Almost bought the new iMac… then came to my senses

[PutTheFBackIn]

I have a 2011 iMac that is still trekking along. However I’ve wanted to update for the last several years, and the redesign along with the M1 seemed like the perfect time.

I’ve gone back and forth so many times about this new iMac. Phases of denial, acceptance, anger, bewilderment… etc. And just as recently as a few days ago I was about to give in and just go with it. Then I came to my senses.

This thing is hideous. Absolutely positively hideous. White bezels? Are you kidding? No gray or black option? Comical prices (not to mention the continued Apple gouging on storage). A power brick?? Way to take an inexcusable step back. And finally…. as obsessed as Apple is about their brand (not a knock as any multi-trillion dollar company should be obsessed), they drop the freaking logo off the still-present chin?? Whack!

That all being said I’ll be the first to admit that of course I would nerd out if a pro version in space grey (and black bezels) were released. 🤣

 

[Caliber26]

I was the opposite of you. My initial reaction was to hate it and now I've come around to appreciate its design and color choices. I don't disagree that these prices are (especially the RAM and storage upgrades) are kinda whack for an entry-level machine, but aside from that I'd love to have a green one. I'm just holding out until I see what the upcoming iMac "Pro" has to offer before I make a decision. But if the prices for the 24" iMac are any indication, I'll probably be priced out of the Pro version. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[uller6]

I'm glad you're exercising your free will! There are plenty of downsides to the new iMacs, and Apple is really good at making machines that are incredibly desirable BUT missing that ONE feature you really want. Like limiting RAM to 16 GB in the M1 machines. There is always a tradeoff.

Personally, I like the new design. I work in a very well-lit room with lots of windows, and the black shiny iMac bezels are too reflective in bright sunlight. I'm looking forward to the white bezels and hope they make a difference with reflections.

I'm also looking forward to the low power consumption and heat of the new M1 iMac. I'm sick of running space heaters on my desk. I calculate that based on the difference in electricity consumption between my existing iMac Pro and the new M1 iMac, the M1 iMac will pay for itself in just over 3 years of operation. That's real serious savings. From the apple website, your 2011 iMac (assuming a 27: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201918) uses close to 150W on idle. That's 2X the idle power consumption of my iMac Pro. You'll save a ton of money by upgrading.

 

[JMacHack]

You know what, you have an opinion and that’s okay, ignore anyone that gets heated.

I disagree on “comical” pricing though. Current PC part prices are insane and actually makes the iMac, even with egregious storage costs a good value.

Yeah the new design is polarizing, and it’s not personally where I would’ve taken it, but I view it as a return to form. Silver/gray was getting stodgy. It’s about time some “fun” was added back in to the lineup.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

Here' are your choices:
- Keep using the iMac you have now, until it won't run any more. Then get a Mini or a laptop.
- Buy a 2020 Intel iMac. It has "an appearance" that pleases you, right?
- Buy a 24" m1 iMac and live with it.
- Wait for the larger-screen iMac that's coming out in a few more months. But my guess is that it's gonna look like the 24", "only bigger".

OK... Choose.

 

[PutTheFBackIn]

OP:

Here' are your choices:
- Keep using the iMac you have now, until it won't run any more. Then get a Mini or a laptop.
- Buy a 2020 Intel iMac. It has "an appearance" that pleases you, right?
- Buy a 24" m1 iMac and live with it.
- Wait for the larger-screen iMac that's coming out in a few more months. But my guess is that it's gonna look like the 24", "only bigger".

OK... Choose.

You summed it up pretty well. I really hope you’re wrong about the larger one being the same design (no logo, power brick, etc).

I love the last design but I can’t invest in an Intel Mac knowing Apple is moving away from it and the M1 is phenomenal for my purposes.

