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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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  • 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
                                  • AxtremusA Axtremus

                                    @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 Offline
                                    George KG Offline
                                    George K
                                    wrote on last edited by George K
                                    #47

                                    @axtremus do you have yours hooked up in a fashion similar to what @jon-nyc did?

                                    External monitor, stand, etc.

                                    Or do you just use it as a notebook?

                                    Looking at the prices of monitors, a 27" monitor with the same specifications as the iMac is quite pricey.

                                    "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 KlausK 2 Replies Last reply
                                    • AxtremusA Offline
                                      AxtremusA Offline
                                      Axtremus
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #48

                                      @George-K, my MacBook Air is for portability.
                                      I have other Macs (mini and Pro) that are “hooked up”.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      • George KG George K

                                        @axtremus do you have yours hooked up in a fashion similar to what @jon-nyc did?

                                        External monitor, stand, etc.

                                        Or do you just use it as a notebook?

                                        Looking at the prices of monitors, a 27" monitor with the same specifications as the iMac is quite pricey.

                                        AxtremusA Offline
                                        AxtremusA Offline
                                        Axtremus
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #49

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

                                        Looking at the prices of monitors, a 27" monitor with the same specifications as the iMac is quite pricey.

                                        Indeed. But their are no good alternatives. Once spoiled by the Retina display, it’s hard to use anything else. If I really have to have the Apple CPU and a large display, and I want to balance cost, quality, and time to gratification, then I’d most likely just wait another year for an M1 iMac. :man-shrugging:

                                        Without having to read any rumor sites, I think it’s quite safe to count on Apple to release iMacs and 4-port MacBook Pros with its own silicon in 2021. (Less sure about the iMac Pro and the Mac Pro. Apple might wait for another generational jump with even better multi-core/multi-CPU support before putting its own silicon into the Pro desktops/workstations.)

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        • George KG George K

                                          @axtremus do you have yours hooked up in a fashion similar to what @jon-nyc did?

                                          External monitor, stand, etc.

                                          Or do you just use it as a notebook?

                                          Looking at the prices of monitors, a 27" monitor with the same specifications as the iMac is quite pricey.

                                          KlausK Offline
                                          KlausK Offline
                                          Klaus
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #50

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

                                          Looking at the prices of monitors, a 27" monitor with the same specifications as the iMac is quite pricey.

                                          Which specifications are you looking for, specifically?

                                          Monitors with 4K resolution aren't expensive. 5K is a bit more unusual, but I don't think the difference between 4K and 5K is significant.

                                          George KG markM 2 Replies Last reply
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