Which one to buy

[SomeOne123]

Hello,

If you had a 27" screen that works like a charm and a webcam and wanted to change from Windows (PC) to Mac would you:
1. Buy the iMac 27" Retina now or
2. Buy the Mac Mini, save a lot of money and buy the iMac after its next major upgrade?

The retina iMac isn't that recent anymore.
Next one at the doorstep already?

Ur opinions please!
Cheers

 

[gmintz09]

Hello,

If you had a 27" screen that works like a charm and a webcam and wanted to change from Windows (PC) to Mac would you:
1. Buy the iMac 27" Retina now or
2. Buy the Mac Mini, save a lot of money and buy the iMac after its next major upgrade?

The retina iMac isn't that recent anymore.
Next one at the doorstep already?

Ur opinions please!
Cheers

I think that depends on how you will be using the computer. What do you plan on doing with it?

 

[SomeOne123]

Using it for publishing studies (scientific), setting up presentations, research with lots of PDF search.
Want my system to go with my iPhone 6 so everything is set up perfectly across my devices like my mail, calendar, reminders, etc.
And watching movies (leisure).
Not really for photo editing etc.
Love the retina screen though *drool*

So, ur opinion?

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Well

Using it for publishing studies (scientific), setting up presentations, research with lots of PDF search.
Want my system to go with my iPhone 6 so everything is set up perfectly across my devices like my mail, calendar, reminders, etc.
And watching movies (leisure).
Not really for photo editing etc.
Love the retina screen though *drool*

So, ur opinion?

The retina iMac is only 6 months old and if you want to save some money get one on refurb.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/F...z-quad-core-intel-core-i5-with-retina-display

it will be a far faster and longer lasting computer than the mini.

 

[Meister]

Using it for publishing studies (scientific), setting up presentations, research with lots of PDF search.
Want my system to go with my iPhone 6 so everything is set up perfectly across my devices like my mail, calendar, reminders, etc.
And watching movies (leisure).
Not really for photo editing etc.
Love the retina screen though *drool*

So, ur opinion?

I know that the retina iMac has a gorgeous screen, but it is utter overkill for you specs wise. For those needs you only need minimum specs.

Whatever you do, remember to get an ssd!

 

[redheeler]

Hello,

If you had a 27" screen that works like a charm and a webcam and wanted to change from Windows (PC) to Mac would you:
1. Buy the iMac 27" Retina now or
2. Buy the Mac Mini, save a lot of money and buy the iMac after its next major upgrade?

The retina iMac isn't that recent anymore.
Next one at the doorstep already?

Ur opinions please!
Cheers

The next update isn't likely until the fall. If you want the iMac now get it now, I don't see much of a reason to wait based on the uses you described. Like mentioned above, get a refurb.

That being said, a mini 2.6 with an SSD or Fusion drive would suite you well if you're fine with not having the Retina display.

 

[SomeOne123]

Thanks for all the replies so far.
Most probably going to go for the iMac retina and be using it as long as I can.
I live in Switzerland and they don't have the iMac retina in refurb, so that's out.

I'll go with 8GB RAM (lowest) and upgrade myself, that will save a bit.

As for storage:
Upgrading to 1 TB SSD is an extra 880 Francs here when compared to 1 TB Fusion drive.

Is the performance between SSD and FD that noticable, in ur opinion?

 

[Meister]

Thanks for all the replies so far.
Most probably going to go for the iMac retina and be using it as long as I can.
I live in Switzerland and they don't have the iMac retina in refurb, so that's out.

I'll go with 8GB RAM (lowest) and upgrade myself, that will save a bit.

As for storage:
Upgrading to 1 TB SSD is an extra 880 Francs here when compared to 1 TB Fusion drive.

Is the performance between SSD and FD that noticable, in ur opinion?

From what you described, buying more ram is a brainless waste of money.
Might as well burn your francs in the chimney.

Better put your $$$ towards an ssd.

 

[SomeOne123]

From what you described, buying more ram is a brainless waste of money.
Might as well burn your francs in the chimney.

Better put your $$$ towards an ssd.

Sounds right.
Btw, seems the iMac CPUs are going to get an update soon:
https://www.macrumors.com/2015/04/19/imac-shipping-times-3-to-5-days/

 

[kevinjohnson20]

As per my opinion you should go with Buy the Mac Mini & save a lot of money and buy the iMac after its next major upgrade? because thing is happening nowadays that iMac is updating frequently so you should go with it's newly updated version till than you will do with Mac Mini.

 

[SomeOne123]

The Mac mini enters at 500 Francs here, so those would go to waste.
I agree, I don't need more power than the iMac 27 retina can provide at the moment.
Yet, given that WWDC is so close maybe waiting that bit may be rewarding, since the prices will probably stay the same.

 

[theluggage]

If you had a 27" screen that works like a charm and a webcam and wanted to change from Windows (PC) to Mac would you:

Do you have any use for a laptop? If so:

Option 3: buy a MacBook Pro, and set it up with your existing screen to make a two-screen system.

Its more expensive than the Mac Mini option - but I'd say its better value that the current, rather underwhelming, Mac Mini. The 13" MacBook Pro is probably a match for the Mac Mini power-wise (you may want an upgraded SSD to get enough storage, though) although neither match the retina iMac.

My preferred set-up is a MacBook Pro on an "elevator" stand next to the display, the Apple wired keyboard and a third-party wireless mouse (with the mouse dongle plugged into the spare USB slot on the keyboard: most of the advantages of a desktop system plus you can just pick the laptop up and go without worrying about syncing files.

You can upgrade to a 4k display later. However, if you want to be an early adopter of 5K displays (which is optimal for OS X at 27") the only games in town are the retina iMac or the Mac Pro with a Dell 5k display that costs as much as an iMac.