iMac 24” M1. Any problems with them? (Poll)

[ZebedeeG]

Yes major problem - Im ready to throw it out the window.

Major memory leakage and drops me off the internet (all browsers and email). To reconnect to net need to restart each time Went with 8 GB RAM and with only email going and word running it runs out.

Only started when upgraded to Monterey. Cant roll back to Big Sur (wont allow me to roll back). Took it to Google store for diagnosis - "nothing wrong with memory cant help you".. they were useless. Given response from Apple PC starting to look good again!

This is unfortunately a software problem with Monterey affecting many people regardless of which Mac they are using...

Monterey does seem to have settled down on my iMac, but these issues are still blooming annoying (add expletives of your choice!) and I'm not happy with Apple for releasing such poor software.

But if your iMac came with Big Sur, then I'm pretty sure it is possible to reinstall that version of macOS. Though I've not yet gone through the process of reinstalling an Apple Silicon Mac myself yet, and I gather the process is a bit different from the Intel ones which I've clean installed many times in the past.

But I'm sure if you look through posts elsewhere on this site it'll answer the question of whether you can go back to Big Sur, and how to do it on your machine. But be a bit careful, as I think if you do it wrong you can brick an M1 Mac and need to connect it to another Mac to get it going again. But this may have long since been fixed...

I've thought about it, but at the moment the issues aren't so bad that I can't live with them until they're resolved with updates.

I've had problems with macOS updates in the past and they've always gone away after a few "point" updates of that version. But knowing this I'm really kicking myself for not waiting a good few months before upgrading to the latest version... I never learn!

But don't get my wrong - Although I'm defending my iMac, as I honestly still think it's the best computer I've ever owned (...and I've had a few since 1984!). Apple REALLY needs to sort out the quality control of its software fast or it's going to have some very unhappy customers...

 

[coso]

I have only minor bugs with Monterey on buy iMac. I sometimes have to push the touchid button instead of resting my finger on it. And... that's pretty much it. Pretty solid on everything else

 

[dimme]

I have only minor bugs with Monterey on buy iMac. I sometimes have to push the touchid button instead of resting my finger on it. And... that's pretty much it. Pretty solid on everything else

Same here only minor bugs once in a while, and it's software related. All in all a very solid machine.

 

[NeonIbis]

I'm still on Big Sur (latest version). My iMac behaves beautifully. It does everything I want with no bugs/crashes at all. Reading these posts, I'm not in a hurry to 'upgrade'! Indeed, my MBA (2020 Intel) is still on Catalina, though I barely use it now I have the iMac. If it ain't broke...

 

[CooperBox]

Sorry to rain on the parade but it seems unfinished and a later offering may be better.
External USB3 hard drives seem to be very slow to connect and run certain things such as an external photos library when formatted APFS (I wanted them encrypted and it changes from hfs to apfs with no warning, yeah it is in the instructions and all that but still). Random disconnects, no real pattern to them, USB3 hub is powered as are all the drives apart from one. Never had the issue on the 2013 iMac.

Now I have the "its new and shiny" sheen removed, I am not that impressed as I was coming from the emac to iMac. Trying to plug anything in the C ports spin the thing around (especially when trying options for the slow drives), scarcity of ports (but then the 2013 wasn't well appointed hence the hub). Speaker plug in the side like an after thought, Some apps are certainly faster than my 2013 but others are clunky. Last 2 OS have not really been anything to bring it out its shell, both have poor browser experiences. I would say speakers are average and playback through iTunes is tinny and equaliser really needs to be in the mix.
But this is just my experience.

To be honest not had a good experience with it from day 1. Sat here looking at it and wonder what I have for my money. At the moment it looks like a trade in option as soon as something better comes out.

Screen and track pad are good though.

It appears that in general early users are pleased with the M1 iMac - which is good news, but it's also interesting to hear other points of view. I agree with your comments about the sound from the speakers. It's good but not exceptional. l found the sound superior with the 27" 2020 Intel iMac when auditioning both side-by-side in store.

 

[400]

It appears that in general early users are pleased with the M1 iMac - which is good news, but it's also interesting to hear other points of view. I agree with your comments about the sound from the speakers. It's good but not exceptional. l found the sound superior with the 27" 2020 Intel iMac when auditioning both side-by-side in store.

Not wanting to detract from the OP ask.

Spoiler: Long winded ramble

The design issue (for me) kept coming back to me via the headphone socket on the side. In the apparent attempt to make it thin, there is no room for the socket apart from the side. Same for the rj45 I suppose, hence the feed in via the power brick at least as far as I see it(?). No card reader and no USB3 without adapters. In reality, with a good backup plan in place, I need cables to the rear, the speaker socket is best suited at the rear where it can be supported by other cables in a loom, I feed my stereo with it. Out the side it is a risk for damage. I also import from a card reader or camera and still use SD cards. This is a bit of a mess for my use.

The 24", for me, seems more suited to a clean desk and fashion mags and sticking a chin on the bottom, whilst it might be an interesting engineering exercise in getting the gubbins in, I would have put it in a thicker case or one with a hump on the back much like my TV, acrylic support to the stand it it looks like it is floating and an insanely thin bezel.

