IMac Buying Advice

[Labmom60]

I have a MacBook Pro and Decided I need to get something else to do photo editing. I’m just a hobbyist, I do love working on a laptop or iPad, I’m thinking about a 21.5” iMac, I’d like to keep my budget around $1500 tops. Any recommendations on which iMac to get? Or is there a MacBook or iPad that would work? Thank you for any advice and recommendations

 

[Tom_N]

I have a MacBook Pro and Decided I need to get something else to do photo editing. I’m just a hobbyist, I do love working on a laptop or iPad, I’m thinking about a 21.5” iMac, I’d like to keep my budget around $1500 tops. Any recommendations on which iMac to get? Or is there a MacBook or iPad that would work? Thank you for any advice and recommendations

If you go with an iMac, I would recommend getting a Retina screen and a SSD. If you were looking at new iMacs, this might mean a custom-ordered mid-range 21.5" iMac ($1299 + $200 for the SSD).

Shopping Refurbished might give you more for your money. At the moment, you can get a 21.5" Retina 4K iMac – same configuration, but with twice the RAM – for $1439.

There is also a Refurbished iMac for $1099 that has 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD. The catch is that this is an older one with a dual-core CPU, no discrete GPU, and a non-Retina screen.

 

[Tom_N]

The Refurbished Store also has some 13" Retina MacBook Pros. When I filter for 256 GB of SSD space, I see a couple of 1.4 GHz quad-core units for $1269. These ones only have two USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) ports.

For $1529, they have some with faster CPUs and four ports.

 

[Clix Pix]

Several years ago I was waiting for the first 21.5" iMac with retina screen to be announced, and when it finally was, I looked at the specs and was disappointed. Instead of buying a new iMac, I bought an MBP that had the specs I wanted and used it as a "desktop replacement," setting it on a stand and using an external keyboard and mouse. That has worked really, really well for me. In 2018 I bought a new MBP, having already grown to really appreciate the flexibility in this arrangement, and this time, since I have been getting back into photography and image editing more intensively, eventually also purchased a 24" Thunderbolt 3 4K LG monitor. I have found that this setup has really met my needs perfectly. To me this is much more flexible than having an iMac on the desk. I love that when needed I can simply unplug my MBP and carry it off somewhere else and then when I get back home plug it back in and the monitor provides the larger screen real estate I like for my image editing.

 

[Labmom60]

Several years ago I was waiting for the first 21.5" iMac with retina screen to be announced, and when it finally was, I looked at the specs and was disappointed. Instead of buying a new iMac, I bought an MBP that had the specs I wanted and used it as a "desktop replacement," setting it on a stand and using an external keyboard and mouse. That has worked really, really well for me. In 2018 I bought a new MBP, having already grown to really appreciate the flexibility in this arrangement, and this time, since I have been getting back into photography and image editing more intensively, eventually also purchased a 24" Thunderbolt 3 4K LG monitor. I have found that this setup has really met my needs perfectly. To me this is much more flexible than having an iMac on the desk. I love that when needed I can simply unplug my MBP and carry it off somewhere else and then when I get back home plug it back in and the monitor provides the larger screen real estate I like for my image editing.

How much storage do you have on your MBP?

 

[Clix Pix]

My 2018 15" MBP is an i9 with 1 TB SSD storage, 32 GB RAM and 20 Vega (discrete graphics along with already-built-in graphics). She's a speed demon and can handle anything I throw at her. Post-processing images goes smoothly and efficiently in DXO PhotoLab 3 and also in Luminar 3, which I also use occasionally.

--
Former Nikon user, now shifted to Sony A7R IV and six great native Sony lenses
PBase supporter, Zenfolio supporter

 

[ChrisLumix]

Instead of buying a new iMac, I bought an MBP that had the specs I wanted and used it as a "desktop replacement," setting it on a stand and using an external keyboard and mouse. That has worked really, really well for me..

Screen size would be a factor. My iMac is 21.5", I sit a foot away when I'm working, and three feet away when I'm watching TV (full screen, and that means nearly all my TV). A MBP screen just wouldn't cut it for me when it comes to watching TV full screen.

 

[Tom_N]

Instead of buying a new iMac, I bought an MBP that had the specs I wanted and used it as a "desktop replacement," setting it on a stand and using an external keyboard and mouse. That has worked really, really well for me..

Screen size would be a factor. My iMac is 21.5", I sit a foot away when I'm working, and three feet away when I'm watching TV (full screen, and that means nearly all my TV). A MBP screen just wouldn't cut it for me when it comes to watching TV full screen.

If you get your TV by streaming, a solution to this might be an external screen to go with the MBP.

 

[henryk1]

I have a 2018 27" iMac Retina and find the extra size invaluable for post processing photos. I boot it off a 500GB Samsung SSD for speed, and store data on 2 TB portable HDs. Not the absolute fastest, but pretty fast.

-

 

[JPAlbert]

I'd suggest the 27" iMac -- get one from Apple's online refurbished site:

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www.apple.com

Get one with 8gb of RAM and no more.
It's EASY to add RAM with the 27" iMac.
(It is NOT EASY to add it to a 21" iMac ... entire Mac must be taken apart).

If budget is a concern, the 1tb fusion drive will do.
But... if there's ANY way you can afford a little more... get an internal SSD.
Even the 256gb SSD (you can plug in more storage via USB3).

