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Which screen size to choose?

F

Freeman3030

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 10, 2011
23
0
Hi, I'm really torn between which size iMac to choose. At first I thought the 21.5" would be ample, but I went and had a play with one in the apple store and right next to it was a 27" iMac which looked super sexy and made the 21.5" model look rather crap!
So I'm just curious as to what you iMac owners think of your machines? What are the advantages/disadvantages of each screen size?

I will mainly use it for browsing the net, playing the sims 3 and doing some photo editing (as the photography bug has just bit me!)
This will be my 1st apple computer and have spent hours researching. Just want to make sure I make the right decision!

Then it comes to picking one, I was going to get the standard 2.5 ghz i5 iMac, but have seen the older 3.06 ghz iMac for sale for £799, which is £200 cheaper than the £999 price tag of the current outgoing 21.5" model.
If I get the 27" iMac, I'm forced to getting the cheapest older 2.7ghz i5 version priced at £1400 as I'm going to be stretching myself if I want a higher spec one... Oh the decisions I've got to make, any help?
 
From someone with a 27" iMac and 27" Cinema Display, my recommendation is to always "go with the best you can afford".

On the 27" display I have my Adium Contacts, Adium Chat Window Twitter, and a VERY generously sized Safari and Mail window open at the same time, not overlapping (and I have another entire display for VMWare or XCode or whatever). I can work on three letter-sized documents, at 98% zoom, side-by-side. The display is large enough to view a 3.7MP image at 100% zoom without having to scroll or pan. Overall, the 27" display has 78% more pixels than the 21.5".

For games, you probably won't be able to run most brand new games at the 27"'s native resolution unless A) you get the RADEON 6970M equipped model and B) you boot into Windows. Older games will run at the native resolution quite comfortably though, as should Sims 3. Worst case, I reduce resolution to 1920x1080 and that runs smooth as butter.
 
For photo work, the larger screen is fabulous.

I have a 27" iMac and two external monitors. The 27" has my main Aperture stuff, and is terrific when viewing thumbnails or full screen images. You can see a whole lot at once in a good size.

The side monitors are used for Aperture HUDs, Finder and Safari mainly.

Having the HUDs off the main screen is very convenient, and you don't need a fancy second monitor for this.
 
If you have the money and space to spare, 27" for sure. It's a thing of beauty (and if you go for the very top end one - a thing of great power too).
 
I have a 21.5 only because I didn't have room for a 27". I would have gotten the 27" if I did. That said the 21.5 is meeting my needs great!
 
21.5 is plenty for me. Sitting only a few feet from the screen, and really don't need anything larger. But everyone is different. Go with what you want, not what people tell you to get.
 
I bought the 21.5" iMac a week ago and believe me, at 1920x1080 you really have enough screen to browse the net, play games and edit your photo's.

Of course, the 27" is one sexy machine. But sounds like you don't really need it. So keep that money in your pocket and go for the 21.5".
 
wxman2003 said:
21.5 is plenty for me. Sitting only a few feet from the screen, and really don't need anything larger. But everyone is different. Go with what you want, not what people tell you to get.
Click to expand...

I also think it's the perfect size, coming from a PC 14" notebook at home but with 3 21" monitors at work. And the 21.5 works just fine for regular resolution DVDs if you use it for the occasional movie.

I think it's perfect for my needs, but that does not include heavy photo editing.
 
27" has a beatiful display and has better graphics if you have the money and the space go with the best 27"! you wont regret it!
 
Another vote for the 27" iMac. And this is coming from a guy that planned on getting a 21.5" iMac for 6 months before the refresh. Once I adapted to the idea of having such a large monitor, I couldn't go back. And after using it for a few weeks, I will never go back.
 
I went with the 21.5". I would never make use of the screen space of hardware in the 27". Not to mention it would probably require me to buy a new desk to fit it.

On the 27" we have at work I find I have to actually look around to much to find the mouse, or things in the menus.
 
This question can only be answered by you because only you know how big your desk is :). if your desk can hold a 27" then get a 27" if not, then a 21.5" :)
 
dontwalkhand said:
This question can only be answered by you because only you know how big your desk is :). if your desk can hold a 27" then get a 27" if not, then a 21.5" :)
Click to expand...

