Replacing my 2011 27-inch iMac with a M2 MBA or M1 Pro MBP ?

[FrenchPB]

Dear all,

I have a very hard time defining what Apple computer will best suit my needs.
I currently have a 2011 27-inch iMac which I mostly use to organize my +50k digital photos, work on my personal documents and watch sports (which I download then stream via Plex > Apple TV 4K on my HDTV).

My needs are basic, nothing too intensive since I've been able to keep the same computer for over 10 years.

However, with two kids now having their own bedroom in my apartment, I don't have a dedicated room to work (the iMac sits in our bedroom). Change is needed. Since I have a PC laptop for work and an iPad, I've always been reluctant to add an Apple laptop but I guess that makes more sense now. I can't manage my Photos library on ipad, neither download large HD sports video files.

With so many digital photos, I'm wondering how people manage their libraries with disk space being so small especially on laptops. Do people mostly use icloud to store their original photos with a backup on an external hard drive maybe ? 512 GB seem very small to me. Having an external harddrive plugged in the laptop everytime does not feel very good either.

Also, would I get a better experience by using Airplay > Apple TV 4K to watch games on my TV or go through Plex server ?

I understand the M1 Pro MacBook Pro has a much better screen, which is especially important for photos (mini LED bring deeper blacks for instance) and watching sports (pro-motion, 120 Hz...). The screen quality as well as the SD port make the MBP an intriguing option even though my needs feel simple.

Hope you guys can give me some advice on how to manager my Photos, stream videos to my HDTV and select the right computer for those needs.

 

[Fishrrman]

If you're thinking "10 years" for the replacement, then get the 14" MacBook Pro...

 

[vmachiel]

If you config the Macbook Air to be something you can live for a loooong time with, you‘re easily in MBP territory anyway.

 

[FrenchPB]

Well, I believe I’d have to go for 16 GB and 1 TB to go long term with my next computer.
It’d be so mich more convenient with large HD files and all my Photos library.

I guess I should have gone with the 14-inch M1 MBP a year ago, now I’m stuck with rumors that a new MBP shall be announced in October or March of next year 😓

I guess I can wait a few more months at this point and be happy with a brand new product. I thought a year ago that it’d be too risky too jump too quickly on the new M-processor generation of Apple computers… now it feels M2 won’t be such a big jump over M1 anyway.

 

[FrenchPB]

Can you easily work with a Photos library on an external USB-C SSD hardrive ?
I am wondering whether it'd make more sense to take a smaller drive within the laptop et use an external SSD for this kind of work. That logic defies the "portability" advantage of a laptop though.