Buying advice iMac, mini or mac

[Daddyburns]

My son has now taken over my 2011 MacBook and I've come to the conclusion that I can kiss it goodbye.

I need to buy an alternative and I've always looked in awe at the 27" iMacs.

Question from me really is some advice on the alternatives. I would like a 27" display so my thinking around options would be

1. 27" iMac
2. Mac mini with a Thunderbolt Display
3. MacBook Air or pro with a 27" Thunderbolt Display.

My uses are -

Gaming - I've got a ps4 so not that bothered
Movies - yes I do like to watch HD so 1080 needs to be played effortlessly
Work - typical Microsoft office type work needs
Photography - editing and storing photos using my DSLR. Not professional level

Watching HD video is probably the most power I'm going to utilise. I'll look to source a g-tech external storage platform so I'm looking for something which can makes use of the display, run smoothly and quickly

Any advice would be much appreciated

Many thanks

DB 🙂

 

[Serban]

wait 1 more month and we will decide FOR you what is the best option.
Maybe a new mac mini or/and imac or/and macbook air will be release

 

[Fishrrman]

If you get another MacBook or Mini, don't waste the $$$ on a Thunderbolt display. The "current" version is old and long-in-the-tooth.

There are many, many 3rd-party displays out there that offer a display "as good" for far less money. A good place to start that search is by looking here:
http://www.pchardwarehelp.com/guides/s-ips-lcd-list.php

The 2.3ghz i7 Mini should do what you need, and is -very- affordable if you wait until Apple-refurbished models become available. Keep an eye out here:
http://www.refurb.me/us/

Realize that the Mini has CPU-based graphics and -is not- "a gaming machine".

A Mini will run the Office apps and do HD video playback just fine...