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Why would anyone buy a desktop Mac today?

Mistercharlie

Mistercharlie

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 27, 2020
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I'm writing an article about how the MacBook is so powerful and flexible that it replaces the desktop for most people.

Unless you have very specific needs, there's no need to buy a desktop computer any more. The MacBook is a powerful as a desktop, and can be hooked up to a monitor and Thunderbolt dock via a single cable.

MKBHD is ditching his travel iMac Pro, for example.

Obviously there are some high-end jobs that will need the next Mac Pro, but right now, this thing can even do most of what the current Mac Pro does.

Or am I wrong?

FWIW, I'm waiting on an MacBook Pro, which I will use to replace my Mac Mini via CalDigit dock.
 
You're certainly right to some extent. Especially when it comes to power. The next gen Mac Pro will most likely be absurd in terms of power - and I'm sure (although a very small amount) there will be some people who feel like their workflow could benefit from it.

On the other side of things, there are regular consumers who aren't doing anything extremely demanding and also don't benefit from having anything portable. Specifically in the older demographic (such as my grandfather) loves having a Mac. But he'd much rather just have something that is plug and play with a larger screen and not deal with connecting to a external screen and having to pay for additional peripherals when there's a perfectly good option out of the box to give him that experience. I'm sure there are plenty of people like him and not necessarily older who would want the same thing.

People in this forum are typically power users so I can understand why it may seem that way - but a desktop computer (although not the most popular) is still a product that I would imagine has a decent amount of demand.
 
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I have never been a regular user of a laptop computer. We have a new MacBook Air at home for occasional use, replacing an older MacBook, but my regular computer is an iMac and if I replace it then it will be for another iMac in all likelihood. My office computer is a desktop computer as well (PC).

Power is not the issue, sure the same capabilities exist for either desktop or laptop computers today.

The determining factor, for someone such as myself, is desktop footprint and monitor size. Why would I use a laptop for my regular needs if that would require a separate external monitor and possibly a separate keyboard as well, not to mention docking station and so forth. This is the appeal of the iMac - everything in one unit with minimal clutter on the desk. No laptop will provide the working area of a 27" monitor. When I'm teleworking then I need the large display to be able to work effectively with documents and web applications.

If I wanted to have the ability to use my computer while traveling, whether for business or otherwise, then it would be different. In the past I've had a work issued laptop and that worked just fine. But for home use I've always had a desktop computer, iMac in my case, and I don't expect that will change.
 
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Years ago I upgraded from a 24" iMac to a 15" MBP and external screen, but it took up more desk space, and had occasional issues with the monitor waking from sleep. I swapped the MBP for a 27" iMac (someone had the iMac, but needed portability). I got a better screen (MBP + 5K screen would be a lot more expensive), more ports, and had room on my desk to use the external monitor with the iMac, so lots of screen space with twin 27" displays.

The issues with the iMac are poor ergonomics as the screen is too high, and I have a great screen, but it contains computer parts that are getting slow. However, overall it is the better option, but I don't know if that will still be true when we see the Apple silicon version.
 
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I see the OP's question as a matter of horses for courses. If I had a busy out-and-about working life and was restricted to only one computer then that computer would be a notebook, unquestionably. In my real retiree world I have both iMac and MacBook Air and if I had to sacrifice one it would be the Air. The whole iMac configuration - screen size and position, ports, keyboard where I want it in relation to the screen - makes it vastly more suitable for desk use IMHO. Happily enough people agree with me that iMac continues as an Apple product line!
 
I've done it both ways, having owned two iMacs and used an MBA in clamshell mode connected to a monitor, mouse and keyboard. The iMac is an aesthetically pleasing all-in-one solution for those not needing portability, while the advantage of the laptop/monitor setup is the ability to do everything on one system wherever/whenever you need. For me, doing serious but not processor/GPU/RAM intensive work, it's a toss-up.
 
why get a laptop when I don’t have the need to be mobile? Laptop screens are small when compared to say a 27 monitor, so I’d still need to get a good monitor and keyboard/mouse which all add to cost.
The question to begin with does not make sense imho
 
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I like to have both: a fairly high-spec'ed desktop connected to lots of external storage, backup drives, etc -- and a base-level laptop.

