Help... iMac to M1 Mac mini or wait?

[TrueBlou]

I’m in a similar boat to you, late 2015 27” iMac and I know I’m getting a MBA M1 for Christmas from my parents.

Even though I’ve yet to play with it in person, I’ve seen and read enough about the M1 Air to know it’s going to wipe the floor with my old iMac.

So in preparation for Christmas, I’ve bought a Thunderbolt dock, a vertical desk stand for the MBA and a 4K 28” monitor.

come Christmas, the MBA will be taking over as my main computer and the iMac will most likely be getting sold, don’t see the point of keeping it, when it’ll just seem slow in comparison and annoy me.

 

[Spindel]

I made the jump from a 2013 27” iMac to a M1 Mini.

While I like the iMac it has its limitations being an AIO. I had been looking at the mini for a while but thought the intel variants where to limited, specially the iGPU of the intel Minis.

I went with a colour calibrated 27” 1440p screen (same resolution as my 2013 iMac) and I like that I can use that screen for other computers and if I upgrade in the future I’ll probably keep the screen and just change the mini.

I’ve made a thread in this forum about how happy I am with the choice of a M1 mini.

 

[bb_mac]

I like this thread, as my wife is in the same boat.

Both myself and a good friend of ours have said *wait* - there's no rush.

Our good friend is a Mac expert. I know a fair bit, but he's been a Mac enthusiast for decades.

We've talked through the pro's and con's - and when I got myself a Mac mini m1, it got the conversation started again.
We discussed an external monitor, we discussed exactly what is the problem with what she has now.

Basically, back to just *wait*.

Right now, her old 2013 27" iMac is still going strong with upgraded RAM and SSD - just be patient.
I think she would ultimately be dissapointed with a Mac mini and external monitor, when the new iMac finally is revealed.

Wait... that's my vote.

 

[scgf]

I bought a Mac Mini, the base model. I already had an LG 24" 4K monitor, an Apple keyboard and mouse and am running the display at 2048 x 1152. It's perfect and looks just as good as my 2018 4K iMac plus I have the option to upgrade the Mini in the future much cheaper than I would be able to upgrade an iMac. I got the educational price on the Mini which made it cheaper than the cheapest iPhone 12. A veritable bargain. I think the new iMac will be more expensive than the Mini and a half-decent 4K monitor.

 

[skaertus]

It really depends on what you want. Does your iMac still do the job well? If you buy the Mac mini right now, will you be tempted to by a shiny new Arm iMac, possibly with an astonishing redesign, when Apple launches it next year?

I have a 2016 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar which is still great after those years (yes, and I like the butterfly keyboard). It still feels very fast and, as much as I would appreciate the performance boost brought by M1, I do not really need it. I can wait until next year when Apple releases a redesigned version, and then figure out what to do.

I have learned to deal with Apple my own way. I tend to feel more tempted about the new designs than new internals. However, new internals which provide a major boost also tempt me. So, I learned to wait for the optimal time to buy a new Apple device, given my own preferences. I usually buy an Apple device after a major redesign, when there are no signs the product will be redesigned within a short timeframe. I also buy it when there are no hints of a major leap in performance in the foreseeable future. I bought my 13-inch MacBook Pro back in 2016, shortly after the redesign, and (apart from the butterfly keyboard), up to the release of the M1 version, there was no huge update that made it feel obsolete. My previous one was a 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display which I bought in 2013 (after it was released in 2012); and, once again, it did not feel obsolete until the redesign in 2016.

So, I hugely recommend watching your own drives and adapt your buying patterns accordingly. There is always something new on the horizon, and Apple wants to "wow" us every time. Just watch Apple's history of updates to have an educated guess on what may be the best timing given your own needs and desires. Otherwise, you may just feel tempted to buy the brand shiny new thing every time, over and over again.

 

[Mistercharlie]

I just switched from a 2010 27-inch iMac, 8GB, 512GB SSD +1TB SSD (swapped out optical drive years ago). I was waiting for a new M1 iMac, but decided on the mini.

My thinking is this: I would have upgraded my iMac many times over the years, but it was always €2.5-3K. With a Mini and separate 32-inch monitor, I can update the mini more often.

 

[skaertus]

I just switched from a 2010 27-inch iMac, 8GB, 512GB SSD +1TB SSD (swapped out optical drive years ago). I was waiting for a new M1 iMac, but decided on the mini.

My thinking is this: I would have upgraded my iMac many times over the years, but it was always €2.5-3K. With a Mini and separate 32-inch monitor, I can update the mini more often.

I suppose you are right. The screen on the iMac is great, but you have to buy a new one every time you buy a new computer.

 

[bnym2020]

I have a 2019 iMac, 3.6Ghz 8 cores, with 40 GB ram and Radeon 580x 8gb. It's only 1.5 years old. It still more powerful in some ways than these new M1 macs that have just come out. But I'm thinking about the future. Should I sell now and just hold on. I use all mac software for video and audio editing. Everything I tested that I need to use works on the M1.

The only thing I'm weighing is the cost of all of this. My iMac cost me around USD3000. I'll be selling it for USD2000. Is that worth it? Would you do it? Need all your input and thoughts. Thanks!

