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drmroth

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 11, 2011
3
0
I have a 24" imac that I love but it's a little slow for me and so I'm passing it on to a relative. I went to look at the new imacs but there's no 24" imacs!

Would you go with the 21" or the 27"?
 
If you have the room go with the 27", you get used to the size, it is hard for me to switch back to my PC with the 21" screen after using the Imac.
 
27in

I came across the same question, I sold my 24in recently but when I went to apple store and saw 21.5in and 27in, 21 was too small if u have used a 24in iMac so I ordered a 27in now they will be delivering in a few days,, very excited!!!!!

By the way I checked the height is same for 24 and 27, just 3in wider so I'd recommend 27in
 
It depends how it's used. I like big screens but I do a lot of drawing and photo work, so if it's too big my tablet to screen size ratio gets too far off (really 1:1 is preferable). I noted the buyer's guide link. It's useless. The most probable update would be when ivy bridge is available. I'd expect an updated imac around April 2012. If it gets any bumps before then, they won't mean much (note how the macbook pro updates were a very minor dropin type refresh with mid generation replacement cpu bumps).

You should identify what is too slow for you. Is the gpu holding you back in gaming? Are newer applications too ram hungry for your current configuration? Is your hard drive kind of reaching a point where it's starting to really slow down (this can happen to SSDs too especially if you fill them up).

Without some kind of additional information here, it's impossible for anyone to provide you with a truly informative reply.
 
At this point I couldn't do anything under 24". I say 27" and you won't regret it, I hope.
 
If you have the room go with the 27", you get used to the size, it is hard for me to switch back to my PC with the 21" screen after using the Imac.

+1.

I went with 21.5" in mid 2010. After measuring and measuring, I was restricted to limited desk space. After I unboxed my 21.5", I then realized the iMac design sits on a stand (support leg) that is 8" deep. Darn... The 27" iMac could have fit on my desk with hutch after all. Next time, I'm getting the 27" model. If limited desk space, remember to take its stand depth into measuring check consideration as well.

.
 
I just replaced a 2007 20 inch with a new 21.5 inch and couldn't be happier (although I had to take the first one back with very noisy fans that were stuck on).

I find the 21.5 inch a good size for web design and general work (and a little play).


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http://www.1goodidea.com
 
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I'm happy with my 21.5" iMac. However since you're used to a larger screen I'd recommend the 27" iMac.
 
Coming from 2x 24" iMacs there was no way I could go to a 21.5. The screen real-estate is awesome on the 27". Most of the time my second monitor is no longer used.

Cheers,
 
I came across the same question, I sold my 24in recently but when I went to apple store and saw 21.5in and 27in, 21 was too small if u have used a 24in iMac so I ordered a 27in now they will be delivering in a few days,, very excited!!!!!
The problem with that is that the 27" looks much smaller in the store than it will be in my small room :(.

;)
 
Extra screen size can prove handy.

I do a fair amount of photo editing and having the screen size to edit photos side x side is very nice with the 27" screen. Many editing tasks would benefit with the larger screen.
 
I also just changed from a 24" to 21.5" and my "prob" is not the size of the monitor itself but the resolution. I miss the space I had on my desktop

Why is the 21.5 limited to 1920*1080 ? Is it the gpu ?

Because of this there is less space on the desktop compared to the bigger screen plus higher res
 
I also just changed from a 24" to 21.5" and my "prob" is not the size of the monitor itself but the resolution. I miss the space I had on my desktop

Why is the 21.5 limited to 1920*1080 ? Is it the gpu ?

Because of this there is less space on the desktop compared to the bigger screen plus higher res

No its not the GPU. Everyone is mvg to the widescreen aspect ratio 16:9 instead of the old 16:10 I believe. Modern GPUs are plenty powerful enough to handle the old 1920x1200 resolution.

Cheers,
 
I've a previous gen 24", and will be waiting until spring for the latest / greatest 27" model. 21" is too small + guts are not as powerful as the larger version, 24" just right size, 27" will be interesting.
 
using the two at bb the other day i prefered the smaller 21"...not sure why...just found the 27" overpowering..if that makes any sence....
 
Having only wanting to get a 27" at first, I've decided to get the 21" in the end, after a LONG time deciding, heres why:

the 21" has more of a traditional desktop computer experience

the 27" is just a monster, its too extreme..its like a TV/workhorse for editing/zooming/cad/coding/having lots of
things opened at once, as many people have noted they seldom use the space

it is overwhelming, you can't sit close to it, and if you have a smaller room it looks way too big in it.

you have to turn your head side to side and drag the mouse a lot to get to things

everything looks tiny on the 27" the pics, the videos, icons on webpages etc etc and was giving me eye fatigue after 10 minutes of use, its just not a computer for casual everyday use
 
I do web design, etc., and I use Dreamweaver, Photoshop, etc. I purchased a 21.5" iMac last year. My choice was between the 21'5" and a 15" MBP rather than the 27" iMac. I am very happy with my choice and I will consider the 21.5" or a 24" if it is reintroduced iMac in '13 when this machine is replaced. I have a small home office and a smallish desk and sit relatively close to my iMac.
 
Having only wanting to get a 27" at first, I've decided to get the 21" in the end, after a LONG time deciding, heres why:

the 21" has more of a traditional desktop computer experience

the 27" is just a monster, its too extreme..its like a TV/workhorse for editing/zooming/cad/coding/having lots of
things opened at once, as many people have noted they seldom use the space

it is overwhelming, you can't sit close to it, and if you have a smaller room it looks way too big in it.

you have to turn your head side to side and drag the mouse a lot to get to things

everything looks tiny on the 27" the pics, the videos, icons on webpages etc etc and was giving me eye fatigue after 10 minutes of use, its just not a computer for casual everyday use

I do kind of agree. I bought a 21.5 after examining both in the store, and I just found that I have to look around the screen too much in the 27 inch. I think that if you were doing editing work or coding it would be great, but for the average user (myself)...its just overload.
 
27"

There is no substitute for a large pixel count when processing photos or accessing multiple documents at once. I even have a 20" 1600x1200 pixel monitor beside the iMac.

I can only see the 21.5" iMac being an advantage on a small desk or when cost is an issue, and for most people the performance of the 21.5" would be fine.

Previously I had a 20" White iMac (with the second monitor). My wife and my daughter each have 24" Aluminum iMacs.
 
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