Another thing that I noticed, the foot could be wider and a suitable storage site for the track pad when the mouse in in use. Even better if they managed to get a charge pad in the foot and the mouse and trackpad can be charged that way. That would have impressed me more than ethernet in the power brick. Perhaps some enterprising firm will make something that fits over the foot to allow charging with the lead and keep things neat. I will wave my commission for the idea

Now investigating NVMe option to replace the photos HD but keep spinners for backup and 2TB should do it (reading with interest the various threads on the tech and hope it sorts the issue). But I will be looking with interest at the next hardware release to get away from this.

Cured a few issues by re installing (neat new Monterey feature) but not using migration assistant as I had done the four times previously. Browser actually works now.

 

[400]

400 wrote in reply 10 above:
"External USB3 hard drives seem to be very slow to connect and run certain things such as an external photos library when formatted APFS (I wanted them encrypted and it changes from hfs to apfs with no warning, yeah it is in the instructions and all that but still)."

You don't want platter-based hard drives to be formatted APFS.
It's hard on them -- fragments them badly, slows them down, and the drives "thrash".
Is encryption of a photo library that important?

If so, then get an SSD for the job, they seem to run APFS better.

Thanks for the prod. That is the prod to upgrade kicking and screaming from 2013 to 2021 and may be of use for the OP.

I decided that the spinning HD for the photos needed some thought. It works fine with the 2013 Catalina. OK, getting the 24" I have come up a generation or few in ologies and looked around here at the NVMe stuff (I wasn't really aware of). Crow bared my wallet open (that took a while) and spent some loot on a 2tb with USB3.1 gen 2 enclosure (might upgrade to TB if the price is right at some point).

Initial messing around had speed dismal and me scratching my head so much I was getting splinters, that is till I re formatted with no encryption. The thing now flys.

I am editing pictures whilst this is still talking to the cloud sorting the database out as it is a new drive (something I could not do on the platter based), Photo's is certainly improved experience. Encryption is an issue but I figure this small I can stash it out the way. The spinning ones I keep as backups but still encrypted, they are too large to hide and not really wanting to move them unless I have to. Not worried about them being slow.

No encryption also means the drive mounts very quickly, apfs encrypted takes an age even if ssd and the hit on speed for encryption is eye watering.

On the plus side, in my backup plan, I now have another off site HD available.

 

[MrMister111]

Thanks for the prod. That is the prod to upgrade kicking and screaming from 2013 to 2021 and may be of use for the OP.

I decided that the spinning HD for the photos needed some thought. It works fine with the 2013 Catalina. OK, getting the 24" I have come up a generation or few in ologies and looked around here at the NVMe stuff (I wasn't really aware of). Crow bared my wallet open (that took a while) and spent some loot on a 2tb with USB3.1 gen 2 enclosure (might upgrade to TB if the price is right at some point).

Initial messing around had speed dismal and me scratching my head so much I was getting splinters, that is till I re formatted with no encryption. The thing now flys.

I am editing pictures whilst this is still talking to the cloud sorting the database out as it is a new drive (something I could not do on the platter based), Photo's is certainly improved experience. Encryption is an issue but I figure this small I can stash it out the way. The spinning ones I keep as backups but still encrypted, they are too large to hide and not really wanting to move them unless I have to. Not worried about them being slow.

No encryption also means the drive mounts very quickly, apfs encrypted takes an age even if ssd and the hit on speed for encryption is eye watering.

On the plus side, in my backup plan, I now have another off site HD available.

Good to hear, so you used a “spinny HDD” but in an SSD enclosure and is much faster (no encryption) ?

I want to have encryption though definitely as to me it’s an easy pick up and pinch if that ever happened and all Photos are then at mercy.

I’m happy to buy an SSD, probably a Samsung T7 so with encryption would this still be a lot faster on an M1 iMac?

 

[400]

Good to hear, so you used a “spinny HDD” but in an SSD enclosure and is much faster (no encryption) ?

I want to have encryption though definitely as to me it’s an easy pick up and pinch if that ever happened and all Photos are then at mercy.

I’m happy to buy an SSD, probably a Samsung T7 so with encryption would this still be a lot faster on an M1 iMac?

Ah. Me confuse things I think.

I picked up on the NVMe "disks" in various threads (not spinning, like a memory chip). I bought a proprietary enclosure for them. Size of a few packs of gum, the case is 10.5cm long. See pic. I was going to get a T7 but went sideways thinking I could pick up a thunderbolt enclosure in a sale and go faster again at a later date, hence this format. No other reason.

Now, here is the thing, if I encrypt the SSD it is faster than the spinning HD x2. But orders of magnitude slower than non encrypted SSD. I know not why. I expected a slight drop but but not this much? If I plug it in the thunderbolt port, it is slightly faster than the USB3.1 port. However, due to the size, it is easy to hide away if I am away, that is now my security.

I really didn't want to spend anymore, around 220 notes here and was much annoyed at the drop in performance with the spinning disks. But had to sift through some threads and the realisation that I was being a curmudgeon with regards upgrading, I was coming up from 2013 tech to 2021.