I bought the M1 Air already and it works like a dream!

 

[AAPLGeek]

I have a 2017 iMac with the top of the line i7 the 7700K 4.2ghz, the AMD 580x video and the Mac mini 16GB/1TB M1 model just blows out my 4K dollar iMac for FCP Video editing and the Mini just feels so fast and snappy. I use it with a Dell P2715Q 4K 27 inch Monitor. I prefer this to the 5K 27 inch monitor on the iMac.

Unfortunately my Apollo X racks and Genelec GLM Monitor management software not supported so I still use the older machine for Audio. But damn is this Mini a nice workstation, Finally we are not able to buy a proper Unix RISC workstation like back when SGI, Apollo,Sun,HP etc..

Interesting. In what way do you find that Dell 4k better than the 5k P3 iMac display?

 

[jose40]

The iMac 5K display is glorious, to match something similar you need to spend 1300 on the LG ultrafine. I prefer the elegant AIO design instead of devices and cables around my desk. If the machine is doing the job, why switching?

 

[FlyingTexan]

I’m running an older iMac. A Late 2009 27”. Still, it has 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD. I’m selling it and going for the M1 Mac Mini.

I chose to go with a 32” monitor that’s 1440p and up to 165Hz refresh rate. Now I’m waiting for the Mac Mini to arrive. 8GB RAM & 512GB SSD.

How has it been treating you? Everyone says they buy a high end computer so it will last longer but you actually did it. Usually I just buy whatever and sell it off as I go.

 

[joeyalex]

I currently have a 16” MBP, and picked up the m1 mini to see if it was a good replacement for running my laptop in clamshell mode all day.

For monitors I have one LG 5k and an older Dell 4K. On the MBP, I can run both of these at a scaled “looks like” 3200x1800, which makes for a nice uniform dual display setup.

With the mini, it gave me less scaled resolution options. 3200x1800 was not possible on either display in the “retina” mode. Worse yet, the next option after 2560x1440 for each display was different... so I either had to run both at 2560x1440, or a mixed setup that was still less than the 3200x1800 I was used to.

This annoyed me enough to return the mini. Hopefully the next gen will have more power in the graphics department. The experience using the mini was amazing otherwise. It pretty much smoked the i9 in the MBP. Using Zoom without having to listen to the fans screaming was awesome.

tdlr: the integrated graphics cannot drive the same scaled resolutions as some of the other machines with dedicated graphics cards can, so keep that in mind if using something higher than 1440p is part of your workflow.

 

[zedsdead]

I had a 2012 iMac, so I am using now an M1 Mac mini and LG 5k. I couldn't wait any longer and the 2012 model is not supported with Big Sur (it is still mind blowing to me that iMac never changed the design since then).

I will be selling this setup or move it to my job or something when the new iMac finally comes.

For a 2015 Retina 5k model I would wait for the redesigned Apple Silicon iMac....going to be amazing.

 

[Ninja Dom]

How has it been treating you? Everyone says they buy a high end computer so it will last longer but you actually did it. Usually I just buy whatever and sell it off as I go.

The iMac was fantastic. Putting the SSD inside gave the machine years more extra life. I still got a good price when I sold it which wasn’t at all bad for an 11 year old computer.

Now with the M1 Mac Mini & separate monitor setup there are a few things I have to get used to. Like adjusting picture & sound settings on the monitor itself, using physical buttons on the monitor, rather than through macOS or the Mac keyboard.

But I like the flexibility it gives you for the money. £800 + £300 for a 32” monitor is cheaper than what you’d pay for a decent iMac setup.

 

[Hastings101]

If I hadn't needed a new Mac I wouldn't have bought an M1 Mac Mini. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE IT, it is fast and does everything in the blink of an eye, but it's still essentially a gen 1 product with who knows what issues down the line. If someone just had to "hold on a little longer" and finances were a concern I would recommend waiting until the M1X/M2/whatever product updates.

 

[pshufd]

I'm using a Late 2009 iMac 27 inch upgraded to 16 GB of RAM. Next to it is a 25 inch Dell QHD monitor hooked up to a 2015 MacBook Pro 15. So I run video on the iMac and everything else on the MacBook Pro. I was thinking about getting an M1 and maybe using Target Display Mode but I can hold out for a new iMac with this setup. It's basically like building a cluster of old hardware. I control both PCs using Synergy.

 

[BobHinden]

I have an M1 MacMini (16G, 1TB) on order, I will be replacing an 24-inch Mid 2007 iMac. I am expecting it to be a very nice improvement. Still have to pick out a display to use with it.

Once of the reasons I went with the M1 was to do one transition instead of two. That is, avoid doing 32bit apps to 64bit apps, and later 64 intel apps to M1 apps. By the time it is delivered (Jan 12), it's looking like most of the apps I use be available in M1 versions.

My plan is to only migrate my data, and install apps individually as needed. Want to avoid migrating 13 years of cruft.

 

[pshufd]

I have an M1 MacMini (16G, 1TB) on order, I will be replacing an 24-inch Mid 2007 iMac. I am expecting it to be a very nice improvement. Still have to pick out a display to use with it.