 

[imdog]

OP:

Here' are your choices:
- Keep using the iMac you have now, until it won't run any more. Then get a Mini or a laptop.
- Buy a 2020 Intel iMac. It has "an appearance" that pleases you, right?
- Buy a 24" m1 iMac and live with it.
- Wait for the larger-screen iMac that's coming out in a few more months. But my guess is that it's gonna look like the 24", "only bigger".

OK... Choose.

A larger iMac is most likely not coming out in a few months

 

[zerofour]

I'm like you in the sense that I've gone left, right, forwards, backwards. And then stopped.
I'm very torn as well and Fishrrman's cracking little summary is right where I find myself. One day I lean towards iMac 24 which isn't quite what I'd hoped for, then think of getting a Mac mini (same spec leading to a £700-£800 saving for me and a 7-8 day wait instead of 7-8 weeks). And then I ponder about carrying on with my squeaking, clicking, beeping (not in a swearing sense...) 2013 iMac and wait for a larger reincarnation of the 24. And then I get confused so I just go and make a cup of tea. Then everything makes sense again...

 

[Madmic23]

I have a 2011 iMac that is still trekking along. However I’ve wanted to update for the last several years, and the redesign along with the M1 seemed like the perfect time.

I’ve gone back and forth so many times about this new iMac. Phases of denial, acceptance, anger, bewilderment… etc. And just as recently as a few days ago I was about to give in and just go with it. Then I came to my senses.

This thing is hideous. Absolutely positively hideous. White bezels? Are you kidding? No gray or black option? Comical prices (not to mention the continued Apple gouging on storage). A power brick?? Way to take an inexcusable step back. And finally…. as obsessed as Apple is about their brand (not a knock as any multi-trillion dollar company should be obsessed), they drop the freaking logo off the still-present chin??

I totally expect to get heat and possibly insulted over my take. Then again, that’s exactly what I threw out there with my post so I have to accept it back.

Don't forget about the Mac Mini! The base model is more powerful than the base model iMac since the Mini has the 8-core GPU as opposed to the 7-core in the iMac. The Mini also has full sized USB ports, and you can pick a monitor of any size with no chin and black bezels.

I'm sure there are lots of people out there who like the new iMac. For everyone else, just get the Mac Mini.

 

[Madmic23]

I'm like you in the sense that I've gone left, right, forwards, backwards. And then stopped.
I'm very torn as well and Fishrrman's cracking little summary is right where I find myself. One day I lean towards iMac 24 which isn't quite what I'd hoped for, then think of getting a Mac mini (same spec leading to a £700-£800 saving for me). And then I ponder about carrying on with my squeaking, clicking, beeping (not in a swearing sense...) 2013 iMac and wait for a larger reincarnation of the 24. And then I get confused so I just go and make a cup of tea. Then everything makes sense again...

I bought a new Intel Mac Mini last year to replace my old iMac. The Mini was the previous generation, so it was on clearance. I'm happy I did, because I can trade it in or sell it now and get a new Mini for not a huge upgrade cost. My 27" 4K monitor works just fine, so why replace that?

 

[Successful Sorcerer]

Ha, funny how people experience this new design so differently which of course is totally fine. I think the new iMac looks great and am happy they dropped that tacky logo on the front. That chin is there for practical reasons (heat dispersion). I agree on the powerbrick but on the other hand I understand why they did it and isn't a real problem to me. Plus the m1 still performs extremely well vs the competition.

 

[Applefan2015]

A larger iMac is most likely not coming out in a few months

Why do you think this?

 

[mystery hill]

The worst part is the new Magic Keyboard doesn’t have the inverted-T arrow keys like the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.

 

[GuruZac]

I was the opposite of you. My initial reaction was to hate it and now I've come around to appreciate its design and color choices. I don't disagree that these prices are (especially the RAM and storage upgrades) are kinda whack for an entry-level machine, but aside from that I'd love to have a green one. I'm just holding out until I see what the upcoming iMac "Pro" has to offer before I make a decision. But if the prices for the 24" iMac are any indication, I'll probably be priced out of the Pro version. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Totally agree. I had one on order, but had to cancel because I still need a portable macOS device. From the side it looks like a giant iPad Pro on the Magic Keyboard. Not crazy about the white bezel with softer pastel colors on the front, but I bet in person, with that beautiful display it would disappear.

