I'm not comparing the Mac Pro to anything. I'm comparing the Mac mini or Studio to an iMac 27".
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Mac Mini vs. Mac Studio Buyer's Guide: 20+ Differences Compared
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This is the exact argument Apple Explained put out for explaining why Apple doesn't make a smart TV. The monitor/TV doesn't need to be replaced for years, whereas computer internals are more demanding of upgrades.
Maybe Apple is beginning to approach the desktop Mac line in a similar light.
This is odd, and I've been seeing that all over the place. I've also seen lots of people doing the same thing in reverse -- assuming that to get the Studio Display, they need to also get the Mac Studio.
For anyone confused about this, they are advertised as a complementary pair, but each will pair just fine with other things. Buy what you need!
If you're looking at CPU performance alone, it's not apples and oranges. The M1 is faster for single-core, i9 is faster for multi-core, according to Geekbench.
You could even test with increasing number of utilized cores, where I'd expect the M1 is faster up to maybe 5 cores, then the i9 is faster for anything beyond that (it has 18).
You may just have to buy an Apple silicon Mac and use the 15-day return window to try it out with your workflows and see how it compares to your current iMac 5K.
That is not confusing. It is how inflation works. The price "doubling" is how your dollar loses value.
That said, I generally understand your sentiment and where you are coming from.
Folks keep saying, “But when you add the monitor…”
Who, at this point, doesn’t own a decent monitor?
Who, at this point, doesn’t own a decent monitor?
Apple will never be priced competitive to a Win machine....never has never will be. I paid that much for a USED mac and monitor in 1983...a USEd CXII, 12" color monitor and a tractor feed dot matrix printer.
I'm not comparing an Apple to a PC. I've been down that road and I get it.
I'm simply comparing an Apple product to another Apple product
In the Apple world.
Even then, I don’t think someone who would consider the expense of a Studio as necessary would only have an iMac.
As you know Apple try their hardest - as would any supplier, in protecting their future roadmap of products. I have a late 2014 27" iMac which is only just starting to run slow on some apps (maps, photos, graphic heavy tasks. I have meant to contact support but tbh, I have lived with it as I plan to upgrade this cycle. I'll rebuild and use as spare / give to family. When purchased (mid 2015) there was an upgrade later that year which I had to take on the chin !!
My philosophy is to hang on as long as I can bear when purchasing, that way I knowI have bought to my needs at the time. If you can, you may wish to hang on to later in the year to see if another product meets your needs or simply purchase now as there is no way of knowing what comes next.
My comparison is a maxed out MM vs base Studio. I believe more longevity from Studio, so that will be my choice after a quick in store review.
My philosophy is to hang on as long as I can bear when purchasing, that way I knowI have bought to my needs at the time. If you can, you may wish to hang on to later in the year to see if another product meets your needs or simply purchase now as there is no way of knowing what comes next.
My comparison is a maxed out MM vs base Studio. I believe more longevity from Studio, so that will be my choice after a quick in store review.
That is it in a nutshell. I said this the other day.
For $1100 you get 1/2 the RAM, way less CPU, and lower grade ethernet/wireless as well as much less in ports. And a chip that came out in 2020.
For $2000 you get 2x the RAM, way more CPU (and GPU) and all the other goodies.
For me I don't mind the lower specs as the Studio IS overkill, but I want at least the M2 revision. Problem is that my Mini that I bought in 2016 (late 2014 model) just turned 6 years old this month. And I have a 2018 MBP so I don't need major computing power on home desktop, iTunes server, email / web browsing machine, and have no desire to spend $2k or $2,200 (1TB drive) to get there just to get a new product that will be mostly wasted computing power.
I understand, but to expect an Apple product to be mainstream priced in silly. I have been using Apple computers since the 512K in the early 80's and they have NEVER been priced the "the average guy". In 1990 when they released the IIFX, it was running 9-11K depending on build spec.
I have my eye on that piece of trash HP Chromebase.
I'm typing this on a Samsung tablet.
I can get a very useful AIO with 16GB RAM and 256GB storage.
EVERYTHING I need for less than the base mini.
Oh, and the screen pivots to portrait so I can read my newspaper.
Touch Screen.
Keyboard and Mouse included.
EVERYTHING!
Apple will never get people like me to do anything but read about them.
I'm just guessing you Apple fans are all millionaires.
There's Chrome all over the classroom.
No Apples but for lunch.
I don't agree with the M1 Mac mini being a "basic" machine. I agree it's basic in its price. But I put it through some serious work day after day (4k video editing, 3D modeling, digital audio editing), and it hasn't missed a beat. That's why I decided against the Mac Studio; I don't know what I'd gain besides slightly shorter render times. But I definitely would be spending a lot more cash for that questionable gain. I'm sure that a "creative professional" in the media industry whose livelihood depends on quick turnovers would benefit from what the M1 Ultra provides. I'm just not that person.
I find it kind of strange that they didn't release a Mac Mini with the M1 Pro and then discontinue the Intel Mac Mini. The (Mini desktop) lineup would be pretty complete and have an Apple Silicon option at every price point.
My beef is I don't see a direct comparison replacement for what I currently have in a 2019 27" iMac in comparable price point. Not even within $1000. I'm talking everything from performance to the screen size & resolution.
It's difficult for me to judge when I'm not able to see one in person.
Easier decision tool. Are you researching online whether you need the Mac mini or the Mac Studio? Then you need the Mac mini. You do not need the Mac Studio.
If you need the Mac Studio, you've known you needed something like this for some time, and have likely already bought one, or are waiting for your next project to buy one.
If you need the Mac Studio, you've known you needed something like this for some time, and have likely already bought one, or are waiting for your next project to buy one.
For those who would consider a US$2,000 computer, I don’t think that’s true.
And the article is about buying a desktop machine.