Ethernet or not?

[cosmichobo]

G'day,

I'm going to be ordering an M1 iMac for my parents, who are tech neanderthals, but have been using first a G4 lamp iMac and now a 2008 20" iMac for over 15 years for things like eMail, surfing the net, basic spreadsheets, etc.

For $40 extra on top of the AU$1899... should I get Ethernet?

I've grown up with Macs since the Mac Classic, which did not have Ethernet... and so the idea of going "backwards" feels terribly wrong. But, I am not my parents... They don't stream tv... and probably never will. They don't have a million wifi products hogging their wifi modem/router's bandwidth...

What are ya'll doing with regard to the base model iMac - are you paying to get the Ethernet option?

Cheers

cosmic

 

[Wolf1701]

A cable is always reliable, wifi... just browse this forum. For 40$ It's a no brainer.

 

[lostom]

$40 on near 2k is nothing, no brainer, I'd say it's well worth having it.

 

[cosmichobo]

$40 on near 2k is nothing, no brainer, I'd say it's well worth having it.

Yeah - I just called dad to check what size HDD is in his current iMac, then pointed out he'll need to cough up an extra $300 to get the 512GB SSD. "Money's not a problem", says dad.

So at the same time as ticking to upgrade the SSD, I also ticked the Ethernet upgrade.

 

[benshive]

Yeah if it's not too much of an inconvenience to get an ethernet cable running to the device, ethernet is always the way to go. And that $40 might save you a few calls from your parents to troubleshoot wireless issues

 

[4sallypat]

Wireless is not as fast, reliable or collision/packet loss stable as wired.
My house and work have been network wired so I guess you can say I am old school...

Thus all my Macs (except for my travel 12" rMB, iPhones, iPads) are all on wired ethernet.

Most recent is my new M1 iMac which is a base model with the upgraded ethernet option and extended keyboard.

The faster wired network gives the online experience which makes up for the lower memory in all my M1 devices (8GB Unified memory).

 

[cosmichobo]

Confirming the size of the internal drive with a 74yo who didn't touch a computer until he was 59...

Me: Now in the top right corner of the screen, click on "Macintosh HD".
Dad: I don't see it.
Me: On your desktop. Top right corner.
Dad: Are you talking to me?
Me: Do you have your glasses on?
Dad: I don't need them.
Me: The big picture of you having your helicopter ride - that's your desktop.
Dad: Top right corner, ah ok, I see the time, and...
Me: There should be -
Dad: Ah - Macintosh HD! I see it.
Me: Click on it once.
Dad: Ok I clicked - nothing happened.
Me: That's ok. Now, press the Windows key. [Has a cheapo Windows USB keyboard]
Dad: Where's that?
Me: On your keyboard.
Dad: Oh, not on the screen.
Me: Next to the space bar on the keyboard.
Dad: You mean the 4-squares key?
Me: Yes dad, it looks like 4 squares. Hold that one, and press i - i for indigo
Dad: Hang on I need another hand now!
Me: Did something happen?
Dad: Yes. Macintosh HD info, Kind - volume. Created - Saturday 4 May 2016 at 2.15pm. Modified -
Me: Yes yes, ok - now a bit further down, it says "Capacity".
Dad: 512 Gee Bee.
Me: And the next one under that - Available
Dad: Available - 240 Gee Bee.
Me: Ok, you'll have to get the $300 option.
Dad: Money's not a problem. Can I let go now?
Me: Of what?
Dad: The 4 squares key.

I don't mean to make my dad sound like an idiot. This is pretty much exactly the conversation I had. And have regularly now that I can't remote access his Mac. I am hoping the new iMac will resolve that problem, as I'm getting less patient the older I get.

 

[jerryk]

I am shocked that an iMac does not come with Ethernet and Wifi as standard equipment. I can't imagine any desktop computer without a gigabit or faster Ethernet connection.

Back to the OP's configuration, looking at the Apple site in the US it looks like if you move up to the 8GB/512GB model it comes with the Ethernet connection and a touch ID keyboard. Is Ethernet optional in Australia on the 512GB configuration?

 

[Jorbanead]

I am shocked that an iMac does not come with Ethernet and Wifi as standard equipment.

It does come with wifi? The Ethernet power cable cost $30. My house doesn’t even have Ethernet ports.

 

[profcutter]

Confirming the size of the internal drive with a 74yo who didn't touch a computer until he was 59...

