
wrote on 26 Dec 2020, 15:45 last edited by
@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
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wrote on 26 Dec 2020, 15:48 last edited by
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.
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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.
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wrote on 26 Dec 2020, 15:56 last edited by
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.
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wrote on 26 Dec 2020, 19:15 last edited by
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.
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wrote on 27 Dec 2020, 02:06 last edited by George K
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?
Note: The price difference doesn't account for the SSD storage difference.
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wrote on 27 Dec 2020, 02:09 last edited by
Eh, never mind.
The difference is only $50 when you add the same SSD/
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wrote on 27 Dec 2020, 03:58 last edited by
@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
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@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
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wrote on 27 Dec 2020, 08:38 last edited by
Apple M1 MacBook Pro vs. Dell XPS with 11th gen. Intel core i7:
Link to video -
Apple M1 MacBook Pro vs. Dell XPS with 11th gen. Intel core i7:
Link to videowrote on 27 Dec 2020, 12:22 last edited by 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 -
@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 videowrote on 28 Dec 2020, 03:20 last edited by@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.
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@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.
wrote on 28 Dec 2020, 13:08 last edited by George K