Apple is just getting so expensive

BillN_33

BillN_33

Suspended / Banned
Messages
13,952
Name
Bill
Edit My Images
No
I have used Apple for years - iMac 24" 27" and MBP ....... right back to the TV shaped original

I'm wanting to upgrade and add to my 2020 i7, 64GB, 16GB Graphics and 1TB iMac with one a little faster with a 2TB internal SSD ........ it looks like it will be £3k/£3.5k - the MacMini, Apple Studio or 24" iMac route .....but I want a 27" 5K Monitor

After years of Apple should I just get a PC and use it for Lightroom

I'm going round and round in circles

MacM4 with external SSD's Apple Disply at £1,500, etc., etc
 
Better off going the Mac Mini or Studio route. I did that when my iMac reached end of life. Can I ask why you need a 5K monitor?
 
Stephen L said:
Better off going the Mac Mini or Studio route. I did that when my iMac reached end of life. Can I ask why you need a 5K monitor?
Click to expand...

Thanks Stephen,

I suppose it's because I am now used to the Apple iMac 27" 5K display

M4 mini 10 core 24GB with 2TB is £1,500 + Display
 
Last edited:
Apple is better value than it has been for years. The base model M4 chips are powerful enough for all but the most demanding photography processing. Just get an alternative display and it should last years.
 
 
Please, if you go for the Wex one, use the link above or via the link to Wex in the TP Supporters forum, as we get a little bit of commission on such purchases.
I'm tempted by that monitor myself, as I'm looking to replace a couple of current so-so screens.
 
My daughter/SIL have just replaced their aging iMac 27 with a Mac Mini and a Mac Benq 32" screen, retaining the mouse and keyboard from the old Mac. Seems very good to me. A decent size external SSD will complete the set I think.

This monitor I think...

My basic Late-2012 iMac 27 (which I still have and use from time to time) was about £1500, so £3k now for a current and more capable version is probably not too wide of the mark.

My main 'tools' are an iPad Air 3 (which is in the cross-hairs for replacement in the not too distant) and an M2 MacBook Air which is the most enjoyable laptop I've used so far, and I've had loads of Windows machines over the years.
 
Last edited:
After years of Apple should I just get a PC and use it for Lightroom
Click to expand...

I mean you could, but it'll probably be more expensive, or worse? But you could also get a worse spec Mac and have it cheaper...

it looks like it will be £3k/£3.5k
Click to expand...

Also, assuming you didn't upgrade your i7 Mac (which you did, more RAM etc...) it would have cost you £3k in today's money accounting for inflation so... no more expensive for a new one? 3.5K in today's money for the 16Gb 5700XT if you have that one.
 
Last edited:
BillN_33 said:
I have used Apple for years - iMac 24" 27" and MBP ....... right back to the TV shaped original

I'm wanting to upgrade and add to my 2020 i7, 64GB, 16GB Graphics and 1TB iMac with one a little faster with a 2TB internal SSD ........ it looks like it will be £3k/£3.5k - the MacMini, Apple Studio or 24" iMac route .....but I want a 27" 5K Monitor

After years of Apple should I just get a PC and use it for Lightroom

I'm going round and round in circles

MacM4 with external SSD's Apple Disply at £1,500, etc., etc
Click to expand...

Imac platform is now considered by Apple to be low end so mainly best suited to those wanting a basic home computer for web browsing, documents etc.

Have been down that route myself recently ended up with a Mac Studio and a 4k Benq monitor, 5k seemed a bit pointless and I would rather put the money into colour accuracy. This is the monitor I have https://www.wexphotovideo.com/benq-...bergb-90w-usb-c-photographer-monitor-3107439/ seemed a better option for photo than the 5k model mentioned above.

imattersuk said:
Go for an external SSD, they are not all equal, these are as quick as the internal one’s. I’ve also got a Benq monitor and it’s great, tbh I don’t miss the super shiny Mac display, this is much easier on the eye.

Click to expand...

Not true at all even the most expensive external SSD drives are much slower than the drives you will find inside a Mac Mini or Mac Studio. the only way you will get close to that speed is using a fast NVME and a Thunderbolt 5 enclosure.
 
Last edited:
f/2.8 said:
Imac platform is now considered by Apple to be low end so mainly best suited to those wanting a basic home computer for web browsing, documents etc.