 

[MrMister111]

So problems I’ve read about, mostly on here, to look out for are.

Keyboard touchID stop working (OS?)
Whining noise
Bright pixel
Crocked display
Tap touch not working (OS?)
Memory leaks (OS?)
disuniform screen
out of focus camera

 

[dimme]

So problems I’ve read about, mostly on here, to look out for are.

Keyboard touchID stop working (OS?)
Whining noise
Bright pixel
Tap touch not working (OS?)
Memory leaks (OS?)

I have yet to experience any of the above except my Touch ID stop once and a restart fixed it.

 

[cwosigns]

No issues (I have the 8/8/16 in blue), with the exception that my left Shift key is sticking and unsticking itself. I took it to an Apple Store, and it fixed itself right when the tech came over. Got home and it started sticking again, with little key travel. I called Apple and they're shipping me a new one under warranty.

 

[Tommy45]

So problems I’ve read about, mostly on here, to look out for are.

Keyboard touchID stop working (OS?)
Whining noise
Bright pixel
Crocked display
Tap touch not working (OS?)
Memory leaks (OS?)

I have the "Keyboard touchID stop working" problem, after installing Monterey os. Apple support tries to fix it for the last 20 days. Unsuccessfully.

 

[Tommy45]

I have the "Keyboard touchID stop working" problem, after installing Monterey os. Apple support tries to fix it for the last 20 days. Unsuccessfully. it was ok on Big Sur. it's like that: after it happens, I reset the keyboard. after that its wonderful at the beginning. after a while I have to push hard and it works (for some time). then it stops working, and asks for the password. now I enter the password and reset the keyboard. circus vicious...

 

[coso]

A reboot fixes it

 

[MrMister111]

I have the "Keyboard touchID stop working" problem, after installing Monterey os. Apple support tries to fix it for the last 20 days. Unsuccessfully. it was ok on Big Sur. it's like that: after it happens, I reset the keyboard. after that its wonderful at the beginning. after a while I have to push hard and it works (for some time). then it stops working, and asks for the password. now I enter the password and reset the keyboard. circus vicious...

At least it’s an OS problem and not hardware, well presumably if was fine on Sur

A reboot fixes it

Fixes most stuff really ha ha! But shouldn’t have to.

I presume a lot keep this iMac in sleep without switching off at end of day then? Must be a fast start up though?

 

[MrMister111]

On the poll for the “no’s” can I ask for a comment on why please?

 

[coso]

At least it’s an OS problem and not hardware, well presumably if was fine on Sur



Fixes most stuff really ha ha! But shouldn’t have to.

I presume a lot keep this iMac in sleep without switching off at end of day then? Must be a fast start up though?

Personally I switch off everything at night

 

[NeonIbis]

I presume a lot keep this iMac in sleep without switching off at end of day then? Must be a fast start up though?

I shut down my iMac at night (and unplug it, if there are thunderstorms around, which is often the case here this time of year), but it's really fast to start up - I can press the on switch, walk a few metres to get a glass of water, come back and it's waiting for my password, then ready to go in seconds. It helps to keep things tidy and RAM clear with essentially no waiting time. I tend just to close the lid on my laptop and after days or weeks I end up with a bunch of things open and lots of cached files that aren't necessary.

 

[MrMister111]

I shut down my iMac at night (and unplug it, if there are thunderstorms around, which is often the case here this time of year), but it's really fast to start up - I can press the on switch, walk a few metres to get a glass of water, come back and it's waiting for my password, then ready to go in seconds. It helps to keep things tidy and RAM clear with essentially no waiting time. I tend just to close the lid on my laptop and after days or weeks I end up with a bunch of things open and lots of cached files that aren't necessary.

Agree totally, when people have problems on PC/Mac really the first thing is a restart as fixes a lot. In that way everything, iPhones never really get a restart as people have on all day, everyday. I try to restart mine at least once a week.

 

[400]

Everything that can get switched off at night is switched off in my house. That includes the computer and been doing that since ever.

 

[coffeym]

My only issue with it is very obvious IPS screen glow from corners in a dimly lit room. My study is dimly lit in the evening and I notice greyed out blacks very easily. Can’t really fault the iMac itself though, given this kind of glow is inherent in IPS display technology. Other IPS displays are worse, so overall I think the display is good. I’d just much rather it had a mini LED display.

 

[coso]

Wait till may 2022 for the new iMacs, supposedly only the Pro will have a mini led screen but you never know

 

[MrMister111]

So I’ve put the list of problems I’ve read about on first post.

A few were known ones related to MacOS. Now that 12.1 is out are some of those fixed?

Thanks

 

[ZebedeeG]

So I’ve put the list of problems I’ve read about on first post.

A few were known ones related to MacOS. Now that 12.1 is out are some of those fixed?

Thanks

I've ended up doing a clean install as Monterey had started to crash every night and 12.1 didn't fix it...

I still think my iMac's a great computer - but it did work better on Big Sur 11.6

I have my fingers crossed that Monterey 12.6 will be as good - then having learnt my lesson I'll not be in any rush to update to whatever comes next!