VESA mounting a late 2012 iMac

[b0redom]

WTF gives? It's apparently not possible (according to the Geniuses at my local Apple store). Seriously a £2k machine (when I bought it) and I can't VESA mount it!?

The 'solution' seems to be something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NewStar-Apple-post-2012-mount-adapter/dp/B01EAE1IAM

Which leaves the stand hanging in space.

I've put up with the rubbish integrated GPUs, the limited and comparatively overpriced hardware for ages because I like the OS, but between this and the ridiculous prices of the new MBPs (I need a new laptop), I'm seriously considering returning to Lintel/Wintel.

Anyway, rant over......

b0redom

 

[DeltaMac]

The vesa mount for an iMac, for several years, has been a special order model, which is one that does not include a stand, just the vesa mount. The two types of mounts cannot be interchanged, it's either one, or the other.
Your Late 2012 iMac was the same, with the VESA-mount model sold separately.
Prior to your Late 2012 iMac, there was a VESA adapter, which allowed the user to replace the stand with that VESA adapter. The thin design of the Late 2012 precluded that option for the user. They still sell that iMac with VESA mount as a separate model.
There's no way for the user to interchange the two. The back itself is different.
The choice that you have with the normal stand, is one of the makeshift mounts, which is not the prettiest solution.

 

[b0redom]

The vesa mount for an iMac, for several years, has been a special order....

That's as maybe, but for a company that sells itself on product design over everything, it's a massive massive oversight IMO and something that they should at least publicise.

I really like OSX, but given the recent stupid design decisions I'm considering ditching it.

 

[DeltaMac]

A design decision that prevents someone from using a standard mount adapter is not exactly an "oversight", just a decision that most people would never notice (and Apple has provided that special mount model for more than 4 years now)
I could go in circles that the VESA-mount iMac model is easy to see on Apple's web site (kinda makes it public info), but that doesn't make it easier for you - because you don't have one.
I think I can safely say this is not something that Apple did just to peeve you personally, nor have they been hiding the mount info from you.
Not Apple's fault, of course, just something you didn't find out until now.

 

[maflynn]

it's a massive massive oversight IMO and something that they should at least publicise.

I think it was a tactical decision by Apple, they offer a Vesa Mounted iMac so they opted not to make the standard configuration compatible. I don't think its an oversight at all.

 

[b0redom]

Where do they make that obvious though? I certainly didn't see it as an option when I ordered mine and I've just checked and it's not obvious ordering a new one.

Given that you could mount the mid-2012 iMac and almost any other screen for the past 10 years, it's not a huge reach to assume that you should be able to mount a late 2012 model. Even the geniuses in my local store weren't sure.

 

[DeltaMac]

Check again - http://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/imac
The VESA-mount model iMac is currently listed about half-way down the iMac order page, directly above "What's in the box."
As far as I recall, the vesa-mount model has been offered on that page since it was first sold as a separate model in 2012.
Perhaps not prominently, or at the top of the page, but the offer is still clearly listed there.

Looking for an iMac with a Built-in VESA Mount Adapter?

I do understand your frustration, but the thin iMac (since late-2012) is not easily adapted to the VESA mount. As a result, Apple has a model that is sold as VESA mount-only, and that model can't be used without the VESA mount

The "obvious" part for me, is that the standard iMac does not have the VESA mount hole pattern on the back of the display that you might expect to find on other manufacturer's displays.
The iMac has never had VESA mount holes on the back.
Apple offered a VESA mount adapter that replaced the stand right at the hinge, until the thin, late-2012 iMac was released. Being a different design, Apple offered (and still offers) an iMac with a special back with VESA adapter built-in.
And, that's pretty much it...

 

[maflynn]

Where do they make that obvious though? I certainly didn't see it as an option when I ordered mine and I've just checked and it's not obvious ordering a new one.

I found it by googling, and I would assume most people would