Have been down that route myself recently ended up with a Mac Studio and a 4k Benq monitor, 5k seemed a bit pointless and I would rather put the money into colour accuracy. This is the monitor I have https://www.wexphotovideo.com/benq-...bergb-90w-usb-c-photographer-monitor-3107439/ seemed a better option for photo than the 5k model mentioned above.



Not true at all even the most expensive external SSD drives are much slower than the drives you will find inside a Mac Mini or Mac Studio. the only way you will get close to that speed is using a fast NVME and a Thunderbolt 5 enclosure.
Click to expand...
I've tested it, runs faster than the internal SSD on a Mac Mini 4, fact.
 
I've tested it, runs faster
Click to expand...
The link you posted the manufacturer’s own benchmarks only show 2.6GB/s in black magic?

Does yours get faster than that?

A base 256gb M4 will score similar, anything better tests twice as fast.
 
Can save a few hundred £ buying from the Apple refurbished site, same guarantee and AppleCare as buying new. Recently picked up a studio and not a mark on it. Might have to wait a week or two for the spec you want to come in stock
 
Last edited:
I’m currently running a M1 Mac mini and a dell 27” monitor ,more than adequate for my current needs , I may well upgrade next year but for the moment I can’t see any reason other than it will be faster and last longer
 
the_accidental said:
The link you posted the manufacturer’s own benchmarks only show 2.6GB/s in black magic?

Does yours get faster than that?

A base 256gb M4 will score similar, anything better tests twice as fast.
Click to expand...
I got 3.8 when tested.

I think there's been some inconsistency with what drives Apple have fitted in the last 2 years. Mine is 512GB and the external is faster.

Good video here....
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEYnzCo_4wQ
 
the_accidental said:
I mean you could, but it'll probably be more expensive, or worse? But you could also get a worse spec Mac and have it cheaper...



Also, assuming you didn't upgrade your i7 Mac (which you did, more RAM etc...) it would have cost you £3k in today's money accounting for inflation so... no more expensive for a new one? 3.5K in today's money for the 16Gb 5700XT if you have that one.
Click to expand...

The original Mac 128K, with a 9-inch monochrome screen, 128K of RAM and a 400 KB floppy drive, was $2495 (~£1850) at launch, which would be around £6,000 in modern money.
 
after days of this or that I have just bought the BenQ SW272U 4K Display which get good reports on the internet and as I plan to start printing a few images the software seems to help that - I decided against the Apple Studio Display which was £200 more expensive, but the BenQ seems to be geared more towards photography

and I've added the 10 core Mac Mini M4 with 26GB and the 512 SSD - just bought a WD Black 2TB NVMe SSD and a ZIKE enclosure, (on it's way from China!), to add to the Crucial 2TB X9, (which is quite impressive), and a couple of 4TB older external disks for back up.

I plan to keep all my LR images, (about 1TB) on the external WD NVMe SSD

Just see how it goes and it will be interesting to compare the 4K BenQ to my 27" iMac 5K Retina

Thanks again for all your comments in this and another couple of threads
 
Last edited:
I am a Mac fanboy , Must be on my 4th one now , M3 does all I want , Previous one last over 10 years.
 
I've just bagged a nearly new (2 weeks old), Mac Studio M4 Max (16 core CPU, 40 Core GPU, 48GB Ram and 1TB SSD) that currently lists for £2,799.00 for £1,500.00 from a friend of mine (who to be honest has more money than sense), and after a few weeks decided he couldn't get on with Mac OS and so has bought a high end Dell Alienware Windows 11 Laptop instead,

He set the price and I bit his hand off - I'm seeing him this weekend to pick it up. Should see me through for some years to come.

Time to retire my Mac Mini M1 (16GB Ram, 512GB SSD) desktop. This will most likely be up for sale in the classified section when the new one is up and running. Can't believe I've had that over 4 years now.
 
Last edited:
Sootchucker said:
I've just bagged a nearly new (2 weeks old), Mac Studio M4 Max (16 core CPU, 40 Core GPU, 48GB Ram and 1TB SSD) that currently lists for £2,799.00 for £1,500.00 from a friend of mine (who to be honest has more money than sense), and after a few weeks decided he couldn't get on with Mac OS and so has bought a high end Dell Alienware Windows 11 Laptop instead,

He set the price and I bit his hand off - I'm seeing him this weekend to pick it up. Should see me through for some years to come.

Time to retire my Mac Mini M1 (16GB Ram, 512GB SSD) desktop. This will most likely be up for sale in the classified section when the new one is up and running. Can't believe I've had that over 4 years now.
Click to expand...
Well, that will see you for a year or ten!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top