Currently I have the base configuration M1 MacBook Air which serves great for writing and whatnot, and a 24" M1 iMac with 16 GB RAM, 1TB SSD and another 2TB of fast SSD storage permanently plugged in, plus a good external webcam and Yeti Mic my wife uses for her work. Because it's always on and connected to ethernet, it's also a home media server for video we stream over Home Sharing to the Apple TV. The Air is good for writing, emails, web stuff, video conferencing, general productivity that doesn't require a ton of screen real estate. It will definitely handle graphic design and video editing in a pinch, but then my biggest limitation for that kind of work is screen space -- which brings me back to the iMac :)

I did the laptop-as-desktop thing for a few years and it was always a pain in the butt to me because I was constantly mounting and ejecting drives, putting the thing into its little stand, etc. I know it's all gotten easier with Thunderbolt, but I think there's something to be said for a permanently installed desktop, and iCloud Drive makes syncing everything up easier than ever.
 
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Nbd1790 said:
On the other side of things, there are regular consumers who aren't doing anything extremely demanding and also don't benefit from having anything portable.
Click to expand...
Good point. If you never need portability, then why bother with the extra screen, battery, etc.
Moonjumper said:
Years ago I upgraded from a 24" iMac to a 15" MBP and external screen, but it took up more desk space, and had occasional issues with the monitor waking from sleep.
Click to expand...
The monitor sleep issue is (mostly) fixed now. Mostly :)
MBAir2010 said:
i would get/buy a 2012 imac,
but those things thing are hard to upgrade.
Click to expand...
I still have a 2010 iMac, which I love. All SSD, and still pretty fast and very reliable.
 
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Lots of excellent reasons here. To play devils advocate though, most of these could be done by the MacBook Pro hooked up to a monitor. I guess my point is not that the MacBook Pro should replace a desktop Mac. It’s just that, if you want it to, there’s really no compromise now, other than cost I guess. You lose no power, you don’t have to deal with laptop fans blowing to cope with running a huge screen in clamshell mode etc.

I‘ve been a desktop+iPad user since the iPad came out, so I’m more biased in that direction if anything.
 
Mistercharlie said:
Lots of excellent reasons here. To play devils advocate though, most of these could be done by the MacBook Pro hooked up to a monitor. I guess my point is not that the MacBook Pro should replace a desktop Mac. It’s just that, if you want it to, there’s really no compromise now, other than cost I guess. You lose no power, you don’t have to deal with laptop fans blowing to cope with running a huge screen in clamshell mode etc.

I‘ve been a desktop+iPad user since the iPad came out, so I’m more biased in that direction if anything.
Click to expand...
Until last year, I had exactly this: A laptop (MBP 13" Early 2015) hooked up to an external monitor on my desk, and I could move the laptop.
Then the monitor (Dell) died. I got a LG Ultrafine 5K that operated in 4K with my MBP. Intrigued by Apple Silicon, I got a Mac mini M1.
Now, I have the best of both worlds :cool:
A powerful desktop setup with 5K and no needs to plug in and plug out. And a laptop for walking around in the house.
So yes, a laptop can be enough, but it is much more comfortable with two machines :)
(Three if including my IPP but this is not a full computer in my eyes.)
 
Considering you can get an M1 Mini refurb for $589, it's a pretty easy entry point especially if you already have a display and peripherals. Desktops aren't as vulnerable as laptops and the AppleCare prices reflect that.
 
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Mistercharlie said:
Lots of excellent reasons here. To play devils advocate though, most of these could be done by the MacBook Pro hooked up to a monitor. I guess my point is not that the MacBook Pro should replace a desktop Mac. It’s just that, if you want it to, there’s really no compromise now, other than cost I guess. You lose no power, you don’t have to deal with laptop fans blowing to cope with running a huge screen in clamshell mode etc.

