Apple could reduce electronic waste by having not removed target display mode. I have a 2013 27" iMac that I would love to use as a 2nd monitor, but that is not possible anymore.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Any former iMacers here defecting to the Studio?
- Thread starter mapleleafer
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I very much agree with this. Especially once Thunderbolt could drive 5K panels.
I have a 2013 27" iMac that is going strong. Have the new 14" MBP (Pro w/1 TB) that outruns the iMac so was interested in a new 27". Was crushed in there not being a new version. The current Mini M1 is not much of an upgrade and I still need to get a monitor. The Studio looks interesting but if I got one it would be the base model with 1 TB. Not interested in the Studio Display, looking to get a pair of 21-24" screens or a 32". Meanwhile I will wait to see if anything interesting (and affordable) comes out of WWDC this June. Also, want to see what Apple will do with the Mini (M2 Pro/Max?) but this has to be limited to not hurt Studio sales.
There is a video on the Max Tech channel on YouTube recently explains why the 27" iMac could not be updated to the M1 Pro or Max chips; heat dissipation was one reason. It will interesting if Apple releases an iMac Pro, I know the Mac Pro will required deeper pockets than I have.
We live in interesting times.....
I am also switching from iMac to the studio. I've been using iMacs since 2008, and my last one (2014 iMac retina 5k) crashed a few weeks before the announcement event. Perfect timing! I don't think I'll miss the iMac at all and was excited to see the Studio introduced. I ordered mine today and it'll be here in a month, hopefully.
And it’s funny to see the new commercials of these days, the youtube influencers. Young guys who make really good videos with high quality which big tech companies use to make us believe that it’s normal to have a 10K $ desk with tesla model plaid parked in front of the house ?.
Last edited:
I just got my Mac Studio with the height adjustable display. I wasn't sure if it would be a big upgrade form the iMac Pro, but I have to say I am really impressed. The performance is pretty amazing (the iMac Pro was already plenty fast).
But I am truly impressed by the height adjustable display. I didn't realize what I was missing until I tried out the height adjustment in the new display. It's defiantly worth the extra money. The mechanism is really solid and works well. I can finally see the display at eye level (without using the tilt feature).
But I am truly impressed by the height adjustable display. I didn't realize what I was missing until I tried out the height adjustment in the new display. It's defiantly worth the extra money. The mechanism is really solid and works well. I can finally see the display at eye level (without using the tilt feature).
Same here, but I think the display is same tech as the iMac. Want to see what's coming. Bought a refurbished iMac 2020. Looks like new and runs Monterey perfectly.
Happy for now. I don't do any fancy stuff so this is more than adequate.
Some hope for apple thinking in us. If you see list of mac computers in apple store right now, only the imac makes reference to screen size (24”) so maybe it means that new bigger size could be release sooner than expected, maybe before the end of the year…
Last year we had the ipad mini requested during years, maybe this autumn is the turn for the big imac!!
Last year we had the ipad mini requested during years, maybe this autumn is the turn for the big imac!!
Right. Had they released an updated Mini along with the Studio, which I think a lot of us were hoping for, so many people would have bought that instead of the Mac Studio. I definitely see the new mini taking boat loads of market share away from the studio for customers who are buying the studio because they have no other options and not because they need all that power. Had they come out with a mini at the same time as the Studio, I would have just bought a new mini with the studio monitor and been totally fine with that as my iMac 27 replacement. Not only because of the price, but the mini is a lot easier to conceal under my desk or mounted somewhere out of sight. Even though the Studio looks like, I'm past the days of wanting to clutter my desk with hardware. Yeah the current mini is still plenty powerful, but I don't like the idea of buying a computer that's nearly two years old and likely to be updated any day now. Guess I'll keep waiting of that combo to be my new iMac. I have a feeling that Apple is going to drag their feet on the new Mini until the Studio sales slow down.
You can probably find a good deal on a used M1 mini, might be a good compromise for your situation.
You just summarized the situation I find myself in with my 27” late 2014 iMac perfectly. Ugh - I wanted a mini with an m1 pro, 32GB RAM, 4TB storage. I can get a m1 mini 16GB, 2TB for $1699 or a spend $3199 on a studio with 32GB 4TB of storage (twice the RAM, storage and performance) The studio has a lot of going for it, but the price sucks for us 27” iMac owners that want an m1 pro Mac desktop.
