M1: iMac lack of ports

[AUSSIE-05]

As a graphic artist and have used Macs since 1986 am now onto my third iMac, so I bought a 27inch iMac in December last year - 3.3 GHz 6-Core Intel i5 with 16 GB Ram and 500 GB SSD.
Has 4 USB ports as I still like a wired keyboard, wired printer, wired camera input and for my USB extension box of 4 more ports for my Segate 2TB backup plus a CD/DVD player for my collection, so in effect I'm happy with 7 USB connections.

 

[PsykX]

Disappointed? Yes.

I mean, I'm fine with no USB-A, this has to go.

But that the base version sells with only two ports and no ethernet port? Impossible.

 

[PsykX]

When I pre-order my 24" iMac, I am not sure if I will add the $30 Ethernet option on a base iMac (8GB, 256GB, 2 port).

I have a TB3 dongle for 3 USB-A, HDMI, USB-C port, and ethernet port.
View attachment 1762349

This is a solution.

But my problem (at least personally) is that one of the goals of having an iMac is to minimize desk clutter.

 

[Ethosik]

I don't disagree, I was just hoping it would be a faster rollout.

Cheers.

They have said it would be a 2 year transition/rollout from the start.

 

[blindpcguy]

Im torn i think the design is simular to the current imac in more ways then i thought paint the bezel black add a apple logo and its almost identical from the front other then slightly smaller bezels so ready for the m1x or what ever the higher end mechines end up being for now m1 mini in my future

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

I have to be honest and say that, although it was a surprise at first, I get now how Apple is positioning the 24” iMac.

It really is a full consumer product, designed for those who live in more or less a wireless world. Obviously the thinness of the chassis also dictated that many ports simply couldn’t fit into it, but I would hazard a guess that many consumers have acquired dongles over the past year during the pandemic, with increased use of Chromebooks and the alike.

My only concern is how they will tackle this with the ‘iMac Pro’ 30:320 model to replace the 27 inch.

 

[EzisAA]

Is anyone disappointed by the lack of ports on the new iMac? It’s a desktop computer that only has three more ports than a tablet.

If you are video editor you will need about 10 ports minimum. So now image how it's look when from your "monitor" back side come out "spaghetti" from 10 cables (red, black, white, green etc.) I thiks it's looks ugly. Most of editor need and use a Thunderbolt doc with you can hide with all spaghetti-cables and external HD. So 4 ports for iMac I think is enough.

I have MacBook Pro and I never plag in Mac more then one cable, becaus all perifery are plagen in my CalDigit Thunderbolt Dock TS3 Plus.

5x External HD
2x Type-C 3.0/3.2 cables for GoPro and Sony A7iii
1x Lightning
1x Wireless charging for iPhone/AirPods

 

[NotTooLate]

Apple biggest problem is the fact pros and enthusiastic consumers want to be on the AS hype train , and the only way for them to get it now days is with the entry level Mac`s , this makes it so that instead of waiting for the machine designed for them they try and cram their workflow and requirements (and disappointment) towards the M1 machines , the fact that those machines are SO capable is making their old MBP`s feel outdated , and as i mentioned in some other post , the pyramid has crumbled and the bottom of the barrel Mac users are now sitting next to the top of the pyramid in regards to performance on merit and beating on battery life and noise.

So in a forum like MR , the macs are getting blasted by those folks instead of celebrating that the entry level stuff will no longer be i3 dual core Intel machines with pathetic memory bandwidth (AS memory BW is crazy good , look up Anandtech article) we get the posts that compare and cryout about the M1 vs the iMac Pro or MBP`s.

I hope its not a long wait until we get the pyramid back and world order will be back in the Mac lineup , where the highend devices are back to being better then the lower end machines , but i for one am happy about a crazy capable MBA machines and iMac entry level computers.

 

[ArPe]

Big disappointment for me. No additional ports, large chin, large bezels again and no option for 16 GB as well

The chin is there for your hand when you adjust the screen or carry it. Without the chin every time you adjust the screen angle you leave finger prints on the display.

It is also part of the Macintosh design language which makes a Macintosh recognisable from the front. Remove the chin and the machine can look like anything. Is it a Dell monitor? Etc.

Remove the chin and also those new speakers have to go directly under the display, where there is no space for them.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Big disappointment for me. No additional ports, large chin, large bezels again and no option for 16 GB as well

There is a BTO option for 16gb.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

I am guessing these base models are intended for the casual home user and not hardcore enthusiasts who need to have several things attached at all times.

Hey bud, I know you have your M1 MacBook.

Do you intend to buy one of these iMacs?

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

I have little need for plugged in peripherals any more these days, especially on something like an iMac.
Ethernet - ok, yes, that needs to be plugged in (conveniently on power brick on the new iMacs). Most people get by fine with wifi anyway.
Printer - even my crappy laser printer I use less than once a month is wireless and three rooms over.
Webcam & Mic - built-in
Keyboard/mouse - bluetooth
Camera card reader - ok, possibly. Though a lot of people are iPhone-camera based (thus wireless via iCloud) and are not using a DSLR.
Speakers - Apple clearly prefers you use the built-in speakers on the iMac. But even if you want something else you can AirPlay to HomePods or Sonos or similar.

So unless you've got "pro" (prosumer, professional) needs for things like video editing panels, MIDI interfaces, etc., odds are you're likely to be mostly wireless these days. Thus having only 4 ports on the back is ok.

