Ideas or advice on downsizing iMac-based system to M3 MBA-based system?

[zqbobs]

Looking for ideas on downsizing my system. Currently have a 2017 27" iMac (32/512,Ventura) connected to a OWC Thunderbolt Hub (3 TB ports and 1 USB3 port out, and 8 external SSDs/HDDs in 4 Oyen Digital MiniPro RAID V3 (dual drive) enclosures. Three of these drives are used for photos, videos, and documents, along with a backup drive in same MiniPro box. They are more or less on all the time, but don't have to be. In addition, a large HDD is used for monthly backups of the externals.

I've recently bought a 13" M3 MacBook Air (24/1000) to give me some portability and am seriously impressed by its speed and response across the board compared to the iMac. That's made me think "Why am I using so much external gear, with cords and power supplies (in some cases) attached to a slower Intel computer?" But I like the 5K display on the iMac, and hate that target display mode can't be used with it.

So, I'm thinking - can I use the OWC TB Hub, get a 4K or 5K monitor (Studio Display?), and use the M3 as the only computer? I would run the Hub on TB from the M3, run the monitor on TB from either the M3 or the Hub, and fit my external storage needs into portables like Samsung T7s (already using some) off the Hub. I could ditch the MiniPros and redesign my backup procedure - that would eliminate 4 USB cables and 4 power cables, in addition to 4 MiniPro boxes. With the iMac gone, the overall power usage should be considerably less.

Although I have experience using dual displays on a Mac Mini, I have trouble visualizing how the combo M3 Air 13" display and larger monitor might work together in MacOS. Some of my work is with photos and I'm really used to a larger screen for that.

Any ideas or advice is welcome!

 

[Bigwaff]

Based on numerous posts here and other sites, Apple Studio Display should work connected to a TB3 or TB4 dock, as long as the dock itself supports 5K/60Hz. As for external storage, make sure your hub can support the many bus-powered storage devices you plan to attach. For my setup w/ CalDigit TS3+, I opt for external storage with its own power supply for my valuable data and backups. For all else, I attach bus-powered when I need to.

 

[benwiggy]

I'd strongly recommend the Apple Studio Display (finding a third-party decent display for Macs can be difficult) -- but don't forget that the ASD is a TB hub in itself -- that's how the webcam, speakers, and USB3 ports work.

You'll need to check that your hub has a TB pass-through, if you want to connect the ASD to that.

 

[Fishrrman]

My advice:

DON'T "downsize".

Just keep the iMac and drives "as they are" -- along with your new MacBook.

There is NOTHING that beats having a good desktop for "desktop things", AND a good laptop for "laptop things".

 

[MBAir2010]

as I always typed here, owning 2 macs is relevant to possessing a horse or 2.

Having a strong horse (at least 12 hands, never settle for 8!) will help with the harvest of crops and plow such fields.
while a fast sleek tall horse (15 hands) will get you to towne in time
to ye local shoppes and vend you freshly harvested crops!

I hope this helped,
if so tap your hoof 3 times!

 

[Minghold]

My advice:
DON'T "downsize".
Just keep the iMac and drives "as they are" -- along with your new MacBook.
There is NOTHING that beats having a good desktop for "desktop things", AND a good laptop for "laptop things".

Emphatically agreed. (And there's no reason that a 2017 iMac with DDR4 ram should be running slowly...unless it's a base-model with a rotational-drive running an APFS OS like Apple wants you to in order to artificially sluggify the computer 'til you throw it out. E.g., the typical i5/1TB non-Fusion iMac should run no later than Mojave in an HFS+ partition, and they are surprisingly quick about it setup so.)

Tweaking your software also means you're not pursuing expensive hardware solutions (that come with their own, new can of worms).

....finding a third-party decent display for Macs can be difficult....

All you need is a good HDMI adapter.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I'm with Fishrrman too for that BIG benefit he offers. In fact, I have a 2012 Mac mini in play without having a monitor, keyboard or mouse attached to it... for similar reasons. While that 2017 works, keep using it as a central, master "hub" and let that MBair be the mobile Mac when you need one.

If a driver is synching key files, there are many solutions for that and many will suggest putting shared files in the cloud to which BOTH computers can connect and use them. However, I'm anti-cloud for many reasons and prefer to use an app called Chronosync to keep my main desktop and laptop files in sync. It works great.

If you want cloud-like for sharing but want 100% control of your cloud and no ongoing RENT of a hard drive in the sky controlled by total strangers, consider a NAS that both desktop and laptop can access. I really LOVE Synology setups for a home NAS but there are many such options. Synology works great with Time Machine too, so it's a NAS-solution like the old Apple Time Capsule routers for backing up both your 2017 and new MBair (and any other Macs (OR PCs) in your home). It's also my "free" whole home DVR storage (of any size) for the incredible Channels DVR app that runs on all iDevices and AppleTVs. And many other Mac-friendly benefits exist too.

The BIG downside to using both: Apple basically works against you. macOS apps will leave what you can run on that 2017 behind if not already. For example, create a Pages or Keynote file on the 2017, then open it on the new MBair and save it. Can you then open it on the 2017? If you can, lucky you. That won't last. One way Apple forces upgrades is through this kind of thing and your time gap is already pretty wide, so you'll be bumping into this soon if you are not already.

