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Do I want another iMac?

ssledoux

ssledoux

macrumors 601
Original poster
Sep 16, 2006
4,415
4,245
Down south
I don’t really NEED a desktop. I bought the M1 iMac a couple years ago, and wound up letting my daughter have it. I have a 12.9 iPP that does pretty much anything I need.

But I MISS having a big screen, and using a mouse (I know I can use one with my iPad, but I’ve asked about it and it’s not the same).

Also, I have a terrible urge to buy something. I know that sounds terrible, but it’s the truth. Tech, and specifically Apple tech, is pretty much my only real splurge.

So, yall tell me what I want because I know you won’t hold back. Lol
 
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ssledoux said:
I don’t really NEED a desktop. I bought the M1 iMac a couple years ago, and wound up letting my daughter have it. I have a 12.9 iPP that does pretty much anything I need.
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There, you’ve already answered your question.
ssledoux said:
But I MISS having a big screen, and using a mouse (I know I can use one with my iPad, but I’ve asked about it and it’s not the same).
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See point above.
ssledoux said:
Also, I have a terrible urge to buy something.
Click to expand...
Then buy AAPL stock instead of just spending money on something you‘ve already said you don’t need. Let it accumulate value for you. Retire early.
ssledoux said:
I know that sounds terrible, but it’s the truth. Tech, and specifically Apple tech, is pretty much my only real splurge.

So, yall tell me what I want because I know you won’t hold back. Lol
Click to expand...
I didn’t. Let us know what you do, or don’t do.
 
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ssledoux said:
I don’t really NEED a desktop. I bought the M1 iMac a couple years ago, and wound up letting my daughter have it. I have a 12.9 iPP that does pretty much anything I need.

But I MISS having a big screen, and using a mouse (I know I can use one with my iPad, but I’ve asked about it and it’s not the same).

Also, I have a terrible urge to buy something. I know that sounds terrible, but it’s the truth. Tech, and specifically Apple tech, is pretty much my only real splurge.

So, yall tell me what I want because I know you won’t hold back. Lol
Click to expand...
LOL The struggle is real.

I'd recommend an M2 Mac Mini instead of an iMac. (I say this as someone who was big fan of iMacs in the past) Buying the Mini and a good quality non-Apple display will end up being far less expensive than an iMac. Then there's the added benefit of when you get an itch for another tech-buy, the Mac Mini can be extended and expanded... the gift that keeps on giving. 😁
 
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sracer said:
LOL The struggle is real.

I'd recommend an M2 Mac Mini instead of an iMac. (I say this as someone who was big fan of iMacs in the past) Buying the Mini and a good quality non-Apple display will end up being far less expensive than an iMac. Then there's the added benefit of when you get an itch for another tech-buy, the Mac Mini can be extended and expanded... the gift that keeps on giving. 😁
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I agree with this. And if you do want to spend money on a nice computing experience, I'd pair it with the Apple Studio Display, which is just gorgeous to look at and on par with (but bigger than) the display on that M1 iMac. If you're craving the big screen experience, hard to beat a bright, color-accurate 27" at 5K.
 
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ssledoux said:
I don’t really NEED a desktop. I bought the M1 iMac a couple years ago, and wound up letting my daughter have it. I have a 12.9 iPP that does pretty much anything I need.

But I MISS having a big screen, and using a mouse (I know I can use one with my iPad, but I’ve asked about it and it’s not the same).

Also, I have a terrible urge to buy something. I know that sounds terrible, but it’s the truth. Tech, and specifically Apple tech, is pretty much my only real splurge.

So, yall tell me what I want because I know you won’t hold back. Lol
Click to expand...
Happens to the best of us.

Within the course of the past 30 days, I picked up a M1 iMac, and a 2012 Mac Pro 5,1. It's fun to see (hands on) the evolution of PC computing power and design.

I really didn't need either. But both are fun to play around with.
 
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Expos of 1969 said:
Buy an airline ticket to a country you have always wanted to visit. (Note: Use the ticket, don't just buy it and put in a drawer).
The experience and memories of the trip will be much more valuable and outlive the dopamine hit from buying yet another computer.
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I can agree with this as my recent out of country vacation with my family cost about the same as my tricked out 2020 iMac when I bought it.
 