I'd love to get back to the simplicity of an iMac with built-in speakers, webcam, etc. Promise me you won't look behind my desk... it's a rats-nest of DisplayPort, HDMI, USB cables and extensions, ethernet cables, audio cables, power cables, etc.

Are you buying one?

 

[Never mind]

There is a BTO option for 16gb.

Yep, found it. Thanks

“8GB unified memory
Configurable to 16GB unified memory”

 

[Apple_Robert]

Hey bud, I know you have your M1 MacBook.

Do you intend to buy one of these iMacs?

Not at the moment. I am considering the 14” MacBook later this year.

 

[Abazigal]

I am actually fine with all USB-C ports, because it means that I can turn them into whatever ports I want with the right adaptors.

For example, I am using this usb hub to add extra usb-A ports to my 5k iMac.

Satechi Aluminum Type-C Clamp Hub Pro with USB-C Data Port, USB-A 3.0 Data, Micro/SD Card Reader - Compatible with 2020/2019/2017 iMac & iMac Pro, Does Not Fit 2021 iMac (Silver)

Satechi Aluminum Type-C Clamp Hub Pro with USB-C Data Port, USB-A 3.0 Data, Micro/SD Card Reader - Compatible with 2020/2019/2017 iMac & iMac Pro, Does Not Fit 2021 iMac (Silver)

www.amazon.sg

That said, I find I tend to brush against them from time to time, so maybe that's an argument for not putting those ports right in front of me.

If I need to plug in additional peripherals, I can probably place a usb dock at the back.

Maybe a usb-c monitor if Apple ever decides to release one for the iMac.

The fourth one, maybe to plug in the Samsung T5 drives that I use (which support usb-c to usb-c cables).

4 seems about right.

 

[CheesePuff]

The chin is there for your hand when you adjust the screen or carry it. Without the chin every time you adjust the screen angle you leave finger prints on the display.

It is also part of the Macintosh design language which makes a Macintosh recognisable from the front. Remove the chin and the machine can look like anything. Is it a Dell monitor? Etc.

Remove the chin and also those new speakers have to go directly under the display, where there is no space for them.

You mean exactly like the $5,000 Pro Display XDR which is thicker then the M1 iMac and could house the speakers and SoC behind the display?

 

[deeddawg]

Camera card reader - ok, possibly. Though a lot of people are iPhone-camera based (thus wireless via iCloud) and are not using a DSLR.

Unfortunately there's not a single "camera card" type. So if they were to put in a camera card reader, which of the various physical formats should it be?

SD? SD Express?
CFExpress type A? type B?
CF?
Other?

 

[deeddawg]

disregard

 

[Tagbert]

Big disappointment for me. No additional ports, large chin, large bezels again and no option for 16 GB as well

16GB is a build to order option when you spec it out. The 8GB is just the base like all of the M1 Macs.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Not at the moment. I am considering the 14” MacBook later this year.

If you get one, what will you do with your M1 MBA?

 

[4sallypat]

This is a solution.

But my problem (at least personally) is that one of the goals of having an iMac is to minimize desk clutter.

I think this iMac is for you !

If you can live with just a power cord to the iMac, then it's what Apple designed to make it sleek and minimalist.

Unfortunately I connect 3 USB-A ports:

• DAC (Soundblaster Play3),
• SuperDrive (DVD content),
• Wired full size scissor Apple USB keyboard w/ mouse on side of KB

Wired ethernet is the only way I connect for 1GBps (never use WiFi).

The only item I have wireless is BT for my Apple trackpad and iPhone.

 

[Fishrrman]

"Is anyone disappointed by the lack of ports on the new iMac? It’s a desktop computer that only has three more ports than a tablet."

My totally off-the-wall observation:
The number of ports on the m1 Macs is limited because the m1 CPU cannot support many (any?) additional ports beyond those that are there.

Mx-series CPUs in the near future may be bound by the same limitations...

 

[deeddawg]

"Is anyone disappointed by the lack of ports on the new iMac? It’s a desktop computer that only has three more ports than a tablet."

My totally off-the-wall observation:
The number of ports on the m1 Macs is limited because the m1 CPU cannot support many (any?) additional ports beyond those that are there.

Mx-series CPUs in the near future may be bound by the same limitations...

Sure, that's a possibility. (though it's the SOC not the CPU AFAIK)

Yet while Apple has made some knuckleheaded decisions in the past, IMHO it's improbable that they encumber a higher-tier Apple Silicon SOC with the same limitations.

 

[Jorbanead]

If you are video editor you will need about 10 ports minimum. So now image how it's look when from your "monitor" back side come out "spaghetti" from 10 cables (red, black, white, green etc.) I thiks it's looks ugly. Most of editor need and use a Thunderbolt doc with you can hide with all spaghetti-cables and external HD. So 4 ports for iMac I think is enough.

I have MacBook Pro and I never plag in Mac more then one cable, becaus all perifery are plagen in my CalDigit Thunderbolt Dock TS3 Plus.

5x External HD
2x Type-C 3.0/3.2 cables for GoPro and Sony A7iii
1x Lightning
1x Wireless charging for iPhone/AirPods

With all due respect, the 24” iMac is not marketed towards pro video editors. It’s a baseline Mac meant for reception desks, families, offices, colleges, kids. If you are doing serious video editing you would use a higher-end machine with more capable graphics and IO.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

USB A is too deep for the chassis, maybe it could have been fitted on the power brick...

It could have gone on the sides, next to the headphone port. That's actually a really good place for it, since it would probably be used for USB drives and would be easily accessible.