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Best Arm Options For New 27" iMac

Humanscale M8 dual arm with iMac 27" 2011 + 24" HP LCD...on a glass desk?

Hi guys. Before I start I'd like to post this link (in case it hasn't been found before). Its a mount finder which displays a list by manufacturer and model of the mount type needed, the dimensions of the lcd monitor model and weight with and without stands attached. I found it useful, hope you do too.

http://www.omnimount.com/mountfinder_results/


Ok my bit. I'm about to take delivery of a 27" 2011 imac. I've been using a 24" HP w2408h with my mac mini & PS3 on its stand resting on a glass desk. On my right is a Benq FP991 19" on an ESI static articulated monitor arm which is mounted horizontally via a clamp to the rear leg of the metal desk. Its stable and the desk has not bent out of shape of I'm happy the desk can handle some form of weight. This is going and being replaced with 2 Cygnus gas lift arms on either side of the desk to take an ACD 20" + the Benq so my left/right options to mount other monitors are gone.

I got a bargain on a Humanscale M8 with dual crossbar. I want to mount this dead centre on the rear of the desk with the 27" iMac & 24" HP attached. Thats a 40-42lb weight on a glass desk with a 7mm thickness = disaster waiting to happen. I've seen others using wood to re-enforce the glass between it and the mounting clamp but 40lb+ is...wow. Example here (ignore, or don't, his anime fetish and its about 20%-25% down the page)

http://www.dannychoo.com/post/en/25797/Desk+Diary+2010+09+10.html#comment-811673

Desk Dimensions

Depth:
Glass = 7mm
Gap from bottom of glass to top of metal horizontal desk strut= 13mm
Horizontal top strut depth = 50mm
So top of glass to base of metal strut = 70mm
Back of desk glass overhanging horizontal metal strut = 49mm (can get this down to approx 40mm by bringing the glass forward) but I can't get rid of the overhang

Is there something, preferably some form of box incorporating cable management, that I can mount to the back horizontal top strut wedged to the underside of the glass which the M8 desk clamp can lock onto to provide re-enforcement to the glass above it and distribute the weight. Or anything else you can think of.

Sorry I know this is long and complex but I can't see any other style of solution as I've no wall to mount it to and I'm really stuck for space. Photos (not great quality sorry) below to give an idea of the current layout.
 

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No VESA, so how?

No VESA mount, is a PITA. I will have no desk space for a 27" iMac due to arrive in a couple of weeks..Space is seriously at a premium in my house and Mostly i work from My bedroom. fitted wardrobes either side of my bed that I cant move and very little floor space.

I was hoping to hang the iMac from a VESA mount from the side of the wardrobe on a longish arm. Now that seems impossible.

I have looked about for another solution but can't seem to find anything that will do the job. Let alone one that looks nice, and yes it matters!

Ive also considered some sort of over the bed table thing, but most of those Ive seen look like they belong in a hospital.


Short of getting rid of my bed to find a place for the iMac, has anyone seen anything that might solve the issue?

My 'desk' is my bed., so keyboard trackpad and stuff live there, yes I know its not great, but it is how I work best!
 
Great solution for iMac mounting

oililymad said:
No VESA mount, is a PITA. I will have no desk space for a 27" iMac due to arrive in a couple of weeks..Space is seriously at a premium in my house and Mostly i work from My bedroom. fitted wardrobes either side of my bed that I cant move and very little floor space.

I was hoping to hang the iMac from a VESA mount from the side of the wardrobe on a longish arm. Now that seems impossible.

I have looked about for another solution but can't seem to find anything that will do the job. Let alone one that looks nice, and yes it matters!

Ive also considered some sort of over the bed table thing, but most of those Ive seen look like they belong in a hospital.


Short of getting rid of my bed to find a place for the iMac, has anyone seen anything that might solve the issue?

My 'desk' is my bed., so keyboard trackpad and stuff live there, yes I know its not great, but it is how I work best!
Click to expand...

Like you, I'm very interested in mounting my (just ordered) new "thin model" 27" iMac on an articulating arm, and came across this in my search - it ain't cheap, but I feel it's the most elegant solution out there, and I just ordered it today - the company states you can tell them if you have the latest iMac for compatibility.

http://www.monitorsinmotion.com/store/product/22

Here's a nice little video showing it in motion (with the previous non-thin 27"iMac) - I've copied the video to the timeframe of the event - the entire video is a nice lesson on how to attach the special "Mac Head" adaptor, thereby avoiding VESA altogether:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Q2rXjpGON8E#t=392s
 
Last edited:
Hexley said:
Any solution for the late 2012 27" iMac?
Click to expand...

Yes, in the monitors in motion link I provided above. In the "Adaptor" section of the resulting page, you'll notice an option for MacHead Large Spigot for 24" or 27" iMacs. If you click on "What is this?" next to it, you'll see that the company wants you to let them know if you have the latest model of the 27" iMac.
 
voicegy said:
Yes, in the monitors in motion link I provided above. In the "Adaptor" section of the resulting page, you'll notice an option for MacHead Large Spigot for 24" or 27" iMacs. If you click on "What is this?" next to it, you'll see that the company wants you to let them know if you have the latest model of the 27" iMac.
Click to expand...

