usual question : imac v nMP

[keithop]

It's a nice problem to have I know. I have a 2012 iMac 27" i7. It's nice, fast, great screen. fine.

Prior to that I've always had mac pros and of cours when the new mac pro came out I couldn't wait to get my hands on one.

I anticipated it would be a nice step up from the imac.

Turns out that the GPU really isn't ? the cpu is only if running stuff that'll take large advantage of >4 cores.

I do love the idea of pcie solid state v the hybrid drive on the imac.

My workload is day to day stuff + lightroom and some photoshop, then development both in xcode and visual studio under parallels.

I have my eye on the 6 core, D500, 1TB ssd

Do you think I'll really gain *anything* or am I just falling for the new shiny

 

[snberk103]

My impression, from reading comments here and some of the reviews on the nMP is that if you have to ask - then you don't really need it. That is... if your work will benefit from the nMP you already know how it will help.

I have the previous MP (and have never had an iMac), bought before the nMP was unveiled. I timed the purchase so that Apple Care would take me well into rev b or even rev c of the nMP because I was pretty sure I would eventually move to the nMP. I'm not so sure now that I see the price and specs. I do Photoshop and Lightroom - I'm a professional photographer. And I can't see how the nMP will make an improvement in my workflow. For the kind of work I do...

I can absolutely understand that people who do a different kind of work will see a huge improvement... just not me.

Which is not the same thing as not wanting the new MP... I just wish I could rationalize the purchase. Perhaps in a couple of years I will have a good reason.

 

[keithop]

My impression, from reading comments here and some of the reviews on the nMP is that if you have to ask - then you don't really need it. That is... if your work will benefit from the nMP you already know how it will help.

yeah sigh I think you're right

Which is not the same thing as not wanting the new MP... I just wish I could rationalize the purchase. Perhaps in a couple of years I will have a good reason.

yeah ;-) I know you've really hit the nail on the head there. I want it and can afford it but I'd like to feel that there's an actual benefit in *SOME* way to it and from what i'm reading so far I'm worried that actually I'll be downgrading :/

 

[MacProCard]

yeah sigh I think you're right



yeah ;-) I know you've really hit the nail on the head there. I want it and can afford it but I'd like to feel that there's an actual benefit in *SOME* way to it and from what i'm reading so far I'm worried that actually I'll be downgrading :/

Truefully, you don't need to update a recent computer unless it dies. So why does this one have you stumped?

Couple things that help on the price for me..1.Thunderbolt 2. Just awesome. Can't believe what this is going to mean to the industry when everything is said and done. Love it. 2. Size. Quite as a mouse and almost as small as one compared to the boxes. You can place it anywhere. 3. Flexibility/Ram. Get this with enough extras and it runs both OS awesome. I literally got two boxes for the price of one.

Hope this helps. Oh, and to those that want to wait...you'll always be waiting.

 

[reco2011]

I'm with snberk103 on this one. If you don't know it's unlikely you need it. IMO the nMP has a very narrow focus as to where it will pay dividends with increased productivity. One benefit of the oMP was its internal expansion capability. Thus if one didn't need the performance but wanted expandability it was easy to justify. Not so much with the nMP.

 

[snberk103]

...
yeah ;-) I know you've really hit the nail on the head there. I want it and can afford it but I'd like to feel that there's an actual benefit in *SOME* way to it and from what i'm reading so far I'm worried that actually I'll be downgrading :/

I've timed my purchase so that the next time I need a computer I will have a good selection from the refurbished store to choose from (I hope). Hopefully there will be something there at a price that will make the decision easy.

 

[keithop]

Truefully, you don't need to update a recent computer unless it dies. So why does this one have you stumped?

yeah I freely admit, this isn't a *need*... it's a *want* but I want to make sure it's even a sane want if that makes some kinda sense ;-)

ability to use a 4K monitor would be a very nice plus but I'm reading hardly any success stories with current 4k monitors at 60hz so kinda worried about that too

 

[CATZPJZ]

Being a videographer and photographer I can see the benefits from upgrading to the nMP and adding a 4k display to edit on. Having all the screen room will cut down on editing time and having all those pixels wont be bad either. IMO if you have the money and see a potential gain in time and efficiency of your work flow then that investment is a good investment for you. Can't wait to save up enough to get mine...

 

[MacProCard]

yeah I freely admit, this isn't a *need*... it's a *want* but I want to make sure it's even a sane want if that makes some kinda sense ;-)

ability to use a 4K monitor would be a very nice plus but I'm reading hardly any success stories with current 4k monitors at 60hz so kinda worried about that too

Yeah, but you want it. And it's sweet to own. Two PC's for the price of one.

Can't say much about 4k monitors. I run dual thunderbolts and haven't noticed a problem.

I can say that Premiere Pro smoked a 40gig multi-cam project I shot in HD. I did upgrade my ram to 64gb no problem. I suspect that is a must for a box of this calibre.

 

[Riwam]

It's a nice problem to have I know. I have a 2012 iMac 27" i7. It's nice, fast, great screen. fine.

Prior to that I've always had mac pros and of cours when the new mac pro came out I couldn't wait to get my hands on one.

I anticipated it would be a nice step up from the imac.

Turns out that the GPU really isn't ? the cpu is only if running stuff that'll take large advantage of >4 cores.

I do love the idea of pcie solid state v the hybrid drive on the imac.

My workload is day to day stuff + lightroom and some photoshop, then development both in xcode and visual studio under parallels.

I have my eye on the 6 core, D500, 1TB ssd

Do you think I'll really gain *anything* or am I just falling for the new shiny

.............
As a person who, got in love with, as you say "the new shiny" I can only say it is a fantastic machine. I read all the time many posts from many users and have not yet found any single owner of a nMP regretting it. I am an absolute "non pro" and use it as an "allround" computer (well, it is all round!) but love that computer.
My previous MP was perfectly OK as well besides the old connectivity both inside and outside and my mistake trying to add USB3 with a card which made my BT mouse jump wildly (and me too!) but this new, powerful, small and quiet computer is something very special. You must have it on your desk to understand it or rather feel it.
I have had different computers in my lifespan, but nothing which can be compared to it.

 

[MacProCard]

.............
As a person who, got in love with, as you say "the new shiny" I can only say it is a fantastic machine. I read all the time many posts from many users and have not yet found any single owner of a nMP regretting it. I am an absolute "non pro" and use it as an "allround" computer (well, it is all round!) but love that computer.

but this new, powerful, small and quiet computer is something very special. You must have it on your desk to understand it or rather feel it.
I have had different computers in my lifespan, but nothing which can be compared to it.

Yep. +1. I've been developing in ASP and .net since the beginning and this little sucker is something special. Wow. Spent 6+ and couldn't be happier. Easily the most advanced mass produced computer on the market.

 

[macuser453787]

yeah I freely admit, this isn't a *need*... it's a *want*

Nothing wrong with that in and of itself.

An alternative: Your iMac has SATA III and you might see a nice speed bump over and above the fusion drive if you were to install a SSD as your 2nd drive and use it as your boot drive.

OWC sells DIY SSD install kits and their website has very thorough installation instruction videos.

Install kit + SSD drive + a little investment of your time = probable speed gain for not a lot of money, especially when considering all the money you'd save from not purchasing nMP yet.

For that matter, unless your RAM is already maxed out, you could do a RAM upgrade which should also give you a very nice boost in overall system performance.