Me: Now in the top right corner of the screen, click on "Macintosh HD".
Dad: I don't see it.
Me: On your desktop. Top right corner.
Dad: Are you talking to me?
Me: Do you have your glasses on?
Dad: I don't need them.
Me: The big picture of you having your helicopter ride - that's your desktop.
Dad: Top right corner, ah ok, I see the time, and...
Me: There should be -
Dad: Ah - Macintosh HD! I see it.
Me: Click on it once.
Dad: Ok I clicked - nothing happened.
Me: That's ok. Now, press the Windows key. [Has a cheapo Windows USB keyboard]
Dad: Where's that?
Me: On your keyboard.
Dad: Oh, not on the screen.
Me: Next to the space bar on the keyboard.
Dad: You mean the 4-squares key?
Me: Yes dad, it looks like 4 squares. Hold that one, and press i - i for indigo
Dad: Hang on I need another hand now!
Me: Did something happen?
Dad: Yes. Macintosh HD info, Kind - volume. Created - Saturday 4 May 2016 at 2.15pm. Modified -
Me: Yes yes, ok - now a bit further down, it says "Capacity".
Dad: 512 Gee Bee.
Me: And the next one under that - Available
Dad: Available - 240 Gee Bee.
Me: Ok, you'll have to get the $300 option.
Dad: Money's not a problem. Can I let go now?
Me: Of what?
Dad: The 4 squares key.

I don't mean to make my dad sound like an idiot. This is pretty much exactly the conversation I had. And have regularly now that I can't remote access his Mac. I am hoping the new iMac will resolve that problem, as I'm getting less patient the older I get.

Oh my god, stop, you’re activating my PTSD. I had to explain over the phone where the space bar was, he’s like “There’s not a key that says ‘space bar’”. Dad, I love you, but….

 

[BeefCake 15]

Confirming the size of the internal drive with a 74yo who didn't touch a computer until he was 59...

Me: Now in the top right corner of the screen, click on "Macintosh HD".
Dad: I don't see it.
Me: On your desktop. Top right corner.
Dad: Are you talking to me?
Me: Do you have your glasses on?
Dad: I don't need them.
Me: The big picture of you having your helicopter ride - that's your desktop.
Dad: Top right corner, ah ok, I see the time, and...
Me: There should be -
Dad: Ah - Macintosh HD! I see it.
Me: Click on it once.
Dad: Ok I clicked - nothing happened.
Me: That's ok. Now, press the Windows key. [Has a cheapo Windows USB keyboard]
Dad: Where's that?
Me: On your keyboard.
Dad: Oh, not on the screen.
Me: Next to the space bar on the keyboard.
Dad: You mean the 4-squares key?
Me: Yes dad, it looks like 4 squares. Hold that one, and press i - i for indigo
Dad: Hang on I need another hand now!
Me: Did something happen?
Dad: Yes. Macintosh HD info, Kind - volume. Created - Saturday 4 May 2016 at 2.15pm. Modified -
Me: Yes yes, ok - now a bit further down, it says "Capacity".
Dad: 512 Gee Bee.
Me: And the next one under that - Available
Dad: Available - 240 Gee Bee.
Me: Ok, you'll have to get the $300 option.
Dad: Money's not a problem. Can I let go now?
Me: Of what?
Dad: The 4 squares key.

I don't mean to make my dad sound like an idiot. This is pretty much exactly the conversation I had. And have regularly now that I can't remote access his Mac. I am hoping the new iMac will resolve that problem, as I'm getting less patient the older I get.

Man, that's all you need to make the purchase lol. I don't know why people were wasting their time talking about packet drops in wifi and all this theoretical none sense when your parents do spreadsheets on the computer....

 

[jz0309]

Do they have wifi even? What router/speed? What is your internet connection/speed?
Unless you have some real home networking requirements, your internet speed is the key factor…
Ethernet will NOT make a 50mbps internet connection any faster than wifi AC…

 

[Shirasaki]

Man, that's all you need to make the purchase lol. I don't know why people were wasting their time talking about packet drops in wifi and all this theoretical none sense when your parents do spreadsheets on the computer....

Do they have wifi even? What router/speed? What is your internet connection/speed?
Unless you have some real home networking requirements, your internet speed is the key factor…
Ethernet will NOT make a 50mbps internet connection any faster than wifi AC…

But troubleshooting Ethernet connection usually revolves unplugging the cable and plugging the cable, which usually fixes small issues. Good luck trying to let his dad figure out where the wifi symbol is and how to reset wifi connection in a timely manner, if finding the Macintosh HD icon is a real challenge.

