Good call, given the variables. Out might be my next Mac, although like you. I would consider the freshness of the technology. My iMac 27 is currently in the shop for a new hard drive. It's free -- a recall.
Paul via phone > On Dec 23, 2013, at 1:55 PM, Stan Halpin <[email protected]> wrote: > > Several weeks ago I asked for and received suggestions concerning my planned > computer upgrade. > I've made a decision, orders have been placed, I should have my new gear by > this time next week. > > Current system is a late 2006 20" iMac with 2Gb 667Hz memory. It works well > but it is choking on the files and applications I use. Externals are limited > to USB2.0 and FireWire 400, and that definitely contributes to the slowness. > I had come to dread taking a card from the camera and starting the download > process, knowing what a long frustrating series of time-outs was ahead of me: > waiting for download, waiting for preview generation, waiting for the images > to come up when scrolling through, waiting for a 1-to-1 view to be loaded > in... Wish list included larger display, more memory, faster processor, and > faster I/O ports. > > The options: > 1. MacBook Pro laptop + external display > 2. Mac Mini + external display > 3. iMac 27" > 4. Mac Pro (new release) + external display > > The external display turned out to be my hangup. I found capable to very good > monitors in the $350-$1750 price range. The one that most appealed to me was > the Mac Thunderbolt 27" display. As a display it is said to be a good one > (YMMV), plus it can serve as a hub for external drives etc. However, it > hasn't been updated in 15-18 months; the I/O ports in the "hub" are > Thunderbolt (1), FW800 (1) and USB2.0 (3). But the Thunderbolt is used for > the input from a laptop, Mini, or Pro, so it is only the FW800 and USB2.0 > that are available for external drives etc. Only a slight upgrade over my > seven-year-old iMac. > > Each of the computers has its own I/O ports, but there are other limiting > factors with each. > > 1. MacBook Pro. > - I have a good 3-4 year old MacBook Pro, don't really need to get a new > laptop per se > - I had an earlier MacBook Pro that I docked for use as my desktop; > switched away to my 2006 iMac for a couple of reasons including management of > physical space on my desk, and don't want to go back. > + Up-to-date I/O ports: 2 Thunderbolt 2 ports, 2 USB3.0 > - - But not all that many ports. 2 USB3.0 on the laptop and 3 USB2.0 on > the display don't leave me much to work with once I attach keyboard, printer, > scanner, and CD reader. USB hubs tend to be unreliable in my experience, some > items (like the keyboard) just don't work unless directly attached, and the > laptop option just didn't seem very attractive. > - 16 Gb memory limit > > 2. Mac Mini > - has not been updated in 15 months or so > - Only 1 Thunderbolt (and not Thunderbolt 2) port > + FW800 (1) and USB3.0 (4) ports. More flexibility than with the laptop > option. > - 16 Gb memory limit > > 3. iMac > + all-in-one design, no need for a separate display > + Two Thunderbolt ports (albeit not Thunderbolt 2) > + Both TB ports usable, no need to dedicate one to the monitor > - But one T'Bolt port is needed for running my FW external drives. > + USB3.0 (4) So, a slight gain over the Mini with respect to I/O.. > + 32 Gb memory limit > + Usable as a stand-alone Thunderbolt display if/when I change to a system > that requires such a display. > > 4. Mac Pro > + +Beautiful! > + 64 Gb memory limit > + More Thunderbolt 2 and USB3.0 ports than I can count > - - Expensive > - Almost certainly overkill for how I would use it. > > I held off for several weeks, thinking that the Mini and/or Thunderbolt > displays might be updated when the MacPro was finally available, but that > didn't happen. I decided not to worry about buying THE computer that would > last me the rest of my life, but rather buy one that is good enough for what > I need now and the next couple of years. So I ordered the iMac. I didn't max > it out; e.g., I'll add memory from other sources. And I went with an > old-technology internal drive; an external SSD is on order that will tie into > one of the USB ports. > > Thanks again to those who commented earlier - you gave me useful food for > thought. > > stan > > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
