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Questions about iMac 21.5

darrinS

darrinS

macrumors 68000
Original poster
I currently have a mid 2012 15” MacBook Pro i7 with 16gb of ram. I want to replace it and am looking at the iMac, since I never work on the computer away from my desk. Anyone with experience with the current $1500 iMac 21.5 with an i5 and 8gb of ram? I do use lightly Photoshop, Lightroom, Final Cut Pro, Premier Pro and Xcode. I usually only have one of these open at a time. I’m really just a casual user and a photo and video hobbyist.

What do you think? Should I just get another MacBook Pro or will I be fine with the highest end base model of the iMac? Thanks for any comments.
 
First of all: yes, given your light workload that iMac is going to be plenty fast and will keep you happy for many years.
That said I do have two suggestions though:
  1. Instead of buying new consider Apple Refurbished. Those machines are practically new (in fact, very often they are actually brand-new) and you get more bang for the buck. For example, $1,529 will get you the 21.5" top model with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Alternatively, if you're on a budget you can get the exact model you picked for $1,269, which will save you $230.
  2. Alternatively, you can get a Refurbished 27" base model for $1,529 as well. The 27" model has two benefits over the 21.5" model: a much larger screen and user-upgradeable RAM thanks to a maintenance flap on the back. This means that another $60 will buy you another 8GB should it become necessary one day. The 21.5" iMac is not user-upgradeable at all.
 
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Thank you both for your comments. I was leaning towards the 21.5 because of my desk. It’s only 20” deep and pretty much against the wall, so I maybe have 21”. I’m now wondering if this is enough room for either. Would the 27” be too big? Thanks again for your help. I probably should go to the Apple Store and measure this out.
 
If you go the way of a 21.5", make sure you get ba model with an SSD. The 5400rpmn laptop style hard drives fitted as standard are painfully slow.

Also agree with the fisho, go for a 27" model.
 
darrinS said:
I currently have a mid 2012 15” MacBook Pro i7 with 16gb of ram. I want to replace it and am looking at the iMac, since I never work on the computer away from my desk. Anyone with experience with the current $1500 iMac 21.5 with an i5 and 8gb of ram? I do use lightly Photoshop, Lightroom, Final Cut Pro, Premier Pro and Xcode. I usually only have one of these open at a time. I’m really just a casual user and a photo and video hobbyist.

What do you think? Should I just get another MacBook Pro or will I be fine with the highest end base model of the iMac? Thanks for any comments.
Click to expand...

I'm using the base 21" 2017 . I used external ssd western digital.If you want less hassle just buy the higher model.
I have try to edit using final cut pro/imovie/da vinci resolv for some for tutorial without any issue at all . I'm using quicktime screen capture then edit with the previous software i mention. I do prefer to edit using da vinci resolve seem the interface can be like adobe premiere.

Currently software i used .
1.Visual Studio Code,Xcode, Android Studio,Da Vinci Resolve,Phpstorm
 
Guy Clark said:
The mid 2012 15" i7 MacBook Pro is a more than capable machine. I suggest an alternative approach and hook up a quality external display. I thoroughly recommend the LG 23MP68VQ 23" IPS Full HD Display
https://www.lg.com/uk/monitors/lg-23MP68VQ-P

Hook it up to the MacBook Pro through the Thunderbolt 2 port using a Thunderbolt 2 to DVI adapter
https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/MB570Z/B/mini-displayport-to-dvi-adapter?afid=p238|sL4w7cF5j-dc_mtid_187079nc38483_pcrid_104154899041_&cid=aos-uk-kwgo-pla-btb--slid-----product-MB570Z/B-UK
Click to expand...
maybe the poster scare about this thread https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...o-with-retina-display-to-end-of-2018.2128119/
 
The MacBook Pro is still running fine but its 6 years old and the 256gb hard drive is almost full. I have an external HD and move as much as I can over and I also enabled iCloud Drive. I make a couple of simple apps and really just want to upgrade the computer now before I have a problem so I can make sure I can copy all of my info over. I’m torn because I have always had a laptop and haven’t had a desktop computer for the past 10-15 years. But, I haven’t used the laptop away from my desk for years. If money wasn’t an issue, I would buy the new 15” MacBook Pro and a nice monitor. I’m just worried if I buy an iMac, I’ll miss having a laptop. But the iMac is more sensible.
 
Get the 27".
There is one comment you will probably NEVER hear from someone who owns the 27" model:
"I wish I had bought the 21" instead...."

Why is "depth of the desk" important?
How much "deeper" is a 27" iMac, vis-a-vis a 21" iMac?
 
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