Is it crazy to buy a 2020 Intel 27" iMac? And if not, how much to pay?

[Maconplasma]

The Apple Maps enhancements certainly don't need the Neural engine. However, most of those features only apply to a handful of cities and are basically fluff features anyway.

Fluff features? No. It's a map, and anything that makes a map visually clearer to understand is a welcome feature.

In fact, nothing on the Monterey only list is a must have feature and very most people with an Intel Mac own other Apple devices.

Nothing on any latest OS is a "must have feature". I mean at the end of the day the OS is to run your apps, not to play with it. New features are always welcome and if you don't need them or find value in them doesn't mean others don't. In the future please use IMO at the beginning of posts when you talk about something you don't particularly need or care for.

 

[ADGrant]

Fluff features? No. It's a map, and anything that makes a map visually clearer to understand is a welcome feature.

Nothing on any latest OS is a "must have feature". I mean at the end of the day the OS is to run your apps, not to play with it. New features are always welcome and if you don't need them or find value in them doesn't mean others don't. In the future please use IMO at the beginning of posts when you talk about something you don't particularly need or care for.

I live in one of the three cities supported by the enhanced maps so I don't object to the fancy graphics. Presumably I will be able to air play them from my iPhone 11 to my 27" Mac. If not my next iPad will support all the latest Map features. I am not sure they will really make the map easier to understand though. I have never found it particularly hard to understand maps of Manhattan, above 14th street its basically a simple grid. Also Apple is not the only source of Map data on the Mac or iPhone, Google does a pretty good job too.

New versions of MacOS do have "must have" features for me. The ability to run the latest version of Xcode for example. Apple typically drops support for previous versions of MacOS about six months after the current version is released. Since I use my Mac to remote into my employers, a version of the OS my employer supports is also a "must have" feature. Other Mac users have different "must have" features that typically involve support for some software they need to get their work done. Certainly no one needs a $50k Mac Pro to browse maps of San Francisco or FaceTime their parents.

As for prefacing my posts with an IMO, in an Internet forum that would be redundant.

 

[Maconplasma]

I live in one of the three cities supported by the enhanced maps so I don't object to the fancy graphics. Presumably I will be able to air play them from my iPhone 11 to my 27" Mac. If not my next iPad will support all the latest Map features. I am not sure they will really make the map easier to understand though. I have never found it particularly hard to understand maps of Manhattan, above 14th street its basically a simple grid. Also Apple is not the only source of Map data on the Mac or iPhone, Google does a pretty good job too.

New versions of MacOS do have "must have" features for me.

This is exactly why I said you should start your posts with IMO. You seem only see importance for what works for you. The problem with not using IMO is people push their personal opinions on the forum as if they are speaking for everyone else and it can negatively influence newcomers or people on the fence. What Google has is irrelevant since we're talking about Apple's new products. That's the same nonsense as saying, "Windows does this too".

The ability to run the latest version of Xcode for example. Apple typically drops support for previous versions of MacOS about six months after the current version is released.

Well I'm not a developer but I can see where that would make sense since they want developers to produce software for the latest OS technologies. For developers running a business I don't see the problem there.

 

[ADGrant]

This is exactly why I said you should start your posts with IMO. You seem only see importance for what works for you. The problem with not using IMO is people push their personal opinions on the forum as if they are speaking for everyone else and it can negatively influence newcomers or people on the fence. What Google has is irrelevant since we're talking about Apple's new products. That's the same nonsense as saying, "Windows does this too".

The great thing about Apple platforms is they are well supported by Google and Microsoft too. An Intel Mac can run Windows. Losing 3D maps of three cities seems a small price to pay (IMO).

I doubt anyone is buying a Mac (particularly a desktop Mac) based on how well it runs Apple Maps. If Apple Maps is the priority, I would suggest an 12.9" iPad Pro with LTE or 5G.

 

[Maconplasma]

The great thing about Apple platforms is they are well supported by Google and Microsoft too. An Intel Mac can run Windows. Losing 3D maps of three cities seems a small price to pay (IMO).

I doubt anyone is buying a Mac (particularly a desktop Mac) based on how well it runs Apple Maps.

A Mac isn't the right computer for you. Pretty obvious. You don't listen to reason so please do not reply. You're already on ignore so I won't see your future posts.

 

[ADGrant]

A Mac isn't the right computer for you. Pretty obvious. You don't listen to reason so please do not reply. You're already on ignore so I won't see your future posts.

So how would I run Xcode without a Mac? I wasn't aware I needed your approval to own one.

 

[pshufd]

So how would I run Xcode without a Mac? I wasn't aware I needed your approval to own one.

macOS-Simple-KVM on Linux or Windows. It's relatively easy to run Big Sur, Catalina or Mojave on a virtual machine. There's also Hackintosh but that's more work.

 

[Gregintosh]

I think it’s a good machine and you get a bigger screen that’s not available with m1 yet. If you get a great deal on one, I’d say go for it. $1500 or less sounds fairly reasonable.

Anything above that you’re probably better off going for m1 or waiting for a bigger model of the m1 which may come later this year or early next.

You'll probably be able to get the next 3-5 OS upgrades and maybe more if you are willing to “hack” it. I am assuming they’ll support/compile Intel versions of the OS for several more years especially if they’ll release another Intel Mac Pro.

 

[Climber_FX]

I bought one 5 months ago. A custom one, with the exact parts that i want. But i paid a lot, even because i live in Brazil, and here the prices are 2x plus the dollar conversion (5.3x dollar x2 taxes + some profit). So, in resume, an iMac 27" 2021 (2020 model), with 8 cores i7 10700k, 64 GB RAM (i bought separated from Amazon), 2 TB M.2, Radeon PRO 5700 XT (working perfectly), normal glass and normal Ethernet approximated 4k Dollars X 10, equal 40.000,00 Reals.
Is super expensive. Knowing i was an previous iMac 2011 with 6970M user for 10 years. But i am not even a little bit sorry. And I'm not rich, but the Cosmos come to my side and help me with a lot of good jobs to do (I'm a motion designer (Adobes) and 3d Generalist (Maya). But this investment will be paid (already was, paid cash at sight on Apple Store Brazil, using Educational discounts and with Apple Care) in less than a year. So, for me, was super waited, 10 years.
But i will not use only for work. I game too, is this why for me, at the moment, M1 silicon is no good.
And i use other programs as research and Hobby, like Twinmotion, Unity 3D and Unreal Game Engine. I do some projects involving Architecture visualization in VR using Oculus Quest 2 too.
So, this machine for me is a perfect all in one power house. Even with a year old GPU (we are now in a 6000 series, mine still 5000 series, of course). But i will love to have yet a M2, or M1X Apple Silicon in the future, with better RAM, and more powerful GPU's.
So, is buying this machine still a good choice?
Depends on your necessity.
For me, A Big Yes. But i only did it because got the money working hard and i can't go back to only Windows Machine. They are not Stable enough, they are not Secure enough. The time i learned OSX, Windows is no more for daily use and work. Only when there is no option on OSX.
I hope to help some one to decide.