5k iMac: can I justify?

[cincygolfgrrl]

You spend less you get less. You spend more you get more.

Yep, you're right, red. Balls to the wall! Go big or go home. Moderation is a fool's choice. Everyone should get the biggest, baddest computer. Consequences like foregoing that family vacation where more photographs could be made are meaningless when one can spend that time worshipping at the altar of the 27-inch god.

 

[kazmac]

Definitely have a look at the store. If you have the $ and can justify go for it.

After looking at the rMB this morning, I immediately played around with the 27" retina iMac. I might definitely consider the 27" given the beautiful screen and how responsive the base 27" was. I've always been a smaller iMac person, but we'll see what my funds and situation are when the time comes to replace my trusty 21.5".

 

[Cape Dave]

It is all about the screen. The screen will amaze you.

 

[flashy-cat]

It is all about the screen. The screen will amaze you.

According to Meghan Trainor, it's all about the bass!

 

[cynics]

The OP's stated primary purpose is to serve photos to a television, in addition to standard Web, email, and the odd spreadsheet. A Mac Mini, a good monitor, and an Apple TV would serve the OP's stated needs quite well. If s/he wants to move up to a MacBook Pro or iMac to do the stated tasks that would be good too.

But sharing the glories of your Power User's computer doesn't advance the discussion.

Your conveniently leaving out some of the things that the OP mentioned to suit your argument.

Are you aware of the hardware limitation of a Mac Mini with 4k monitor like you suggested? I'm questioning if you even know what you are talking about or intentionally giving poor advice.

My "power user" setup is a less powerful iMac then the one you have listed in your sig so I don't know what you are going on about there. Unless you are referring to the 5k I use at work. Does any computer I use make me a more powerful user, because I touched a Mac Pro once.

Yep, you're right, red. Balls to the wall! Go big or go home. Moderation is a fool's choice. Everyone should get the biggest, baddest computer. Consequences like foregoing that family vacation where more photographs could be made are meaningless when one can spend that time worshipping at the altar of the 27-inch god.

Since when is the base model 5k iMac the biggest and baddest computer? Or any iMac for that matter?

Are you the OP's accountant? Whats that drivel in bold about? You commented about how me talking about a 5k iMac in a 5k iMac thread isn't advancing the discussion then you post this?

Why buy a Mac Mini and 4k monitor when you can put that money in a ROTH IRA annually and retire a couple years early and go on family vacation to Europe! See how silly that sounds? Thats you.

 

[cincygolfgrrl]

Are you aware of the hardware limitation of a Mac Mini with 4k monitor like you suggested? I'm questioning if you even know what you are talking about or intentionally giving poor advice.

My point is a Mac, any Mac, is capable of doing "mundane" tasks like email, spreadsheets, and serving images to Apple TV. Everyone seemed to be pushing the 5K iMac so I thought I'd throw out at least one different option.

You didn't notice I also said, "If s/he wants to move up to a MacBook Pro or iMac to do the stated tasks that would be good too." If the OP wants to buy a fully tricked-out Mac Pro, I say go for it.

Why buy a Mac Mini and 4k monitor when you can put that money in a ROTH IRA annually and retire a couple years early and go on family vacation to Europe! See how silly that sounds? Thats you.

While you were cherrypicking, you failed to notice the OP is from EUROPE.

The OP, who confessed to being a PC user, asked the question on the iMac forum. Can you explain how it wasn't prudent to offer more than one option? Had OP been a long-time Mac user I wouldn't have written a word.

 

[Notechy]

Just stumbled across this old thread which I started. While I posted on other threads, I never reported the outcome here.

I waited for refurbished to appear in June 2015 and got 5k iMac with 3 TB fusion and 16GB RAM on what was otherwise the previous base retina, viz i5 3.5 and M290X graphics.

I found the transition from Windows harder than I had been led to expect, but no regrets. Interestingly, four and a half years on, I have have no urge to upgrade or update, so perhaps this is turning out to be less costly than buying a lesser device?

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Just stumbled across this old thread which I started. While I posted on other threads, I never reported the outcome here.

I waited for refurbished to appear in June 2015 and got 5k iMac with 3 TB fusion and 16GB RAM on what was otherwise the previous base retina, viz i5 3.5 and M290X graphics.

I found the transition from Windows harder than I had been led to expect, but no regrets. Interestingly, four and a half years on, I have have no urge to upgrade or update, so perhaps this is turning out to be less costly than buying a lesser device?

You can still install windows to the iMac to get a nostalgic feeling.