Once of the reasons I went with the M1 was to do one transition instead of two. That is, avoid doing 32bit apps to 64bit apps, and later 64 intel apps to M1 apps. By the time it is delivered (Jan 12), it's looking like most of the apps I use be available in M1 versions.

My plan is to only migrate my data, and install apps individually as needed. Want to avoid migrating 13 years of cruft.

Are you thinking of doing target display mode at all?

 

[BobHinden]

Are you thinking of doing target display mode at all?

Yes, I was thinking it was worth checking out to see it worked and what the result looked like. The iMac has a mini-DVI port, I need to find the right kind of adapter for that to go the the Mini.

 

[chouseworth]

Hi,

I have a 2015 27 inch iMac which has been great and is my media hub and main computer. I also had a 2019 MacBook Pro 13, but as soon as the M1 was announced I sold it and bought a new MacBook Air.... WOW, it's a game changer!!

So now my 2015 iMac feels so slow and I'm wondering what to do. So, here are my options...

1 - Stick with my iMac and await an M1 version and jump then.. But it's going to cost circa £1,700 even if there is a 27 inch version
2 - Buy an M1 Mac mini and a 27 inch monitor and sell my current iMac... cost around £1,000 (minus sale of iMac)

I'm so tempted to go with the Mac Mini!

Any thoughts would be great, as I really don't know what to do!

Cheers

Ben

I gave my 2015 iMac to my non-techie wife and she thinks she’s in heaven coming from an aging iPad. I bought the M1 Mini with a Dell P2720Q 4K monitor and am delighted with it. Leaves my old iMac in the dust but don’t tell my wife that. Give the iMac to a non-techie significant other and make another person in your life happy. It’s still great for web surfing, emailing, etc. Enjoy!

 

[BobHinden]

Yes, I was thinking it was worth checking out to see it worked and what the result looked like. The iMac has a mini-DVI port, I need to find the right kind of adapter for that to go the the Mini.

I did some research, doesn't sound like my Mid 2007 iMac supports target display mode.

 

[Lowhangers]

Hi,

I have a 2015 27 inch iMac which has been great and is my media hub and main computer. I also had a 2019 MacBook Pro 13, but as soon as the M1 was announced I sold it and bought a new MacBook Air.... WOW, it's a game changer!!

So now my 2015 iMac feels so slow and I'm wondering what to do. So, here are my options...

1 - Stick with my iMac and await an M1 version and jump then.. But it's going to cost circa £1,700 even if there is a 27 inch version
2 - Buy an M1 Mac mini and a 27 inch monitor and sell my current iMac... cost around £1,000 (minus sale of iMac)

I'm so tempted to go with the Mac Mini!

Any thoughts would be great, as I really don't know what to do!

Cheers

Ben

I used to be an iMac too, but I now prefer the Mac mini. This way I have control over the monitor and I can trade-in or upgrade the mini easier than dealing with a Mac.

I have the M1 Mac mini and it is delightful. It will shock you if you are coming from an Intel. Just get a good monitor and you will be all set.

I have the 8GB and 256GB drive and it's plenty for me. I have a 3TB external drive for additional storage but don't need it at the moment.

Edit: One thing to consider too is that you can easily sell or trade in the mini in a year or two and get a more powerful mini for just 700 bucks. I would not buy an iMac again. It's so much better to keep the monitor and computer seperate. Much more flexilibity.

 

[NizNoz]

Hehe.. interesting reading this thread in Oct 2021. STILL no 27" Apple silicon iMac My 2009 27" iMac, which has been a champ for the last ELEVEN YEARS finally died. Yes, died. It won't boot, except occasionally, into safe mode. I really wanted the new iMac, but the Mini may have to work out..

 

[pshufd]

Hehe.. interesting reading this thread in Oct 2021. STILL no 27" Apple silicon iMac My 2009 27" iMac, which has been a champ for the last ELEVEN YEARS finally died. Yes, died. It won't boot, except occasionally, into safe mode. I really wanted the new iMac, but the Mini may have to work out..

I am at a loss as to what to do with my 2009 27" iMac. I haven't turned it on in a few months. The M1 mini along with my i7-10700 desktop are just so fast and efficient. The most valuable things about the 27" iMac are the screen, speakers and remote control. I would use it if it had a Core i7 but it has the Core 2 Duo which is a real slug. I may put it up for sale for $50 once I get my MacBook Pro.

Can you fix the 2009?

 

[NizNoz]

I am at a loss as to what to do with my 2009 27" iMac. I haven't turned it on in a few months. The M1 mini along with my i7-10700 desktop are just so fast and efficient. The most valuable things about the 27" iMac are the screen, speakers and remote control. I would use it if it had a Core i7 but it has the Core 2 Duo which is a real slug. I may put it up for sale for $50 once I get my MacBook Pro.

Can you fix the 2009?

My screen has just developed a series of vertical bands. Probably the connector. Taking this beast apart is just not worth the trouble. It’s pumped out as it is, with SSD and max ram (used to run Maveriks). But I think this machine has come to the end of its life..😞 I had a tiny hope the big iMacs would be announced today.. but it wasn’t to be.