Help me decide on iMac

[Ijuk]

Buying an iMac for my daughter and do not really expect her to do some hardcore video editing and needing g pro capacity but trying to decide how to spec - thinking of the middle or upper m3 model and deciding whether to spec with 8gb and 500gb ram or 16gb and 256 ram.

I read somewhere that the m chips borrow memory from the hdd and do not rely on ram in the traditional way and therefore wonder if the 500gb will be more versatile, but then again I may be misinformed.

I would ideally like to pass this model down the the younger child in 3 years.

 

[theorist9]

Is she transitioning from another computer and, if so, how much storage is she using now, and how fast has it been growing? That will tell you how much she needs.

 

[Ijuk]

She is not - this will be her first computer, I was thinking more from future proofing for the next 5-7 years. Also will the single vs the double and chip make much difference for the average.

 

[mmkerc]

It seems you are trying to decide only between ram and HD storage, but also trying to future proof the machine. As ram is not upgradeable on any of the new machines, and external HD storage is readily available I would opt for the large ram (16gb). That said I do not believe 256gb of HD space is enough and you will be looking at getting an external HD within a short time (1-2 years) depending on uses especially if she does any (even simple) video or photo work. I make this comment on the assumption she has interest in video and/or photo given your comment. If that is not right the 256gb HD may last longer but in any case it is easily upgradeable.

As money is an assumed constrain in your equation, I would suggest getting a Mac mini, and a non Apple display (there are several excellent less expensive monitors to choose from), with a min spec of 16gb ram, and 1TB HD

 

[MacCheetah3]

The Mac mimi is a good suggestion. I recommend also looking through the refurbished section of the Apple Store online:

Refurbished Mac Deals - Apple

Save up to 15% on a refurbished Mac. Tested and certified by Apple including a 1-year warranty. Free delivery and returns.

www.apple.com

The selection changes often and varies by country but it’s still worth a look.

With that said, I will also quote:

How do I future-proof my computer?

Today's mobile, sleek computers have come a long way since their comparatively clunky predecessors first debuted. Given how fast technology evolves, is there a way to protect your PC from becoming obsolete?

computer.howstuffworks.com

Keep in mind that this applies mostly to those building their own PCs or adapting one. There's a strong argument to be made that premade computers -- your Macs, your Dells -- are a very reasonable deal, even from a future-proofing point of view. Buying really expensive, state-of-the-art parts is going to set you back a lot of money initially. Whether you'll really make up the cost from the out-of-the-box computer is not a foregone conclusion, which leads us to a few reasons why you really can't future-proof your computer in a lasting, meaningful way. Just as that little voice in the back of your head warns you, nothing lasts forever. Actual future-proofing would require an accurate fortune teller who could predict what kind of technology will be necessary and in-demand three, five, ten years from now. It's simply unrealistic to guarantee the potential of computer hardware.

I share the warning as someone who has indeed fell victim to the concept of “future-proofing” more than a couple of times.

 

[theorist9]

A refurbished M3 iMac makes sense. It's essentially indistinguishable from a new machine, comes with the same warranty, and the reduction in cost would be enough for you to get both 16 GB RAM and a 512 GB SSD for close to the price of 16 GB/256 GB new.

However, those aren't on the refurb store yet, and I don't think a refurb M1 iMac is a good deal, since the savings are modest and you may lose about two years of OS support (you said you want to hand this down to your younger child after 3 years).

If you want to buy an M1 iMac, it makes more sense to find one one locally used in pristine condition. You should be able to save at least 1/3 off retail now that the M3 has come out. I'd recommend filtering your search to only buy those still under warranty. That way you're protected, and can extend the warrany with Apple if neeeded. You''ll also want to bring a USB key with apps to test for dead pixels and hardware issues.

 

[Mr.Fox]

Buying an iMac for my daughter and do not really expect her to do some hardcore video editing and needing g pro capacity but trying to decide how to spec - thinking of the middle or upper m3 model and deciding whether to spec with 8gb and 500gb ram or 16gb and 256 ram.

I read somewhere that the m chips borrow memory from the hdd and do not rely on ram in the traditional way and therefore wonder if the 500gb will be more versatile, but then again I may be misinformed.

I would ideally like to pass this model down the the younger child in 3 years.

Optimally and for growth, so that in the future there were no problems, I strongly recommend 16 Gb RAM and 500GB or more. This is the best option. It is better to overpay now than to regret later that the computer can not cope. Do not forget about the optimization of software and that there is no possibility of upgrading.
Yes, it's called swap and is in many systems. You are misinformed. The chip works directly with RAM memory via cache to maximize communication between components. However, this system has a bunch of disadvantages compared to classic swapable RAM DDR5 memory. To avoid swap, you should always take RAM memory more and in reserve for the future.

 

[pmiles]

You're going to replace the thing every other year regardless of how you spec it. You can never have enough storage or ram or cpu power because the applications that you run are forever using more and more of it. It's a lot like taxes... they always go up... as do your system requirements.

Get what she needs now, worry about tomorrow's needs tomorrow.

 

[Fishrrman]

Get 16gb of RAM.
A 1tb drive is preferable (kids might accumulate a lot of stuff).
But 512gb will do in a pinch.

If price is a consideration, buy from Apple's online refurbished pages.
Same 1-year warranty as if new.

Good suggestion above about a Mini as an alternative choice.
They're pretty rugged and "kid proof" (well, as much as a Mac -might be- kid proof).

Buy a new display or scrounge one up somewhere.

 

[picpicmac]

I read somewhere that the m chips borrow memory from the hdd and do not rely on ram in the traditional way

Macs have long used virtual memory, a concept introduced in computer architectures long ago. This allows computers to need less physical RAM, but it is always a compromise on speed. However, the newer Macs with M chips also come with fast internal SSDs to make.

I would ideally like to pass this model down the the younger child in 3 years.

An iMac should last that long, though the question will be in what shape it is at that time. You can add AppleCare on a yearly payment schedule and perhaps go beyond 3 years, if you wish the most peace of mind if something needs fixed 3 years from purchase.

Regardless, if you are in the US remember this: as this computer is for students you can buy from the Education Store on the Apple website, and save some money.

 

[theorist9]

The problem with buying a Mini is that MacOS really needs a Retina display to look its best, and the cost of a Mini + Retina external display is going to be far more than if you buy an iMac.

If you do want to go the Mini route, don't skimp on the display quality. I'd recommend a 27" 4k, like the Dell U2723QE.