I‘ve been a desktop+iPad user since the iPad came out, so I’m more biased in that direction if anything.
Click to expand...
Sure I could make that work for me, but I prefer the neatness of my iMacs (especially my new 24" M1) and the lack of wires etc.

Pretty much just plug it into the power and good to go, everything else is wireless...

(and incidentally the standard M1 CPU is more than powerful enough for me - a Pro or Max chip would just be silly!)
 
I guess the biggest advantage for me would be storage. Apple’s SSD upgrade prices are way higher than adding fast external SSDs. But that’s more about the fact that you have to move the laptop for it to be a laptop :)
 
Mistercharlie said:
Lots of excellent reasons here. To play devils advocate though, most of these could be done by the MacBook Pro hooked up to a monitor. I guess my point is not that the MacBook Pro should replace a desktop Mac. It’s just that, if you want it to, there’s really no compromise now, other than cost I guess. You lose no power, you don’t have to deal with laptop fans blowing to cope with running a huge screen in clamshell mode etc.

I‘ve been a desktop+iPad user since the iPad came out, so I’m more biased in that direction if anything.
Click to expand...
just the stability and non moving or disconnecting an
ethernet or hdmi port is a good reason to have a desktop computer.

i personally stopped using a desktop but they do serve some purpose.
 
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iMac is best to have on a desktop all the time. Alone or with an extra screen(s).
And disks and extra stuff connected. The power-station, or should be again soon...

A portable is best to have for moving around with it.
I like to have both. Most convenient ?
 
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I am grappling with this decision right now. Well, for my next computer, whether that's now or in two years.

At this point, today, I'd buy an M1 Pro MBP to replace my 2017 iMac. But as a photographer, I can't use a laptop screen for everything. Emails, web stuff, sure...but editing, culling, etc., I need the big screen. But my iMac can't double as a screen, so then I'm out $3k for a new computer (which is roughly what I spend on an iMac each time) but also another $1k for a comparable screen, and then also a mouse and keyboard potentially. But if I wait for the next iMac, I can probably get everything I want WITH the screen and peripherals. I enjoy the portability of my MBA (used as an iPad), but long term, I can't use even a 16" screen for everything I need to do on a daily/weekly basis.

An extra $1,000 is big money.
 
I have done both, for about 6 years I worked with a MBP and an OWC dock for my desktop setup.

I worked from home and frequently had to let a complicated analysis run for sometimes hours (I work with satellite imagery analysis) and I found it inconvenient dedicating my only system to that when I maybe wanted to head out for lunch or coffee and work remotely while the job was running. So I went back to a desktop plus MBP and I find it much more convenient. Plus, the desktop is always on and doing stuff, even if that is only keeping a backup of my cloud photos and other stuff that I generate on the laptop.

Now that the new M? iMacs are likely coming in the next year, I am already thinking that I will replace my current Mac Pro with one of those when the time comes. Going back to laptop only just would not work for me.
 
I’m really excited for my next upgrade in ~18 months.

I work some at home, have two offices on my campus, teach in a classroom, and travel for work. Already have all the peripherals, since every desk has a Mac mini.

I’ve used my iPad pro in sidecar as a second screen.

These new laptops will be a substantial step up in terms of what I can do on the move, while still providing excellent power and that second monitor for stashing reference apps when stationary.
 
I have and use both - 27” iMac and a new MBP plus screen. Both have their advantages, but for my work, a high quality, large screen is essential and the iMac is (still!) in a class of its own when it comes to the screen, not to mention the whole package. Ignoring the Apple silicon vs. Intel for the moment, one can frequently buy a very nicely spec’ed recent 27” iMac with 32+ GB RAM and 1TB+ SSD for something under $2500 all in. That’s less than the cost of a similarly equipped MBP and I still need a $1200+ monitor to get anywhere close to what the iMac has built in - not to mention a webcam, trackpad and keyboard if I don’t want to work from the ergonomically less than ideal laptop-in-front-of-my-monitor.
 
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