 

[jz0309]

But troubleshooting Ethernet connection usually revolves unplugging the cable and plugging the cable, which usually fixes small issues. Good luck trying to let his dad figure out where the wifi symbol is and how to reset wifi connection in a timely manner, if finding the Macintosh HD icon is a real challenge.

I have not had ANY Ethernet/WiFi troubleshooting activities for years, either a router re-boot or a iPhone re-boot fixed issues, maybe a couple times/year - YMMV. But that is also why I asked about the router, how old/speed and location matter. In a up-to-date setup, wifi is very reliable ...

 

[DHagan4755]

I think wiring a computer via Ethernet is the way to go if you can do it, especially for your parents. It just eliminates a thing that can go wrong.

 

[profcutter]

I wired my parents’ whole apartment with cat6, everything from the printer to the appletv. Over 2 years, not a single complaint about internet, it’s Fios 1gig.
I had some cable slack wound up behind some furniture that my mom had moved. That was a week-long conversation, with me repeatedly saying “why do you care if there’s a spool of cable back there if no one can see it? What about behind the walls? That’s messy too!”

 

[satcomer]

I wired my parents’ whole apartment with cat6, everything from the printer to the appletv. Over 2 years, not a single complaint about internet, it’s Fios 1gig.
I had some cable slack wound up behind some furniture that my mom had moved. That was a week-long conversation, with me repeatedly saying “why do you care if there’s a spool of cable back there if no one can see it? What about behind the walls? That’s messy too!”

If They have Fiber then Would consider Ampifi Alien Wi-Fi 6 router for the best most modern wi-fi router!

 

[profcutter]

No need. The AX11000 takes care of everything that’s not wired up. Ethernet is essentially set it and forget it, so it was the most obvious, and cheapest, choice.

 

[jerryk]

I think wiring a computer via Ethernet is the way to go if you can do it, especially for your parents. It just eliminates a thing that can go wrong.

Agreed. If the unit is going to sit in the same place and you can get an ethernet cable to it why bother with Wifi except as a backup? Especially if you are remote support. Using ethernet eliminates things like troubleshooting the people next door setting their Wifi channel the same as your parent's and killing their throughput or otherwise making their connection act flaky.

 

[Shirasaki]

I have not had ANY Ethernet/WiFi troubleshooting activities for years, either a router re-boot or a iPhone re-boot fixed issues, maybe a couple times/year - YMMV. But that is also why I asked about the router, how old/speed and location matter. In a up-to-date setup, wifi is very reliable ...

Dude, the OP is trying to remote assist his dad who is 79, to buy a new Mac Mini, and installing it. if you see the conversation post, you should immediately see why setting up wifi network is not really an option, let alone digging into router settings, figuring out channels, passwords, etc etc.

Which setup is easier? Instructing his dad to plug the cable into Ethernet jack and be done with it, or tell his dad to find the correct wifi from a few others nearby, type in the correct password, and hit enter? Like other posters said, wireless signal is always susceptible to interference and dropout even with all technologies we have today. What if that happens? Changing the channel through router settings? What if restarting router does not solve the problem and his dad keeps calling him out of frustration?

Rather than introducing all of these hassle, connecting to the internet using Ethernet makes way more sense in this scenario. Just because you can do it doesn’t mean others can, and finish it in a timely manner.

 

[jz0309]

Dude, the OP is trying to remote assist his dad who is 79, to buy a new Mac Mini, and installing it. if you see the conversation post, you should immediately see why setting up wifi network is not really an option, let alone digging into router settings, figuring out channels, passwords, etc etc.

Which setup is easier? Instructing his dad to plug the cable into Ethernet jack and be done with it, or tell his dad to find the correct wifi from a few others nearby, type in the correct password, and hit enter? Like other posters said, wireless signal is always susceptible to interference and dropout even with all technologies we have today. What if that happens? Changing the channel through router settings? What if restarting router does not solve the problem and his dad keeps calling him out of frustration?

Rather than introducing all of these hassle, connecting to the internet using Ethernet makes way more sense in this scenario. Just because you can do it doesn’t mean others can, and finish it in a timely manner.

re-read OPs post, in there you find:
They don't have a million wifi products hogging their wifi modem/router's bandwidth...
so, rather than being rude and calling me names, check you own facts first. You do not need an Ethernet cable for trouble-free internet experience. They apparently have wifi already and OP is not saying ANYTHING that wifi has been troublesome for them. Nor is he saying how the existing image is currently connected to the internet ... rather than just saying what everyone else is, I was trying to make OP think what options there are ...

