Why would anyone buy a desktop Mac today?

[Clix Pix]

Back in 2015 I had a 2012 iMac and was eagerly awaiting the announcement of the upcoming 21.5" iMac with retina screen. When the announcement finally came, I was very disappointed in the specs and so decided to go with something I'd thought about on-and-off, using an MBP as a desktop replacement, and when I checked the specs for the 15" 2015 MBP it was exactly what I wanted. I bought one, put it on a stand and used an extra Apple BT keyboard and mouse. Worked a treat! At that time I was not doing much in the way of photography so the 15" screen was sufficient.

In 2018 I replaced that MBP with the 15" 2018 MBP and by this time I knew that this is the system which works best for me. I don't often take the 15" machine anywhere but if I need to do so it's easy enough to do. Certainly a lot easier for me than trying to haul an iMac around! I don't have anyone else living in the household to do heavy lifting for me, and even a 21.5" iMac was getting to be a bit difficult to handle. I knew even back in 2015 that a 27" iMac was simply out of the question.

I eventually got back into photography again and at that time, some months after having set up the 2018 MBP, I purchased an LG 24" 4K Thunderbolt 3 monitor, which plugs in to the MBP and powers both of them. No fuss, no muss..... Works just fine for editing images that I shoot with my digital cameras.

Probably early in the New Year I'll be replacing the 2018 Intel-based 15" MBP with a new M1 MBP. Since I already have a 2020 13" one, the one meant for traveling here-and-there, I already know just how fantastic a machine with the M1 chip can be, and the 2021 MBPs will have the power and the ports that I really require for working with photographic images. Looking forward to it!

 

[WriteNow]

All computers I've seriously used were desktops, whether it was a Mac, or (currently) a Linux system. The only laptops I've ever had were toys that were long obsolete at the time of purchase. (Although a couple of PowerBooks came to me when I still used Classic MacOS for some tasks, so they arguably were usable as secondary machines for those tasks.)

One argument in favor of a desktop for me is that I don't need portability, and if I had a laptop, I'd be using it as a desktop computer, anyway. The other argument is that desktops are generally cheaper--especially if you get into a situation where to make that laptop work you buy an external keyboard, display, etc.

I sometimes have thought that a laptop would have some points--battery power (a point that got driven home during a power failure today!), and portability if I need it. But I'm wondering increasingly if tablets+desktop might not be a better option. "Mileage varies"--but I can see myself using a tablet as a portable device more than a laptop.

 

[radow]

Aesthetically I prefer the 24 inch iMac. I can put in bedroom and not worry about it being too tech-y.

 

[Mistercharlie]

The only laptops I've ever had were toys that were long obsolete at the time of purchase.

I think this is the best part of the M1, in this case—the laptops are as powerful as the desktops. And right now, even more powerful.

 

[maerz001]

I think this is the best part of the M1, in this case—the laptops are as powerful as the desktops. And right now, even more powerful.

I think you believe that a lot of users benefit from the power as you mentioned it now 3 times. but imho for most users the power from a few year old intel machines is still fine.
its more of an ergonomic decision if they go for an imac or macbook and as others have said a laptop wit external monitor, keyboard & mouse is less than ideal compared to an imac.
price wise imac+air = macbook pro+good monitor+ peripherals

 

[Arctic Moose]

Or am I wrong?

Yes. If you want a decent 5K monitor an iMac is currently the only reasonable option. (Well, maybe not exactly right now, but it will again be as soon as it is updated.)

 

[Clix Pix]

But when an iMac goes bad, one loses the entire thing. When an external monitor connected to an MBP goes bad, one simply replaces the monitor -- and in the meantime still has the display that is on the MBP itself. When it is the MBP being replaced, the external monitor can simply be plugged into the new machine and that's that.

 

[maerz001]

But when an iMac goes bad, one loses the entire thing. When an external monitor connected to an MBP goes bad, one simply replaces the monitor -- and in the meantime still has the display that is on the MBP itself. When it is the MBP being replaced, the external monitor can simply be plugged into the new machine and that's that.

I don't follow this logic. if something goes bad in iMac or Macbook it has to be fixed. how does an external monitor help you in that case?
the chances are higher with portable devices that they fail...

 

[Arctic Moose]

When it is the MBP being replaced, the external monitor can simply be plugged into the new machine and that's that.

And when the keyboard (or screen, or trackpad, or USB port or whatever) goes bad on an MBP you can choose between expensive repairs and replacing it.

I don’t see how that is any better.

The screen is far from the component most likely to fail on an iMac. (However, it is close to the top on an MBP due to the hinge.)

 

[crimlarks]

I have never owned a desktop Mac, since I owned the original Macintosh computer and its followup a long, long time ago. Once Apple came out with laptops I moved to those and never looked back. I never liked being tied to a desk, much preferred working from the couch or outside on our patio. When I was working (I retired at the end of 2017) I was a programmer, then a manager of a team of programmers. Was able to log into work on my laptop without having to run Windows on it. (Work was all Windows, and at work we all used windows laptops with a dock on the desk and a larger monitor on the desk. But the laptops were handy for getting together in a room away from your desktop. And most people took those back and forth between work and home.)
I'm writing this on a 2017 MacBook (love the small form factor) but have ordered a 14" MacBook Pro because Capture One is slow on this laptop.
So I think it's all what you like. I like laptops.

 

[Hunter5117]

I always had a Mac Pro from the original 1,1 up to about 2014. I then decided to go with a just a MBP because the new Mac Pro was too pricy for me. I went that way for 4 years but was never really happy with it. Not having a permanent desktop machine that was always on, running backups, and managing the large libraries of photos and videos I had for both work and personal just never worked out to my satisfaction. I have been back to a separate desktop machine plus MBP and iPad for the past 3 years. It's the only way for me.

 

[throAU]

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.

Right now pointless.

Give it 6 months - if you need the power there will be more in a desktop Mac.

 

[F23]

Because I dont need a laptop. My Mac Mini sits on my desk. No battery degradation, charging hassle, built in screen issues, keyboard failures to worry about. It has more ports than the 13in MBP which is in my budget. The M1 macbook pro and air cant hook up to more than 1 external screen. M1 Mac Mini can. I have a 12.9 inch iPad Pro with magic keyboard. I'll never need a laptop and i see them as flawed if youre only using them in clamshell at a desk. If youre gonna use a macbook in clamshell 24/7 why would you NOT buy a desktop mac? xD

 

[techfoamer]

No battery that will eventually swell and become a fire hazard.

 

[WriteNow]

I can imagine one desktop Mac buying scenario.

Scene: A thrift store.

"Wow! A Macintosh IIci! How I longed for one when they were new! I must have it!!!!"

(Not that I have any personal experience with this sort of scenario. Oh, no. Of course not. LOL)

 

[WriteNow]

No battery that will eventually swell and become a fire hazard.

Good point.

And I've known people who've bought a laptop with the "I can take it places" argument. Only to use it exclusively as a desktop computer--which causes headaches when laptop specific parts, including (but not limited to) the battery starts causing problems.

 

[bsamcash]

I can imagine one desktop Mac buying scenario.

Scene: A thrift store.

"Wow! A Macintosh IIci! How I longed for one when they were new! I must have it!!!!"

(Not that I have any personal experience with this sort of scenario. Oh, no. Of course not. LOL)

Did someone say “Oregon Trail?”