Bigger does not mean better. Just because your desk can hold a 27" doesn't mean it will be a better fit for you. I have the 27" and I am returning it for many reasons including the size. It is just too big so I am going with the 21.5. You can have multiple windows open on a 21.5" so having all this space around my windows on the 27" that is not being used is a waste. The font is alot smaller on the 27 as well.

The 27" is only good for those who actually TRUELY need that much space (not want that much space), and those that want bragging rights.
 
mackage said:
Bigger does not mean better. Just because your desk can hold a 27" doesn't mean it will be a better fit for you. I have the 27" and I am returning it for many reasons including the size. It is just too big so I am going with the 21.5. You can have multiple windows open on a 21.5" so having all this space around my windows on the 27" that is not being used is a waste. The font is alot smaller on the 27 as well.

The 27" is only good for those who actually TRUELY need that much space (not want that much space), and those that want bragging rights.
Click to expand...

24" was the perfect size for iMacs.
 
Prior to my first Mac purchase I was using two 22" Dell IPS monitors. I wanted the 27" right from the start, but what made it easier was that all the upgrades I wanted i.e. CPU, and VRAM.
 
Some people simply have to have the latest and the biggest! I suppose it helps boost their self confidence and makes them feel better!

The correct way to decide is how one chooses any item is by satisfying certain criteria. For example, how much space is available? How close to the screen will you be sitting? - many forget that when sitting approximately 1.5-2 feet from the 21.5" screen, the relative perceived image size is identical to sitting further away from a 27" screen! Will you be watching a lot of films etc etc.

Biggest isn't necessarily the best - some say that small is beautiful! ;)
 
John T said:
Some people simply have to have the latest and the biggest! I suppose it helps boost their self confidence and makes them feel better!

The correct way to decide is how one chooses any item is by satisfying certain criteria. For example, how much space is available? How close to the screen will you be sitting? - many forget that when sitting approximately 1.5-2 feet from the 21.5" screen, the relative perceived image size is identical to sitting further away from a 27" screen! Will you be watching a lot of films etc etc.

Biggest isn't necessarily the best - some say that small is beautiful! ;)
Click to expand...

In some respects I agree... The 21.5" is big enough. As I previously stated, I was running a 22", so 21.5" would have been ok. However, you aren't just choosing screen size. Components that are available on the 27" aren't available on the 21.5". While your criteria are important, it's hardly complete. I think one needs to consider what the uses are going to be now and a bit into the future. Since the iMac is not really upgrade friendly, it does not hurt to consider possible future needs.

For example, I prefer PC games over consoles, and this was a consideration when choosing my first Mac. I'm not a hardcore gamer, and play even less now that I am a new Dad. However, I still knew that I enjoyed playing computer games and already had a few current and upcoming titles in mind. This was one of the main reasons that made me go for 27". I could have played some of the games on the 21.5" at lesser settings, but I also had no clue how it would hold up with games in a year or two.
 
dontwalkhand said:
24" was the perfect size for iMacs.
Click to expand...

I agree.
But remember that the 21.5 inch has the same resolution as the old 24 inch.
Get the high-end 21.5 inch and play games at the native resolution of 1920x1200. They'll look a hell of a lot better than when you play them at the same resolution on the 27".

But I agree, what was wrong with the 24" anyway ?
 
mackage said:
Bigger does not mean better. Just because your desk can hold a 27" doesn't mean it will be a better fit for you. I have the 27" and I am returning it for many reasons including the size. It is just too big so I am going with the 21.5. You can have multiple windows open on a 21.5" so having all this space around my windows on the 27" that is not being used is a waste. The font is alot smaller on the 27 as well.

The 27" is only good for those who actually TRUELY need that much space (not want that much space), and those that want bragging rights.
Click to expand...


Hi did you had to return the keyboard and mouse as well? Will u be able to re-order a 21 inch BTO again? how long the return process takes?
 
jedolley said:
I wanted the 27" right from the start, but what made it easier was that all the upgrades I wanted i.e. CPU, and VRAM.
Click to expand...


This is the main reason why I also went with the 27", the 3.4GHz CPU and 2GB GPU upgrades aren't available in the 21.5".

Honestly, I love all of the screen real estate, especially after using it all this time.
 
Does the 21,5 inch model also have an IPS display?

PPI (= sharpness) is only marginally lower than on the 27 inch, 102 vs 109.
 
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