 

[Tom_N]

I'd suggest the 27" iMac -- get one from Apple's online refurbished site:
https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/mac/27-inch-imac

Get one with 8gb of RAM and no more.
It's EASY to add RAM with the 27" iMac.
(It is NOT EASY to add it to a 21" iMac ... entire Mac must be taken apart).

The Mid 2014 and Late 2015 21.5" iMacs do not even have sealed-in RAM slots. The RAM is soldered in!

The 2009 – 2011 21.5" iMacs had the same good arrangement as the 27" ones (four user- accessible slots). But that was a casualty of the machines becoming thinner.

 

[Clix Pix]

Instead of buying a new iMac, I bought an MBP that had the specs I wanted and used it as a "desktop replacement," setting it on a stand and using an external keyboard and mouse. That has worked really, really well for me..

Screen size would be a factor. My iMac is 21.5", I sit a foot away when I'm working, and three feet away when I'm watching TV (full screen, and that means nearly all my TV). A MBP screen just wouldn't cut it for me when it comes to watching TV full screen.

I found my 15" MBP screen satisfactory when I wasn't doing much photo editing but as time went on and I began doing more and more photography again that is when I knew it was time for a larger screen -- hence the 24" external monitor I now have attached to my MBP. 21.5" is too small and 27" is too big for me -- 24" hits the "sweet spot."

As for watching TV on my computer, I don't do that. I've got a perfectly good 32" TV in another room that I use when the rare occasion comes around that I want to see a particular program or keep up with current news events. Most of the time I keep up with news on the computer, though. I sometimes watch videos on my computer/external monitor and the 24" screen works well for that.

 

[Labmom60]

Thank you everyone for the info and advice. I ordered a 21.5 iMac. I had to order a desk to put it on, both will be here Monday. I’ll just use my MBP 13 inch for travel. When I bought the MBP I was just getting back into photography and it was my mistake for getting the base model with only 128gb Harddrive. I thought long and hard about getting another MBP instead of an iMac, but feel the iMac would be better

 

[Clix Pix]

Enjoy your new iMac!

 

[ChrisLumix]

Instead of buying a new iMac, I bought an MBP that had the specs I wanted and used it as a "desktop replacement," setting it on a stand and using an external keyboard and mouse. That has worked really, really well for me..

Screen size would be a factor. My iMac is 21.5", I sit a foot away when I'm working, and three feet away when I'm watching TV (full screen, and that means nearly all my TV). A MBP screen just wouldn't cut it for me when it comes to watching TV full screen.

If you get your TV by streaming, a solution to this might be an external screen to go with the MBP.

Well, yes - but then, you might as well get the iMac.

 

[Tom_N]

Instead of buying a new iMac, I bought an MBP that had the specs I wanted and used it as a "desktop replacement," setting it on a stand and using an external keyboard and mouse. That has worked really, really well for me..

Screen size would be a factor. My iMac is 21.5", I sit a foot away when I'm working, and three feet away when I'm watching TV (full screen, and that means nearly all my TV). A MBP screen just wouldn't cut it for me when it comes to watching TV full screen.

If you get your TV by streaming, a solution to this might be an external screen to go with the MBP.

Well, yes - but then, you might as well get the iMac.

Except that the iMac isn't portable. With the MBP + HDTV combo, the HDTV would stay at home, but you could detach the MBP and take it with you when desired.

 

[ChrisLumix]

Instead of buying a new iMac, I bought an MBP that had the specs I wanted and used it as a "desktop replacement," setting it on a stand and using an external keyboard and mouse. That has worked really, really well for me..

Screen size would be a factor. My iMac is 21.5", I sit a foot away when I'm working, and three feet away when I'm watching TV (full screen, and that means nearly all my TV). A MBP screen just wouldn't cut it for me when it comes to watching TV full screen.

If you get your TV by streaming, a solution to this might be an external screen to go with the MBP.

Well, yes - but then, you might as well get the iMac.

Except that the iMac isn't portable. With the MBP + HDTV combo, the HDTV would stay at home, but you could detach the MBP and take it with you when desired.

Being disabled I don't go out much, but when I do I take the iPad.

 

[EJ Fudd]

[No message]

 

[terryreid]

I have a MacBook Pro and Decided I need to get something else to do photo editing. I’m just a hobbyist, I do love working on a laptop or iPad, I’m thinking about a 21.5” iMac, I’d like to keep my budget around $1500 tops. Any recommendations on which iMac to get? Or is there a MacBook or iPad that would work? Thank you for any advice and recommendations

Buy a used one on Ebay for half of what you will pay new. A 2018 machine or better yet 2019 5k montitor with SSD 1T minimum and if you can a multi-core i9 even if you have to stretch your budget.

With ICloud Drive 1T is plenty and then add external SSD's if needed and upgrae the ram to a minimum of 16 and preferrablly 32 I have 128 in my 2019.

 

[ChrisLumix]

I have a MacBook Pro and Decided I need to get something else to do photo editing. I’m just a hobbyist, I do love working on a laptop or iPad, I’m thinking about a 21.5” iMac, I’d like to keep my budget around $1500 tops. Any recommendations on which iMac to get? Or is there a MacBook or iPad that would work? Thank you for any advice and recommendations

Buy a used one on Ebay for half of what you will pay new. A 2018 machine or better yet 2019 5k montitor with SSD 1T minimum and if you can a multi-core i9 even if you have to stretch your budget.

With ICloud Drive 1T is plenty and then add external SSD's if needed and upgrae the ram to a minimum of 16 and preferrablly 32 I have 128 in my 2019.

You can't upgrade RAM for 21.5".