so i have a 2011 21.5 imac that needs a new hard drive and/or fan repair - runs very slowly and hardware test reports a fault. would consider just repairing except that i'd really like usb 3 ports (!) and the ability to play the newer tomb raider games. other thing i really need is fast access to files for writing essays and next year will be writing a thesis so getting a decent sized (500gb) ssd is key.
so i've been considering options and looking at something like a dell xps tower for around $1500 aud - they have some cheaper deals in their ebay store - and most likely adding a pcie ssd. then buying a cheap ultrawide monitor for having multiple docs open at a time and reducing alt tabbing, and for those tomb raider games.
but i've hit a stumbling block. apparently you can't adjust the screen brightness on an external monitor with the keyboard like with my imac and macbook air?? you have to fumble around with clumsy monitor hard buttons and on-screen menus?? i'm just stunned that such a basic function of macs seems to just not exist in the windows world. everyone just puts up with that?! i need to do some more research - maybe can track down a monitor that has direct brightness buttons or a windows all in one that works similarly, but that doesn't seem to be info that's easy to find by googling. and the thing is that i fine tune display brightness all. the. time. it's second nature. auto-adjustment doesn't cut it but it's no big deal with a mac, i do it without looking at the keyboard.
so seemingly options are: current imac (out of price range with graphics and ssd needs), wait for new imacs (possibly affordable if ssds become the default and lower end models have decent graphics), or there is a mac display released to connect to a mini which i assume will work seamlessly with mac keyboard brightness buttons! edit: although that really rules out gaming. other than that i'm stumped.
?? i haven't researched computers since pretty much 2011 so very out of the loop. open to help and suggestions!
so i've been considering options and looking at something like a dell xps tower for around $1500 aud - they have some cheaper deals in their ebay store - and most likely adding a pcie ssd. then buying a cheap ultrawide monitor for having multiple docs open at a time and reducing alt tabbing, and for those tomb raider games.
but i've hit a stumbling block. apparently you can't adjust the screen brightness on an external monitor with the keyboard like with my imac and macbook air?? you have to fumble around with clumsy monitor hard buttons and on-screen menus?? i'm just stunned that such a basic function of macs seems to just not exist in the windows world. everyone just puts up with that?! i need to do some more research - maybe can track down a monitor that has direct brightness buttons or a windows all in one that works similarly, but that doesn't seem to be info that's easy to find by googling. and the thing is that i fine tune display brightness all. the. time. it's second nature. auto-adjustment doesn't cut it but it's no big deal with a mac, i do it without looking at the keyboard.
so seemingly options are: current imac (out of price range with graphics and ssd needs), wait for new imacs (possibly affordable if ssds become the default and lower end models have decent graphics), or there is a mac display released to connect to a mini which i assume will work seamlessly with mac keyboard brightness buttons! edit: although that really rules out gaming. other than that i'm stumped.
?? i haven't researched computers since pretty much 2011 so very out of the loop. open to help and suggestions!
