Good luck getting a Mac mini (or Mac Studio at the moment). Most options have an “at least” 12 week wait time for special orders. :)) Also,..waiting for the M5 to go into the Mac mini and Mac Studio currently too.
I had a Mac Studio on order for a client (with 64GB RAM upgrade). Ordered it mid-March. It was delivered today. The run on component parts from AI server farms has made delays in a lot of products (and let’s not get started on what it’s done to SSD pricing.!!! I nearly fell off my chair the other day when I had to price one up for a client!! But yes,..that Mac mini and external screens are good options. I’ve done a lot of them for my clients. (Replaced a whole business from 2012/2013 iMac 27” models to all Mac minis with 3rd party various screens). Plenty of range and choice available for different budgets (and depending on “features” wanted. :) They’re great little machines’ the little Mac mini. Kind regards Daniel --- Daniel Kerr MacWizardry p : 0414 795 960 e : <daniel AT macwizardry.com.au> w : <http://www.macwizardry.com.au> **For everything Apple** NOTE: Any information provided in this email may be my personal opinion and as such should be taken accordingly, and may not be the views of MacWizardry. Any information provided does not offer or warrant any form of warranty or accept liability. It would be appreciated that if any information in this email is to be disseminated, distributed or copied, that permission by the author be requested. > On 4 Jun 2026, at 10:42 am, Tim Law via WAMUG <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Thanks for the upgrade tips. My 27” screen 2017 iMac is just great, but yes, > getting outdated. > > Replacing with a Mac screen and mini is prohibitive but the cheaper screen > options sound attractive. > > > Tim Law > >> On 4 Jun 2026, at 9:05 am, Peter Hinchliffe via WAMUG >> <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> My 2019 27” iMac died early last year. I didn’t want to replace with >> with a 21” iMac, so I opted for an M4 Mac Mini with 512 Gb of storage. >> I also had to fork out for an external display, but then I had a wide >> choice of options to choose from. I found a 32” display which sits my >> needs perfectly. Together, the pair was still cheaper than a new 21” >> iMac. This little Mac mini is an absolute beast. I can’t see myself >> ever going back to an iMac. >> >> On 3 Jun 2026, at 6:04 pm, Marcus Harris via WAMUG >> <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Hi Steven. >> A 2017 Intel Mac is getting into past history with Apple. >> Maybe think about upgrading >> A new Mac mini is advertised for about $1300 >> And a Kogan 27" UHD 4K Frameless USB-C Monitor (3840 x 2160) is about >> $300 >> With that set up you get the latest Apple software and the software >> upgrades and security checks for free. >> I think you can pay off with instalments these days. >> Cheers >> Marcus >> Marcus Harris >> Mobile +61417965618 >> >> On 3 Jun 2026, at 4:56 pm, Rod Blitvich via WAMUG >> <[email protected]> wrote: >> AI said: >> "That sounds more like a wake-from-sleep / wake-from-display issue >> than >> a startup issue. >> On a 2017 Intel Mac running macOS Ventura, a 10–15 second delay >> before >> the password field becomes active is commonly caused by one of >> these: >> * external drives or USB devices “hanging” wake-up >> * network/login items trying to reconnect >> * FileVault delay >> * Mail or cloud syncing during wake >> * corrupted power management settings >> * failing SSD or low free space >> * old Intel Macs struggling with Ventura >> Here’s the order I’d check things. >> _________________________________________________________________ >> _ >> 1. Disconnect ALL external devices first >> This is the biggest culprit surprisingly often. >> Temporarily unplug: >> * USB hubs >> * external drives >> * printers >> * webcams >> * SD cards >> * dongles >> Then: >> * restart the Mac >> * let it sleep >> * wake it again >> If the delay disappears, reconnect one item at a time. >> External drives that are spinning up from sleep are especially >> notorious. >> _________________________________________________________________ >> _ >> 2. Check free disk space >> Ventura behaves badly when storage gets low. >> Go to: >> Apple Menu → About This Mac → Storage >> If free space is under about: >> * 30–40 GB = possible slowdowns >> * under 15 GB = very likely issue >> _________________________________________________________________ >> _ >> 3. Turn OFF “Wake for network access” >> Go to: >> System Settings → Battery → Options >> Turn OFF: >> * Wake for network access >> Also turn OFF: >> * Power Nap (if shown) >> These can cause delays while networking wakes up. >> _________________________________________________________________ >> _ >> 4. Test without Mail running >> Even though Mail isn’t a startup issue, it can hang during wake >> while >> reconnecting accounts. >> Try: >> * quit Mail completely >> * let Mac sleep >> * wake it >> If fixed: >> * one email account may be stalling >> * Exchange accounts are common offenders >> _________________________________________________________________ >> _ >> 5. Disable FileVault temporarily (test only) >> FileVault can occasionally cause delayed login responsiveness on >> older >> Intel Macs. >> Check: >> System Settings → Privacy & Security → FileVault >> If ON: >> * temporarily disable it >> * test for a day >> (Decryption takes time, so only worth trying if other fixes fail.) >> _________________________________________________________________ >> _ >> 6. Reset SMC and NVRAM >> On Intel Macs this still matters. >> Reset SMC (2017 MacBook/iMac Intel) >> Shut down. >> Then press: >> * Shift + Control + Option >> * AND power button >> Hold 10 seconds. >> Release and start normally. >> Reset NVRAM >> Start Mac and immediately hold: >> * Option + Command + P + R >> Hold about 20 seconds. >> _________________________________________________________________ >> _ >> 7. Check Activity Monitor after wake >> Immediately after the lag: >> Open: >> Applications → Utilities → Activity Monitor >> Look for: >> * very high CPU >> * “Not Responding” >> * kernel_task spikes >> * Mail >> * Spotlight >> * cloud storage apps >> _________________________________________________________________ >> _ >> 8. Ventura on 2017 Intel Macs >> Ventura is near the upper limit for some 2017 Intel machines. They >> often become sluggish after updates. >> If everything else fails: >> * a clean restart may help temporarily >> * safe mode test is worthwhile >> * reinstalling Ventura without erasing can repair corrupted >> system >> files >> _________________________________________________________________ >> _ >> 9. Quick diagnostic question >> One important clue: >> Does the delay happen: >> * ONLY after sleep/wake? >> * or ALSO from a full restart? >> If it’s sleep/wake only, power management or peripherals are most >> likely. >> If it also happens after reboot/login, storage or background >> processes >> become more likely." >> Rod Blitvich - Amy & Sam’s Dad >> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . >> On 3 Jun 2026, at 11:38 am, STEPHEN CHAPE via WAMUG >> <[email protected]> wrote: >> Hi folks. >> My wife uses my previous iMac. >> MacOS Ventura 13.7.8 >> 2017 Model Intel i7 >> Just lately an annoying issue is happening. >> When she taps a key to activate the screen (Mac is on) there is >> delay. >> Once the login box appears it takes about 15 seconds before the >> password can be entered. >> I have checked her startup apps and the only one is Mail. >> But the Mac is not booting when it does this anyway … it is >> already >> on. >> Regards, >> Stephen Chape >> Mac by choice >> Windows because my employer knew no better >> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >> Archives - <https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> >> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >> Settings & Unsubscribe - >> <https://lists.wamug.org.au/mailman/listinfo/wamug> >> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >> Archives - <https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> >> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >> Settings & Unsubscribe - >> <https://lists.wamug.org.au/mailman/listinfo/wamug> >> >> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >> Archives - <https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> >> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >> Settings & Unsubscribe - >> <https://lists.wamug.org.au/mailman/listinfo/wamug> >> >> Kind regards, >> Peter Hinchliffe Apwin Computer Services >> Claris FileMaker Pro Associate Solutions Developer >> Perth, Western Australia >> Phone (618) 9332 6482 Mob 0403 046 948 >> -------------------------------------------------------------------- >> Mac because I prefer it -- Windows because I have to. >> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >> Archives - <https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> >> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >> Settings & Unsubscribe - <https://lists.wamug.org.au/mailman/listinfo/wamug> > > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- > Archives - <https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> > Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> > Settings & Unsubscribe - <https://lists.wamug.org.au/mailman/listinfo/wamug> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Settings & Unsubscribe - <https://lists.wamug.org.au/mailman/listinfo/wamug>