Saw it at the Apple store. It was nice, but the combination of monitor and computer is not a trivial cost at nearly $4000. Couldn't justify replacing the iMac right now.
I love, love my late-2013 iMac. It still works great, but I'm scared that it might be near the end of its life, and I have a lot of video assignments coming up. I'm able to edit 4K easily on the iMac...but it does get slow at times. I had been determined to wait until the June Apple event, and even wait a year to see if there might be a 27inch iMac with M1 Max coming up... but after a few days looking at online comments...I have given in. I've ordered Mac Studio with M1 Max plus the Studio Display even. I've accepted that Apple is going modular. Which is how it used to be a while back. It will be a very sad day when I trade in my dear, dear iMac.
Tonight I went to the apple store to check out the Mac Studio and Studio display. First impression is that the Mac studio is chunky. Also, I can see the non serviceability to clean out the dust to at some point be a problem. Also, the thickness of the studio display makes me wonder if it started life as a 27” iMac and then Apple changed gears and separated it into the studio plus display. It is oddly nearly twice as thick as the 24” iMac.
Comparing the looks of the Mac mini to the Mac Studio, I do prefer the minimalistic look of the mini (even if the design is 10+ years old). Sure, the speed of the Mac Studio is impressive and can run circles around the mini plus has many more ports, but I am still not convinced to upgrade from my late 2014 27” Retina iMac just yet.
I think I will just wait until the fall to see that the next revision of the mini brings with it (assuming it comes this fall). Until then, my trusty old 27” iMac will keep chugging away.
Comparing the looks of the Mac mini to the Mac Studio, I do prefer the minimalistic look of the mini (even if the design is 10+ years old). Sure, the speed of the Mac Studio is impressive and can run circles around the mini plus has many more ports, but I am still not convinced to upgrade from my late 2014 27” Retina iMac just yet.
I think I will just wait until the fall to see that the next revision of the mini brings with it (assuming it comes this fall). Until then, my trusty old 27” iMac will keep chugging away.
It's true that the Studio Display is significatively thicker than the 24 inch iMac, but the Studio Display has an integrated power supply, whereas the iMac has a power brick external to the device itself. That necessarily add thickness and heat management to the display
Made it to an Apple store today to check out this combo and wasn't crazy about it. I didn't love the monitor as much as I thought I would and I definitely would not spend that much on it. I'm sure the Studio has phenomenal performance, but it kinda defeats the purpose of having a sleek, minimalistic monitor when you have a bulky, metal block next to it on your desk. Am waiting for the next Mini to come out and pair it with a 3rd party 4k monitor since Apple doesn't want to give us a new 27" iMac.
Last edited:
I've currently got the 2017 iMac Pro, 64GB RAM, 4TB SSD and it's done me well - but not coping with some basic things like recording audio on Cubase for long periods, and shutting down during renders on FCP and Premiere.
So now going to a pretty full specced Ultra with 128GB RAM, full cores, 4TB SSD (for video editing, I have TB drives for backups moreso) and expect to have it for years to come - I'd rather get something that'll last me and won't have buyers remorse on later.
So now going to a pretty full specced Ultra with 128GB RAM, full cores, 4TB SSD (for video editing, I have TB drives for backups moreso) and expect to have it for years to come - I'd rather get something that'll last me and won't have buyers remorse on later.
I’m getting back to video editing and now realize my late 2014 iMac isn’t up to the task anymore. Even with an SSD scratch disk and 24GB ram, I’m getting 20 second beachball delays working with longer clips. I guess the operating system and program are now looking for more up to date hardware. Or is it forced obsolescence?
It's only forced if you are now shooting in 4K instead of SD or HD like you were in 2014. And you are doing more layers effects, noise reduction. You forced it. Just get an Ultra and a decent 4K monitor and move forward for another 8+ years! Your equipment has served you well. Or maybe a Studio Max and a Studio Display (which are still clearer and crisper than most anything else out there and worth the $$ if you have them)
Agreed, 8 years is way overdue and I got my money's worth. I'm just wondering why the same HD video functions on FCP is so slow now and wasn't in '14. No other changes at all.