 

[Juicy Box]

I really hope you’re wrong about the larger one being the same design (no logo, power brick, etc).

I think the larger one will come in the same colors, but there will be a higher end version in space grey or black with black bezels to differentiate it from the lower power iMacs.

Basically like the iMac Pro, but with a newer design.

 

[The_Martini_Cat]

I like how the new candy canes iMac is portable within the house. All you need is another adapter hooked up to power and ethernet cable in another room, and it's easy to carry that screen around! For people using a ten-year-old computer, I'm sure they have their reasons -- I know I've still got one that I boot up from time to time -- but the only thing that keeps me from this little iMac is the 16G limit and the 2TB SSD (oops that's two things). OMG. If I had ever known I would shun a computer because it "only" had two terabytes of storage. I had better stop blathering before I lapse off into profanity! 🍸🙀😹

 

[thefourthpope]

Don't forget about the Mac Mini! The base model is more powerful than the base model iMac since the Mini has the 8-core GPU as opposed to the 7-core in the iMac. The Mini also has full sized USB ports, and you can pick a monitor of any size with no chin and black bezels.

I'm sure there are lots of people out there who like the new iMac. For everyone else, just get the Mac Mini.

This is where I landed and am thrilled. Bonus, my ancient Mini DisplayPort Cinema Display is back in the mix

 

[djcerla]

Not buying one yet (waiting for M2 models) but they look fabulous and very modern in my opinion, yet hinting at no less than the original iMac.

 

[Maconplasma]

The worst part is the new Magic Keyboard doesn’t have the inverted-T arrow keys like the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.

Well if that's the worst part then that may not be a problem for most. In fact you're the first I've read to even mention it. All of my MacBooks and iMacs have had it (except for my butterfly keyboard Macs) and I've never saw the benefit of it.

 

[mystery hill]

Well if that's the worst part then that may not be a problem for most.

It’s only the worst part for me because I don’t intend to buy the iMac, but was hoping that they would update the keyboard layout so that it’s consistent with the MacBook.

The inverted-T design makes it easier to identify the arrow keys when touch typing.

 

[Maconplasma]

The inverted-T design makes it easier to identify the arrow keys when touch typing.

Interesting. I'm a devout touch typist. Never once thought to use the arrow keys as I type. Not sure why anyone would during normal typing. To each his own.

 

[NewUsername]

I think the Mac mini with an external screen is a much better deal. On the other hand, the iMac is still an excellent computer (even if it's overpriced). If you get the base model and use external storage, the price is doable.

Also, real life experience can often be better than the pictures. When announced, everyone said the notch on the iPhone X or the camera setup of the iPhone 11 was absolutely outrageously hideous, but nowadays we can all live with it.

 

[mystery hill]

Not sure why anyone would during normal typing.

From the Apple website, describing the keyboard on the 16” MacBook Pro (2019)

And the inverted-T arrow keys enable fluid navigation whether you’re flying through lines of code, navigating spreadsheets or gaming.

 

[CWallace]

If it had a 5K 27" display, I would have ordered one in purple on Day One - white bezels and all.

I am only waiting for the iMac Pro to see the size and resolution of the display it has. Don't care about the bezels or anything else as they are not relevant for me.

 

[iDave]

I liked it from the first moment I saw it in the video on presentation day. Looks like a really big iPad on a stand. I don't understand what's not to like except maybe the colors. If that's the case, there's same-ol' silver available. I'm no expert on industrial design but I'd say Apple hit it out of the park. It's going to run fast, cool and quiet and will look good on your desk when turned off.