 

[DHagan4755]

You're right to an extent about not needing an Ethernet cable for trouble free experience — BUT — if you can you should absolutely do it. Even if you're not a Neanderthal ?

Let's talk about a for instance...

Situation — iMac is connected via Wi-Fi. Parental units complain Internet is really slow.

You: "Did you try another browser?"

Parents: "Yes, we've tried both Safari & Foxfire."

You: "Did you try rebooting the router?"

Parents: "Son, I'm not sure how we do that...what one is it?" (Some time & explanation goes by). "Ok it's back... Internet is still slow."

You: "Ok, now try rebooting the modem."

Parents: "Ok, not sure how we do that. Is that other one with blinking lights? (You walk them through that procedure, some time goes by). It's still pretty slow."

You: "Hmmm it must be your Internet connection. You'll need to call Comcast."

Parents call Comcast: "I'm connected to Family Wi-fi & it's really slow."

Comcast: "Sir, I'm going to need you to first hook up your computer with an Ethernet cable."

Parents: "I have one of those new blue iMacs & I'm not sure what that is, my kid set all this up for me."

 

[Shirasaki]

re-read OPs post, in there you find:
They don't have a million wifi products hogging their wifi modem/router's bandwidth...
so, rather than being rude and calling me names, check you own facts first. You do not need an Ethernet cable for trouble-free internet experience. They apparently have wifi already and OP is not saying ANYTHING that wifi has been troublesome for them. Nor is he saying how the existing image is currently connected to the internet ... rather than just saying what everyone else is, I was trying to make OP think what options there are ...

Ok, so I missed that part. My bad.

Plus I dunno “dude” is equivalent of personal attack to you. Sorry.

It’s obvious OP could either setup a wifi for his parents, or Ethernet. Others have expressed their preference on Ethernet being easier to troubleshoot and easier to fix common issues, which I totally agree, given how looking up storage capacity of the Mac takes up quite some effort.

With that being said, it‘s up to OP to pick which method he’s going for to setup the network so no more arguments.

 

[darngooddesign]

Confirming the size of the internal drive with a 74yo who didn't touch a computer until he was 59...

Me: Now in the top right corner of the screen, click on "Macintosh HD".
Dad: I don't see it.
Me: On your desktop. Top right corner.
Dad: Are you talking to me?
Me: Do you have your glasses on?
Dad: I don't need them.
Me: The big picture of you having your helicopter ride - that's your desktop.
Dad: Top right corner, ah ok, I see the time, and...
Me: There should be -
Dad: Ah - Macintosh HD! I see it.
Me: Click on it once.
Dad: Ok I clicked - nothing happened.
Me: That's ok. Now, press the Windows key. [Has a cheapo Windows USB keyboard]
Dad: Where's that?
Me: On your keyboard.
Dad: Oh, not on the screen.
Me: Next to the space bar on the keyboard.
Dad: You mean the 4-squares key?
Me: Yes dad, it looks like 4 squares. Hold that one, and press i - i for indigo
Dad: Hang on I need another hand now!
Me: Did something happen?
Dad: Yes. Macintosh HD info, Kind - volume. Created - Saturday 4 May 2016 at 2.15pm. Modified -
Me: Yes yes, ok - now a bit further down, it says "Capacity".
Dad: 512 Gee Bee.
Me: And the next one under that - Available
Dad: Available - 240 Gee Bee.
Me: Ok, you'll have to get the $300 option.
Dad: Money's not a problem. Can I let go now?
Me: Of what?
Dad: The 4 squares key.

I don't mean to make my dad sound like an idiot. This is pretty much exactly the conversation I had. And have regularly now that I can't remote access his Mac. I am hoping the new iMac will resolve that problem, as I'm getting less patient the older I get.

I just had a PTSD (Parental Tech Stress Disorder) flashback reading that.

Luckily apple is bringing back screen sharing which I loved back when it was an iChat feature.

Are you sure they wouldn't prefer 13" iPads for what they do on their computers; can even hook them up to big monitors?

 

[Allyance]

Ethernet is solid and undiminished to 300'. WiFi performance varies with the square of the distance. WiFi works good in my small house, my iPhone is on it most of the time. But when I lived in my big house in NY, it was pathetic.