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"Fat" or Slim iMac? Which do you prefer?

I'm more than happy with my fat 2011 iMac with a 512GB SSD and 2TB spinning one 😀

To be honest, you can't tell the difference when looking straight at the screen!
 
I prefer the flower pot design.
imacg4_2002_03-287566.png
 
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If the question is asking fat or slim with same specs inside. Then obviously thin. But if a fatter computer got me better internal cooling, faster specs etc. then give me the fat one. I don't look at my computer from the side to care much.
 
I have both and to be quite honest the thickness has not been an issue at all. Clearly, there are a number of important differences between the Retina iMac and the 2011 iMac but not one bit of it has to do with the "thinness" of the machine.
 
the thinner design models.

One main reason, if you have the thicker model, never remove the optical drive if you plan on using bootcamp. It can be such a PITA because any mac that shipped with an optical drive ONLY wants to let you install via the optical drive. Not an external, not USB... use the built-in optical drive.

Now there are ways to get around it but it CAN be so much more difficult than Macs without optical drives.
Invest in a good external if you occasionally need one, it will be a much better drive overall than the superdrive is.
Plus you get the benefits of USB3 in the thinner machines.

You just need to be thinking ahead if you ever want to VESA mount the thinner iMacs. Seeing as you can't change this after the fact like with the thicker models.
 
Perfectly happy with my "fat" 2010 21.5". I did the SSD and RAM upgrade myself, and since it sits in a corner on the desk, you can't tell if it's fat or thin anyway. Great machine that I plan to get another couple years use out of.
 
I think a trimmed version of the white iMacs from 2005-2006 would have been perfect. Remove the large chin and get it down to like 1.25" thick and it'd be perfect.
 
OLDCODGER said:
Well, yeah, floppy drive storage device has been replaced by newer tech, but what has replaced hard copies and viewing media?
Click to expand...

Streaming and downloads. You can get an external drive for like 30 dollars if you really need one.

phrehdd said:
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.
Click to expand...

???

The old fat iMacs ran much hotter.
 
xmichaelp said:
Streaming and downloads. You can get an external drive for like 30 dollars if you really need one.
Click to expand...

Streaming is not a hard copy - and why should i pay for the same thing twice or more?

Actually, I was referring to CDs and DVDs that I already own - for possible use in an AIO. Since that option has been taken from me, and I now need an external drive (which i have), there is no reason for me to consider a pseudo AIO, and will stick with the Mini.
 
mmomega said:
the thinner design models.

One main reason, if you have the thicker model, never remove the optical drive if you plan on using bootcamp. It can be such a PITA because any mac that shipped with an optical drive ONLY wants to let you install via the optical drive. Not an external, not USB... use the built-in optical drive.
Click to expand...

Edit the NVRAM.
 
Btw, what is swappable on the thin iMacs? I know RAM (more difficult in the 21.5" model), but besides that? Are processor and GPU soldered?
 
Thick enough to give me all the I/O I want without my only options being USB-C, a sideways headphone jack, and an Ethernet port that has to be on the power brick. That said, as a former repair technician that always dreaded working on the 2007-2011 iMacs, I'm happy that the power brick is external and not just an exposed internal component. That was a hazard, to say the least.
 
Eugen Mezei said:
Btw, what is swappable on the thin iMacs? I know RAM (more difficult in the 21.5" model), but besides that? Are processor and GPU soldered?
Click to expand...
you can swap CPU's they were still socketed the last time I opened one.... a 2015 model I believe it was.
Ram could be changed.
Again I am trying to remember back, I believe the stock NVME/SSD could be swapped if you have an adaptor. I have done adaptor+nvme swaps on several MacBook Pros and my old Trash Can Pro.
The GPU... I believe that chip did not have a daughter board any longer and was solder to the logic board.
 
Can it be the sound quality of the fat ones is better?
By pure luck I got cheaply a 2020. Excels in any other aspect over my 2011 except the sound.
 
Thin due to looks, but honestly I couldn't care much about it. I only really think about it when I have to de-dust it, or move it around occasionally.
 
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