In support of your original idea, you might consider a dock such as one from Brydge which will quite elegantly make a 13" MBair feel very much like a desktop Mac too. Leave your hub and external attached to the Brydge dock and then eject your Mac when you want to hit the road.

And while Apple people will passionately push ASD, I'll offer you a different idea: Dell 40" 5K2K ultra-wide. I went through this very same chain of thought when my iMac 27" conked. But I wanted more than one input, knowing that I'd want to plug more than one computer into it... AND I wanted a good mix of present day ports instead of only a few of one type of port...

Since you are accustomed to iMac 27", the vertical screen size will look the same but with much more screen WIDTH so you can really spread windows and apps out. I LOVE IT and could never go back to 16:10 ASD or revived iMac 27" or anything else like that. Bonus: it costs about the same as ASD with stand option and it comes with the various stand options.

For me, the great loss with Silicon was Bootcamp. And no, ARM Windows is NOT full windows. So I knew I'd need "old fashioned bootcamp" in an actual PC. I picked up a Mac Mini-like PC for true Windows needs. One of the other video ports on this monitor lets it be connected at the same time (no need to get back there and switch). If I need both systems on screen at the same time, I can split the screen to use both together like having 2 ASD-type screens side by side. I still have 2 ports left over to which I could connect anything else ranging from a source of television (AppleTV/cable box), game console, another computer or anything else... and, of course, plenty of common-use ports, quite useful in 2024, instead of only one kind of port (and few of them).

Now for you, that 2017 can be a full Windows PC too if you need some Windows until it conks... but since you are already thinking about time AFTER you are fully done with it, that Dell option offers many benefits relative to other 5K monitor options. And if you don't want all that added screen RE, don't forget that Samsung 5K monitor typically priced at about HALF the ASD on sale (regularly). It comes with TWO video inputs and is basically a little smart TV too (with remote).

I hope this is helpful.

 

[benwiggy]

All you need is a good HDMI adapter.

There's a bit more to choosing a decent monitor than that!

 

[Minghold]

I'm with Fishrrman too for that BIG benefit he offers. In fact, I have a 2012 Mac mini in play without having a monitor, keyboard or mouse attached to it... for similar reasons. While that 2017 works, keep using it as a central, master "hub" and let that MBair be the mobile Mac when you need one.

If a driver is synching key files, there are many solutions for that and many will suggest putting shared files in the cloud to which BOTH computers can connect and use them. However, I'm anti-cloud for many reasons and prefer to use an app called Chronosync to keep my main desktop and laptop files in sync. It works great.

If you want cloud-like for sharing but want 100% control of your cloud and no ongoing RENT of a hard drive in the sky controlled by total strangers, consider a NAS that both desktop and laptop can access. I really LOVE Synology setups for a home NAS but there are many such options. Synology works great with Time Machine too, so it's a NAS-solution like the old Apple Time Capsule routers for backing up both your 2017 and new MBair (and any other Macs (OR PCs) in your home). It's also my "free" whole home DVR storage (of any size) for the incredible Channels DVR app that runs on all iDevices and AppleTVs. And many other Mac-friendly benefits exist too.

The BIG downside to using both: Apple basically works against you. macOS apps will leave what you can run on that 2017 behind if not already. For example, create a Pages or Keynote file on the 2017, then open it on the new MBair and save it. Can you then open it on the 2017? If you can, lucky you. That won't last. One way Apple forces upgrades is through this kind of thing and your time gap is already pretty wide, so you'll be bumping into this soon if you are not already.

In support of your original idea, you might consider a dock such as one from Brydge which will quite elegantly make a 13" MBair feel very much like a desktop Mac too. Leave your hub and external attached to the Brydge dock and then eject your Mac when you want to hit the road.

And while Apple people will passionately push ASD, I'll offer you a different idea: Dell 40" 5K2K ultra-wide. I went through this very same chain of thought when my iMac 27" conked. But I wanted more than one input, knowing that I'd want to plug more than one computer into it... AND I wanted a good mix of present day ports instead of only a few of one type of port...

View attachment 2403859

Since you are accustomed to iMac 27", this will look the same but with much more screen WIDTH so you can really spread windows and apps out. I LOVE IT and could never go back to 16:10 ASD or revived iMac 27" or anything else like that. Bonus: it costs about the same as ASD with stand option and it comes with the various stand options.

For me, the great loss with Silicon was Bootcamp. And no, ARM Windows is NOT full windows. So I knew I'd need "old fashioned bootcamp" in an actual PC. I picked up a Mac Mini-like PC for true Windows needs. One of the other video ports on this monitor lets it be connected at the same time. If I need both systems on screen at the same time, I can split the screen to use both together like having 2 ASD-type screens side by side. I still have 2 ports left over to which I could connect anything else ranging from a source of television (AppleTV/cable box), game console, another computer or anything else... and, of course, plenty of common-use ports, quite useful in 2024.

