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"Fat" or Slim iMac? Which do you prefer?
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I would be all in favor of a thicker iMac without the tapered edges and with easy user access to the interior. And user installable RAM on all models.
I believe the slim is better simply due to the anti-reflective coating on the screen. I had both, plus a 27" Apple Display and the glass and reflection off those are pretty rough.
But to be truthful, when you look at any of them dead on, you can't tell it's slim or fat until you try to stuff a DVD in the side slot... By those standards, I'm fine with fattening them up more so we can tear them apart easier.
But to be truthful, when you look at any of them dead on, you can't tell it's slim or fat until you try to stuff a DVD in the side slot... By those standards, I'm fine with fattening them up more so we can tear them apart easier.
The thin one is much better. Runs cooler due to a far superior internal arrangement. It's so minimal compared to the old one inside.
The 21.5 inch should have a RAM slot though.
"All in one" is subjective. Some people wouldn't consider it all in one unless it had a floppy drive.
The 21.5 inch should have a RAM slot though.
"All in one" is subjective. Some people wouldn't consider it all in one unless it had a floppy drive.
Well, yeah, floppy drive storage device has been replaced by newer tech, but what has replaced hard copies and viewing media?
Or a Blu-Ray drive, for that matter. I should really get a nice external one, to assist in ripping all my disks to HDD for easy access
On second thought, I'd really like a built-in iPhone dock. That would make it an actual AIO.
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Yes I was beyond ecstatic when Apple decided to make their iMac models look like iPads on steroids. We only had to give up a few things on some models like access to RAM, ease of drive replacement (for techies) and better heat dispersion.
Kidding aside, for regular usage, I would prefer a slightly thicker iMac since it is not mobile for the most part and allow us to add in RAM (21" model), access to either the main drive or a way to add by slot/cartridge a 2nd 2.5 inch drive (maybe on the back) and get us back in the game for a forward thinking computer.
Kidding aside, for regular usage, I would prefer a slightly thicker iMac since it is not mobile for the most part and allow us to add in RAM (21" model), access to either the main drive or a way to add by slot/cartridge a 2nd 2.5 inch drive (maybe on the back) and get us back in the game for a forward thinking computer.
Or a Blu-Ray drive, for that matter. I should really get a nice external one, to assist in ripping all my disks to HDD for easy access
On second thought, I'd really like a built-in iPhone dock. That would make it an actual AIO.
Not really. A phone has nothing to do with the performance of a computer - it merely has the capability to interact with it. After all, would one insist upon having a trailer attached to a new car, in order to make the car complete?
It just so happens my iMac can perform fine without an optical drive to interact with and read data from as well. But it all comes down to personal preference, what makes "an actual AIO".
Also, I would argue the iPhone dock wouldn't count as the full trailer, rather the capability to hook one up if I ever need to.
I guess I should have made myself more clear (a common error). Interacting with is not the same as being a component of. For example, the cloud can interact, yet is not a component - merely a separate convenience for some.
I have both - a 2011 21.5" at home and a 2012 21.5" at work. The thick one has much better upgradability, which I think will lead to a longer lifetime. That said, I've taken apart the 2012 to replace the HDD with an SSD and to upgrade the RAM, and it was a lot more difficult to teardown. From a daily use perspective however they're pretty much identical from a daily use perspective. I my backup drives are USB 2, so not much of a difference there anyway.
You seem to have missed my point. The iPhone dock - not the phone itself - is the component. It merely makes it possible for the interaction to take place, just like the built-in AirPort hardware which can allow interaction with the cloud, or an optical drive which allows interaction with optical disks.
If you consider your phone to be an integral part of your computer, then I suppose you would see it as being similar to DVD input. I don't - a phone is a phone, able to function on its own, whereas a DVD cannot.
I'm the only techie who seems to prefer the slim iMac. The fat one is really well, fat. It takes too much space and looks really huge honestly. The display is also too far behind the glass. I haven't used the slim version that much, so I can't tell about heat and stuff. Upgradability has ALWAYS been a pain for iMacs, except maybe the iMac G5, including both fat and slim models. My only complaint is the lack of RAM door on the 21.5" iMac. No, seriously, WTF? The 2.5" drive doesn't bother me that much, as it will hopefully push people into getting normal SSDs.
I prefer the slim design as it runs much cooler than the fat design ever did. But as others have stated, I would prefer to have easier access to the internals.
How does the "fat" one take up too much space? The base and the width across the screen somewhat determines the footprint on a desk. Are you saying adding 1/4 to 1/2 inch depth to the screen ruins your day?
It's difficult to explain. The iMac has pretty big bezels, let's be honest. When the base is very thin, it doesn't feel fat IMO. When the base is quite thick, it gives me the illusion that the whole computer is bigger and fatter. It's complicated and psychological.
Fair enough response thanks. I certainly wont argue that Apple could do something in between to meet your needs (aesthetics) and those opting for matters more related to DIY and functionality. Consider if the front looked the same as the slim but the depth was just slightly deeper. - This is doable with today's technology and manufacturing capabilities.
On a side note, its rather funny how "slim" they made the iMac and now people are having cables and external devices all around it taking up space. Same can be said for the ever so small 2013 Mac Pro.
For me -
1) ability to add more RAM
2) ability to add (not necessarily replace) drive.
3) exploit real estate on back of iMac for say - snap on/in 2.5 drive or even a slot load DVD/BR.
4) more 3rd party TB units that sit under the base to plug in devices rather than on the screen itself.
