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27-inch iMac gets a major update

apple.com

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Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#261

Post by spideymans »

jquery wrote: post #83
varjag wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a later 2017 revision of that one, never really had an issue with CPU speed. Mine has RAM maxed to 16Gb though, perhaps that helps. It's a great machine: a real computer but with iPad pro dimensions.

I’ve been force-feeding myself the new iPad Pro with magic keyboard as my primary laptop for the past few months (why? So I can experience what kids are largely experiencing these days, and empathize). It’s definitely a “real computer”, just optimized in a different way than I’m used to. Doesn’t feel like a budget computer either, it’s incredibly powerful for something that uses less than 18 watts and has no fan. IPa…

I am so tempted to go buy an iPad Pro, demoting my Mac to a development-only machine.

Everything on iPadOS just seems more refined, more fluid and more fun than on MacOS. Everything from 120 Hz display, to instant waking from sleep, to battery life that is actually consistent. The overall user experience just seems lightyears ahead of the Mac, assuming your workflows are compatible with the software limitations.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#262

Post by eklavya »

zalthor wrote: post #192
look_lookatme wrote: post #70

I wish I could use it as an external display. I would buy one as my personal machine and then use the display during the day with my MBP for work. Would be nice in this new world of remote work.

You can always boot from your mbp? Treat it like an external bootable storage system. Yes you won’t be able to use the display on the laptop, but you will be able to run your applications on the iMac. (Assuming that matters more? For me it does. I can’t stand how slow docker is on my mbp, pretty much puts my cpu to 100% and has the fans running at full speed)

I wanted this so much. Turns out that doesn't work with encrypted drives which is mandatory. Target disk mode only allows booting in non encrypted drives or perhaps non t2 MacBooks.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#263

Post by hn_check »

n3k5 wrote: post #134

“SSDs across the line with quadruple the storage” 1/4 TB of storage in the $1800 model, 1/2 TB in the $2300 one. Ugh. (So before the lower-end one had 64GB? [Edit: Nope, 1 TB Fusion Drive, thanks smnrchrds!] That would be FULL just from installing the one game the press release mentions.) What kind of magic fairy dust SSDs are they using that you can't have a sensible amount of storage space at those prices? Looking…

HN clearly isn't the target market. When HN frets about how it isn't suitable for them, it's just a lot of meaningless bluster and noise.

Though let's be real here. I have a 2018 MBP with 256GB of storage. I have XCode, the XCode beta, Logic Pro, virtually the entire Adobe gamut of software, brew and a massive selection of brew packages, every browser, IntelliJ, GoLand, and just a tonne of crap.

I've used about 150GB. As fair disclosure I have a USB 3 1TB 970 Pro in an enclosure that I use for the occasional massive file download, purely because I'm paranoid about flash exhaustion, though by the system metrics I'm still at less than 1% wear.

Yeah, someone buying this for their kid to do their homework is going to be completely fine with 256GB. Though it's worth noting that the next option is just $200 more and gives you a faster process and 512GB. The lowest end one is just the one to frame the value, and presumably isn't their recommendation.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#264

Post by yborg »

sukilot wrote: post #142
johncalvinyoung wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sitting around waiting on the 2020 CPU revision of the 16" MBP. Will be getting that top GPU too. Just don't want to buy right now if we might get that CPU upgrade in the next 1-3 months.

What's the point of maxing out CPU/GPU on a form factor that can't manage thermals?

I think this is every Apple Intel platform. My i7 6-core Mini can manage about 30 seconds at full clock if they're all lit. One problem seems to be that the fan hysteresis is too long, it spins up the fan too slowly and the CPU is already throttling down before it reaches full airflow.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#265

Post by owenwil »

s1t5 wrote: post #93
asadkn wrote: post #15

It just feels wrong to buy anything new from Apple with "Intel Inside" - when they're clearly going to dump it soon, in favor of ARM (excuse me for not using the cringey term Apple Silicon).

Isn't it way more risky to buy their first gen ARM computer than to buy something that will definitely work reliably (Intel)?

Yes – anyone saying otherwise is an early adopter (so most of this site), but for the average user, an ARM-based device won't be perfect at launch. Plenty of apps (and games in particular) will outright not work; buying an Intel device now will mean support for 3+ years and avoiding transition pain, even if you miss out on 'new shiny' for a while.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#266

Post by rbanffy »

thelittlenag wrote: post #111

Shipping with 8GB memory by default just seems absurd. Also, having only 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports seems a little light as well. I would hope to have had 4 ports at least.

A lot of Mac users get the computer and never plug anything to it besides a phone or some USB sticks. If all you want is a computer you can read your e-mail on, 8 GB is fine. Memory, AFAIK, is upgradable post-purchase in all current models.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#267

Post by jyrkesh »

ddavis wrote: post #35
PascLeRasc wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Massive upgrade for people working at companies whose IT refuses to buy anything but the cheapest model.

Still only 8GB RAM though, a bit of a bummer.

Yeah, and upgrading to even 32 GBs is SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS.

I get that it has to be soldered on or whatever, but I'm looking at faster RAM on Newegg right now, in brand names, single module DDR4, for ~115.

I really wanna buy Apple stuff, but stuff like this continually keeps me away when I finally get to the Buy page.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#268

Post by wlesieutre »

skohan wrote: post #196
n3k5 wrote: post #134

“SSDs across the line with quadruple the storage” 1/4 TB of storage in the $1800 model, 1/2 TB in the $2300 one. Ugh. (So before the lower-end one had 64GB? [Edit: Nope, 1 TB Fusion Drive, thanks smnrchrds!] That would be FULL just from installing the one game the press release mentions.) What kind of magic fairy dust SSDs are they using that you can't have a sensible amount of storage space at those prices? Looking…

It seems crazy. I bought a 2TB M.2 PCIE gen 3 drive not too long ago for 200 EUR. These drives are so tiny now they could easy offer an expansion slot which is accessible to the user, like the PS5 will. I miss the early-2000s era Apple who would actually do something like that.

At least Thunderbolt gives a theoretical 40 Gbps expansion option, if not as clean as having it built-in would be.

$100-$150 for an enclosure, so that's still going to be cheaper than Apple's markup.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#269

Post by spideymans »

skohan wrote: post #256
paulpan wrote: post #202

This essentially confirms Apple's strategy to just refresh existing models/chassis without redesigns going forward; the new Apple chips will be used exclusively for redesigned/relaunches like the Macbook. Smart move since it increases the appeal of the Apple-powered Mac devices. The pricing difference will also help, as based on the expensive base configurations (RAM, SSD as others have pointed out here), it will mak…

Is there credible evidence the new devices will actually be cheaper? It hasn’t been the trend with Apple product launches

Apple sells an iPad for $349, and their new iPhone SE, with their most powerful SOC, is just $399.
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