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27-inch iMac gets a major update

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Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#461

Post by skrtskrt »

mistersquid wrote: post #144
epistasis wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That appears to only have a single C port. It's a strange thing, you can get these super complicated docking stations with all sorts of different ports, but can't get a 4-port hub that's only usb-c connectors. At least neither tzs nor I have found such hubs.

The CalDigit TS3 Plus Dock has two USB-C ports and one Thunderbolt 3 port, not counting the port for the computer itself. [0] (To be clear, USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports have the same form factor and Thunderbolt 3 is downwards compatible with USB-C.) [0] https://www.caldigit.com/ts3-plus/

This one works great but it gets hot as hell and if you want to use the USB hookups to charge devices, forget it, they only offer a trickle of charge

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#462

Post by supernova87a »

m0xte wrote: post #424

Well they can quite frankly fuck off with that one. The 32gb additional memory option costs 4x the price of the entire 32gb of ram in my desktop. It costs independently 60% of the cost of my desktop pc base unit just for the upgrade. The bottom end unit features 256gb SSD (probably soldered) and the next tier up wants +£200 to go from 512 to 1TiB. My entire 1TB Samsung evo plus nvme cost £165. The 5k display isn’t wo…

Maybe just put Apple out of your mind and don't get so angry about it. They're clearly not trying to compete for your business / segment of the market.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#463

Post by geerlingguy »

obmelvin wrote: post #420
rsynnott wrote: post #316

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Few if any laptops have decent cameras. This is partially because until recently most users didn't actually care that much, but also for practical reasons; modern laptops have very slim lids, so you can't really fit decent optics (a phone is a good bit deeper).

Thanks for pointing out the size - didn't quite think about just how much thinner lids are than phones. That is certainly a very real limiter

For comparison, the MacBook Air has about 2-3mm of usable space in the lid for optics + sensor. The iPhone has something like 7 or 8mm. For lens design and the ability to have a very slightly larger sensor, that's a huge difference.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#464

Post by tmpz22 »

Razengan wrote: post #290
dijit wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It will almost certainly be a low end macbook. In fact, there's a non-pro 'macbook'[0] that already exists which would be perfect, it was discontinued a year ago, but used ultra-low power CPUs. In fact when they were talking about them (prior to release) they thought they would have ARM CPU's back then. They are fanless and have a 5W thermal envelope, which fits in with the current A12X too. The major criticisms of t…

> Intel CORE-M is truly, truly painful No, it wasn’t. I used to ru Xcode, iOS Simulator, World of Warcraft, League of Legends on the fanless MacBook with 8 GB of RAM just fine enough.

You can both be right. Machine defects, or just aging, can cause the battery to expand and internals to coat with dust - causing thermal throtting, excessive fan usage, and significantly worst performance, after even just a year or so.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#465

Post by supernova87a »

graeme wrote: post #7

Does the imac pro get the better camera and other features listed? I used laptops for years until and rsi issue made me have to avoid trackpads. I can say I’ve been extremely pleased with having a desktop imac. I use an ipad pro when I need something portable. I like just having a station I can get in front of that signifies work, and the imac pro fans basically never make noise.

iMacs always had relatively better cameras than the laptops, and are not really limiting for most video chat usages (unless you're seeking 4k video or something). Their form factor allows real-sized cameras to be used, unlike a laptop lid that constantly compromises.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#466

Post by geerlingguy »

jonpurdy wrote: post #258
madengr wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The original Apple FireWire webcam was very good, with a large, motorized lens. Despite boasting higher resolution, I doubt many modern webcams are as good, especially integrated ones.

How awesome would an updated iSight be today? You could fit an APC-C sized sensor (1.6x crop DSLR) with a 22mm f/2 pancake lens for some insane bokeh. Probably at around the $300 price point. Sure would be easier than hooking a "clean HDMI" DSLR or mirrorless into a HDMI input/USB adaptor...

Especially if the camera could compress the stream in-body so you don't have to blow up your CPU/GPU to get a good 60fps HD video signal like you do using a mirrorless/DSLR.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#467

Post by wiredfool »

pier25 wrote: post #357
_ph_ wrote: post #341

The one thing I keep missing on my 5k iMac is some form of video-in. Would be great if I could connect my MB Pro to it and use the iMac as a display. Perhaps even in a window and all mouse and keyboard events to the window get passed to the connected MacBook.

Yeah, and once something goes wrong with the iMac you could still use it as a monitor.

I had one of the appropriate era, and ultimately, the display went.

(After roasting several drives, thermal management was not a high point on those machines)

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#468

Post by EricE »

rbanffy wrote: post #293
pilsetnieks wrote: post #206

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To the best of my knowledge, most laptops support external displays and peripherals as well.

True, but my Macbook enters "hairdryer mode" every time I push it a little (which is often). I'd like a quieter device without the constant fan noise.

>I'd like a quieter device without the constant fan noise.

Your going to love Apple Silicon based Mac's!

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#469

Post by m0xte »

supernova87a wrote: post #462
m0xte wrote: post #424

Well they can quite frankly fuck off with that one. The 32gb additional memory option costs 4x the price of the entire 32gb of ram in my desktop. It costs independently 60% of the cost of my desktop pc base unit just for the upgrade. The bottom end unit features 256gb SSD (probably soldered) and the next tier up wants +£200 to go from 512 to 1TiB. My entire 1TB Samsung evo plus nvme cost £165. The 5k display isn’t wo…

Maybe just put Apple out of your mind and don't get so angry about it. They're clearly not trying to compete for your business / segment of the market.

I have a Mac desktop as well. I want to use macOS. I am the market. But I have to be realistic about cost.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#470

Post by varjag »

read_if_gay_ wrote: post #430
varjag wrote: post #401

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sure it's possible, but just as you say - limited, so I see little point.

It's no question that a "real" Unix system is more powerful, but a VPS has been surprisingly usable to me. Many commandline tasks are more enjoyable on the iPad than on my desktop. The rest, I just fall back to my desktop. Try it - you might be surprised how powerful it is.

Thanks for the tip, I might try it at some point, would need the keyboard folio first tho.

Am no stranger to bizarre setups. Have used remote shell on Palm PDA with foldout keyboard over IRDA via cellphone GSM modem; now this was cumbersome setup. Had Agenda VR3 Linux PDA and coded on it. It's really comfy with mb12 now tho and I like network independence.

I code on the planes all the time, somehow it's really easy to get in the flow. So I like how this setup works on the foldout tray and without network to count on. Doing tons of field work too. In late January had to code for 6 hours with my ass on a tunnel tarmac north of Trondheim. Though of course most of the time I work within network range.

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