I don't see how that makes it compatible.
 
WilliamG said:
Well, I think it's worth mentioning that the average person isn't going to spend over $700 USD on a mount for their iMac, right? :p
Click to expand...

Well, if you feel it's worth mentioning, go ahead. As stated in my original post, you'll notice the words "it ain't cheap;" and, it may be an answer for someone who has the latest 27" iMac - which isn't VESA compatible. Hope it helps someone out there...later!
 
AppleDApp said:
Any cheaper solutions?
Click to expand...

Did some digging, and happily the answer is "Yes". :)
http://www.imacmount.com/order.html

(Personally for me, it would bug the heck out of my aesthetic sensibilities to have the iMac still attached to the original stand floating up on an arm - but this could be a step in the direction for folks looking for another solution beyond the ridiculously overpriced gizmo I posted above earlier.)
 
srcstc said:
I called customer care to see if they'd let me return my 2012 imac so I can get the one with the wallmount and I got approved. I've had my imac since Jan 11th. YMMV
Click to expand...

very cool. I might have to try this. Good thing I didn't crack mine open yet to install another SSD.
 
srcstc said:
I called customer care to see if they'd let me return my 2012 imac so I can get the one with the wallmount and I got approved. I've had my imac since Jan 11th. YMMV
Click to expand...

Now that is customer care at it's best.

I just read the front page story and it has made my day. I was waiting to see what Apple did with regard to supporting Bootcamp on a 3TB fusion disk and VESA mounting options. I was going to pass on the current Imac and if the upcoming Mac Pro was too expensive or had "old" CPU chips in it I was going back to the dark side.

The recent Mountain Lion update and now this VESA option have put the Imac back in purchasing territory for me. It's a shame though that Apple didn't simply say to us "Hang on, we will update bootcamp to be compatible with 3TB drives and we will supply the new Imacs with a VESA solution in the coming weeks". That would have saved many people the heartache of having apparently redundant arms and might even have improved their sales somewhat. It would also have prevented the justified drubbing they got on these forums for apparently neglecting these two key areas.
 
voicegy said:
Like you, i'm very interested in mounting my (just ordered) new "thin model" 27" imac on an articulating arm, and came across this in my search - it ain't cheap, but i feel it's the most elegant solution out there, and i just ordered it today - the company states you can tell them if you have the latest imac for compatibility.

http://www.monitorsinmotion.com/store/product/22
Click to expand...

I would highly recommend Monitors in Motion. I currently have a Double Boa for my 2011 iMac and Thunderbolt Display, with a Single Boa above for a non-Apple Display. I have also included a screenshot from their Facebook page confirming that they offer adapters for the 2012 iMac.
I would be interested in hearing about your experience with having the new MacHead adapter installed on your 2012 iMac, as I intend to mount the upcoming Thunderbolt Display refresh on my Single Boa.

Here is a demo video from CES 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE-vrFOjD_g
 

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Last edited:
Paclypse71 said:
I would highly recommend Monitors in Motion. I currently have a Double Boa for my 2011 iMac and Thunderbolt Display, with a Single Boa above for a non-Apple Display. I have also included a screenshot from their Facebook page confirming that they offer adapters for the 2012 iMac.
I would be interested in hearing about your experience with having the new MacHead adapter installed on your 2012 iMac, as I intend to mount the upcoming Thunderbolt Display refresh on my Single Boa.

Here is a demo video from CES 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE-vrFOjD_g
Click to expand...

Wish me luck - I was quite surprised, and rather pissed, to find out that the "trick" to remove the stand from the late 2012 iMac does not work as it does on other models...I was all set to return the iMac and "re-order" it with Vesa, until I stumbled upon this conversation again where you shared that Apple "should" be able to install the adaptor that I got from Monitors in Motion.

I'll go in to the store tomorrow and share all this with them - I'm sure I'll get some head scratching from the employees, but with this info printed out in hand, I hope to get lucky...
 
I didn't see this mega thread, and just created another. Here are some crappy shots of my 2012 with VESA adapter. It is stop gap, but gets the job done.

DSC00689.jpg


DSC00691.jpg


DSC00692.jpg


DSC00694.jpg


DSC00697.jpg


DSC00693.jpg
 
voicegy said:
Wish me luck - I was quite surprised, and rather pissed, to find out that the "trick" to remove the stand from the late 2012 iMac does not work as it does on other models...I was all set to return the iMac and "re-order" it with Vesa, until I stumbled upon this conversation again where you shared that Apple "should" be able to install the adaptor that I got from Monitors in Motion.

I'll go in to the store tomorrow and share all this with them - I'm sure I'll get some head scratching from the employees, but with this info printed out in hand, I hope to get lucky...
Click to expand...

Any luck at the Apple Store?
 
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