iMac 21.5 or 27 for development

[michaelsviews]

Curious as to what some other developers would use for lite development work in Python, Database and Web development DJango.

At present I'm looking at a 21.5" 3.0 8GB Ram 256 SSD and thats 2GB of VRam. A 27" is allot more desktop and power but it can be confusing as to now what window did I have open last and where did I put this along with the CO$T.

We MAY do some simple video editing but nothing professional or Youtubeish.

I'm leaning towards the top of the line that they sell in the stores 21.5" and have been told that 16GB is an overkill for what I'd be using the computer for. We have a 21.5 3.0 that is on loan from a friend while another computer is being upgraded and its a nice computer, has 256SSD more than fast enough also.

Like I said "I'm Curious, looking for other opinion's" as to what others may suggest or use from day to day

Thank you

 

[Glmnet1]

The 21.5" screen is too small IMO. I'd buy the base 27" with SSD if you can afford it. You also get user upgradeable RAM with this model if you need to upgrade later.

If it's too expensive maybe consider the refurb ones?

 

[kschendel]

I think it's very much a personal preference. My eyes are older and I would probably choose the larger screen, and upsize some of the editing fonts etc. If you tend to work more focused and not with a ton of windows and tabs open, the smaller screen might work fine. (I wish they would go back to 24 inch, which IMO was a real sweet spot for a "small" screen.)

If you go with the 21.5 I'd put 16 Gb RAM into it, because upgrading RAM on that thing involves taking it apart (doable but no fun).

 

[tarsins]

As a developer I'd never go less than 27", everything's easier to see which means a longer time until eye-strain kicks in plus you can have lots of windows open.

 

[michaelsviews]

As for a 27" I do not have 3 FT of desktop space to put the iMac on and thats what Apple recommends and even Best Buy also the cost of a 27" is not bad for refurbished.
Age and BiFocals I should have put that in the initial post, as in glasses/bifocals are worn.
16GB of Ram is recommended by allot of people so that is on the list.

I know more screen real estate is better but for some strange reason I've been leaning towards the 3.4 stock version of the 21 inch. Why 21 instead of 24 is probably a color gamut / Joney Ive thing.

 

[tyche]

I've used a 2010 21.5" iMac for development since, well, 2010. It's the 3.5 GHz model and I upgraded to 16gb memory, 256 SSD over time. Mainly use XCode and some Windows related programming I run inside a vm.

It's hard to reach 16 GB memory but it's not hard to get near or over 8 GB and with new 21.5" models you need to make that choice at the start. Also, SSD all the way even if it's 256 GB. I use a NAS for large storage.

Since real estate is really a premium with XCode with the way it has so many columns you spend time opening and closing and changing widths a lot. So depends on your tools. A 1920x1080 screen is still pretty useful although I prefer if it was 24" 1920x1200.

Get use to virtual windows. I use 4 to organize the clutter and switch quickly and you can set which ones applications launch to.

That said, my next iMac will be a 27" because of the 2560x1440 screen. I've tried them out now and the size isn't as bad as I thought. A base 27" with 256 SSD is about 10% more than top 21.5" and you can upgrade memory at another time if needed for cheaper. Comparably the 27" is just a better machine.

All that said, the 21.5" isn't terrible with an SSD but the weaker video cards have a hard time pushing the 4k pixels. Apple really does a wonderful job of upselling and it's hard to keep from the incremental upgrades offered each tier.

 

[SecuritySteve]

For development, you really want more screen real-estate. Especially with Xcode, where you can link GUI items to code directly via click and drag - having a larger screen makes that linking process much more comfortable. If you can afford the bigger screen, do it.

 

[jasnw]

I've had a 27" since 2011 (although I preferred the extinct 24"). My main gripe, and one you may end up with given your eyesight issues, is font sizes. Some apps allow you to resize fonts to where you can comfortably see them, others do not. The only solution in those cases is to reset the screen resolution, which then cuts down on the real estate you've picked up with the 27" screen. Yeah, there are Accessibility tricks, but they are a PITA to use. I'm always buying new reading glasses to match my changing short-range vision and teeny-tiny fonts. That said, the extra real estate is addicting. Don't think I could shrink my electronic world-view back down to 24" at this point.

 

[maflynn]

I like the idea of the 27", you get a lot of bang for you buck with the 27" iMac - just my $.02

 

[briloronmacrumo]

Curious as to what some other developers would use for lite development work in Python, Database and Web development DJango.

A 27" is allot more desktop and power but it can be confusing as to now what window did I have open last and where did I put this along with the CO$T.

As an Xcode developer, even a 27 inch monitor feels small at times. It's very common for me to have a screen full of windows especially during a debugging session. Xcode consumes lots of memory resources, so I'd recommend the maximum your budget will allow( the 27 inch iMac DIMMS are easily accessible unlike the 21 inch iMac ). If Xcode development might be in your future, it's not unreasonable to consider an iMac Pro now and do a little future proofing. Xcode is reasonably responsive on my 2017 iMac 27 inch 4.2GHz with 1 TB flash drive but not zippy by any measure.

 

[michaelsviews]

I like the idea of the 27", you get a lot of bang for you buck with the 27" iMac - just my $.02

I've been looking at the 27" based on suggestion's and its going beyond what I have for a budget. Going to the Apple store tomorrow providing we all thaw out from this Arctic Blast.

Thank you to everyone that replied, I do appreciate it.