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If you just want different tech to play with, it can be fun to mess around with older hardware. I don't think I'd buy a new iMac, the M1 iMac is nearly twice as old a product as the next-oldest Mac.
 
Look up the price of a fully loaded MacPro, better yet put it into the shopping cart of the Apple online store.
Maybe this will deter you or you will be a owner of a new Mac Pro. ;)

Please let us know!
 
Speaking for myself I do want another iMac. I loved my first G3 iMac and I’ve been very happy with my current 2011 21.5 iMac.

I like the big screen and a new 24in. iMac will be even bigger while being only marginally larger in overall size over my current iMac.

I don’t need a mobile work station. I have an iPad for my mobile everyday uses.

I was very tempted by the current M1 iMac, but I would feel more confident with more than 16GB RAM. So I’m waiting to see what the forthcoming M3 iMac will offer. Odds are pretty good the M3 iMac will be ideal for my needs, but if by some slim chance it’s not then my fallback option will be a Mac Studio Max and possibly a Studio Display.
 
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As you say, you don't really need it. I'd invest the money in something more sustainable, like a memory/holiday. After all, an iMac is still a screen that you throw away after the computer part of it dies - especially as now you can't even use it in display-mode anymore. It's e-waste by design - don't buy that unless you really need it.
 
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ssledoux said:
I don’t really NEED a desktop. I bought the M1 iMac a couple years ago, and wound up letting my daughter have it. I have a 12.9 iPP that does pretty much anything I need.

But I MISS having a big screen, and using a mouse (I know I can use one with my iPad, but I’ve asked about it and it’s not the same).

Also, I have a terrible urge to buy something. I know that sounds terrible, but it’s the truth. Tech, and specifically Apple tech, is pretty much my only real splurge.

So, yall tell me what I want because I know you won’t hold back. Lol
Click to expand...
I would guess yes, but it would just sit there. :) The “problem”, if it can be called that, with the 12.9 iPP is that they aren’t rapidly refreshed. I also wouldn’t mind having a new one to throw a bucket of cash at, but I know that likely won’t be until next year. I can imagine there would be something nostalgic and comforting about having access to a UI that meant a lot to you (similar to how people get good feels listening to the Wii console music), even if you didn’t end up doing anything on it that you couldn’t do on your iPad. So, see if you can wait for a refresh and pick up one new if it comes in the color you like or pick up (what at that time will be) a previous generation one.
 
Invest in a good external monitor. When I use my iPP connected to my LG UltraFine 5K display, it feels so much like a Mac that I sometimes try to use shortcuts that work on MacOS but not iPadOS (like cmd+Q to quit).
 
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ssledoux said:
I don’t really NEED a desktop. I bought the M1 iMac a couple years ago, and wound up letting my daughter have it. I have a 12.9 iPP that does pretty much anything I need.

But I MISS having a big screen, and using a mouse (I know I can use one with my iPad, but I’ve asked about it and it’s not the same).

Also, I have a terrible urge to buy something. I know that sounds terrible, but it’s the truth. Tech, and specifically Apple tech, is pretty much my only real splurge.

So, yall tell me what I want because I know you won’t hold back. Lol
Click to expand...
Personally I suggest a laptop with its larger display and the ability to plug in an external display if you want one. MBPs are better, with far superior displays, stereo sound and power; or you may want poorer everything to get thinner/lighter/cheaper MBA, that is a personal financial decision. Whatever you choose, do not cheap out on RAM, since RAM needs always increase over the life of every new box.

Enjoy! I am in the same mode in that tech, and specifically Apple tech, is pretty much my only real splurge.
 
Expos of 1969 said:
Buy an airline ticket to a country you have always wanted to visit. (Note: Use the ticket, don't just buy it and put in a drawer).
The experience and memories of the trip will be much more valuable and outlive the dopamine hit from buying yet another computer.
Click to expand...
I'm not interested in going out of the country at the moment, and I just returned from a vacation and have two more planned for this year.

I do love traveling, but I'm home 325-330 days of the year, and it's nice to have things I enjoy.
 
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