Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

jm31828

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 28, 2015
1,394
898
Bothell, Washington
About a year ago I decided to jump into the Mac world- I went cheap and bought a Mac Mini for $650 (the 2014 version with 8GB RAM and a 1TB hard drive). I already had an external monitor (non Apple) so I didn't want to spend the extra money for an iMac even though that would have been my preference.

Well now my old monitor is dying and I will need to buy a new one. I really like Apple displays, but the $1,000 price tag for the Thunderbolt display seems crazy. If I combine that with the $650 I paid for the Mac Mini, I'd be way ahead of what I would have spent last year to just get an iMac.

So my question is, is a Mac Mini with an external Thunderbolt display equal to what you have with an iMac, or is this actually a superior setup display or other hardware-wise?

It may sound weird, but I am just curious because I am considering a cheaper alternative monitor from Dell or elsewhere, but yet know that it's hard to beat the Apple display. I just would like to know if I would be overpaying for the same setup I would have had with an iMac now by buying the Thunderbolt display, or if I would actually somehow have a better setup than I would have had with the iMac. (mentally trying to justify not going with the iMac now a year later)
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.