Now for you, that 2017 can be a full Windows PC too if you need some Windows until it conks... but since you are already thinking about time AFTER you are fully done with it, that Dell option offers many benefits relative to other 5K monitor options. And if you don't want all that added screen RE, don't forget that Samsung 5K monitor typically priced at about HALF the ASD on sale (regularly). It comes with TWO video inputs and is basically a little smart TV too (with remote).

I hope this is helpful.

I've been very impressed with some of Dell's recent gear. (Aside from all their ports still being tucked up in an inaccessible cave in the back of the monitor. Hey, guys; you know where ports would be great? On the side of the damned thing.)

 

[Minghold]

There's a bit more to choosing a decent monitor than that!

Finding a good hdmi adapter is the first step to choosing "a decent monitor". (Now, you could the go that fancy curved Dell route, or hit Facebook MP for a used 50" smart-TV that somebody is dumping for $50.)

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Yes, however note:

• This one has 2 ports under the bottom bezel (#13 & 14 in the picture)- very easy access. I don't even need to look as it's obvious which is which with simple feel.
• Since it has the ASD "stand options" included, when I need to get something new into the "cave," I just slide the monitor forward to the edge of the desk and then tip it up as far as it will go. The whole cave is fully visible and easily accessible.
• In the amount of time I've owned it, I've needed access to the other "cave" ports maybe once or twice. Basically, first day, hook everything up to it and it's remained the same for a very long time.

Had I gone ASD or Samsung instead, I'd need a multiport hub or two to as readily deal with all of the connections to common use stuff... or I'd be back behind them regularly swapping cables to use whatever I need to use at a given moment.

BONUS: this hub is also basically KVM... so attach ONE keyboard and ONE mouse and the switching between BOTH of my computers (and up to 2 more if I had such a need) will let them all use the same parts. In fact, everything I want to share between Mac and PC uses the monitor hub which makes all kinds of sharing of stuff across platforms very easy.

For example, with PC focused on POWER and Mac focused on PPW, the former generally means FASTER computing by using a little more power. So when I want to do some intensive computing, I can easily toss the task to the more powerful processing (PC) instead of the slower-but-more-power-efficient Mac. The shared hub makes that super easy as opposed to other options where one monitor input would require switching then and then probably dedicated hubs or shared things would need to be attached to both systems.

 

[zqbobs]

Thanks for the advice and information - all good! For now, I'm backing off my initial thought of making the MBA my main computer (too much to consider right now, for me at least). Instead I'm going to leave things mostly as they are (advice from some of you) for now, but am looking at merging the 6 SSDs in the MiniPros into a NAS (Synology DS620slim) as a RAID array. That would simplify the external storage situation by removing 6 externals from the iMac, and create a network-accessible data store for the MBA. I have experience with a Synology NAS, so that would not be a big leap. But, if you read this thread, please post any thoughts on my initial idea - still a possibility in the future!

 

[ChrisA]

Looking for ideas on downsizing my system. Currently have a 2017 27" iMac (32/512,Ventura) connected to a OWC Thunderbolt Hub (3 TB ports and 1 USB3 port out, and 8 external SSDs/HDDs in 4 Oyen Digital MiniPro RAID V3 (dual drive) enclosures. Three of these drives are used for photos, videos, and documents, along with a backup drive in same MiniPro box. They are more or less on all the time, but don't have to be. In addition, a large HDD is used for monthly backups of the externals.

I've recently bought a 13" M3 MacBook Air (24/1000) to give me some portability and am seriously impressed by its speed and response across the board compared to the iMac. That's made me think "Why am I using so much external gear, with cords and power supplies (in some cases) attached to a slower Intel computer?" But I like the 5K display on the iMac, and hate that target display mode can't be used with it.

So, I'm thinking - can I use the OWC TB Hub, get a 4K or 5K monitor (Studio Display?), and use the M3 as the only computer? I would run the Hub on TB from the M3, run the monitor on TB from either the M3 or the Hub, and fit my external storage needs into portables like Samsung T7s (already using some) off the Hub. I could ditch the MiniPros and redesign my backup procedure - that would eliminate 4 USB cables and 4 power cables, in addition to 4 MiniPro boxes. With the iMac gone, the overall power usage should be considerably less.

Although I have experience using dual displays on a Mac Mini, I have trouble visualizing how the combo M3 Air 13" display and larger monitor might work together in MacOS. Some of my work is with photos and I'm really used to a larger screen for that.

Any ideas or advice is welcome!

You do not need a "dock", "hub" or anything to connect up to two external displays with the M3 Macbook air if you close the lib. Just plug them in.

As for the external drives. I use a Synology NAS. It can be in some other room, perhaps a bedroom closet or near the router. I have pretty much unlimited external storage as I can always replace the drives one at a time with not even any downtime. But I do need to keep the NAS backed up. The advantage of the NAS is that all my files are accessible on all my devices, several computers, phones, iPads, and a couple of 3D printers, even if I am not at home. The NAS consolidates stage and backup. Yes, access is much faster if the files are stored locally on SSD, so there is software that works like iCloud to manage which files are copied locally

With the monitor(s) plugged direct to the Mac and the storage on the local network you do not need any kind of dock.