I’m thinking about getting an m3 iMac, but I’m worried about the soldered memory and storage. Right now, I have a 2008 MacBook and a 2008 ThinkPad that I use every day. Both are easy to fix, and if I spend a lot on a new iMac, I’d hope it lasts as long as these old machines.
I know no one can predict the future, but does anyone have info on how long the memory and storage in these iMacs usually hold up? Thanks!
If you take good care of it, at least 10 years, maybe more. I used to work at a big studio, and they used Macs from 2000 to 2005.
My 2013 MacBook Pro is still running. I had to change the keyboard, SSD, and battery, but it’s still going strong. I’d say it has another 5 years in it. Most Macs last 10 years or more.
Brooke said:
My 2013 MacBook Pro is still running. I had to change the keyboard, SSD, and battery, but it’s still going strong. I’d say it has another 5 years in it. Most Macs last 10 years or more.
But you can’t change anything in the m3 iMac.
Brooke said:
My 2013 MacBook Pro is still running. I had to change the keyboard, SSD, and battery, but it’s still going strong. I’d say it has another 5 years in it. Most Macs last 10 years or more.
But you can’t change anything in the m3 iMac.
True, but even with Macs from 2015 and later, you couldn’t replace much, and they still hold up well. The m3 is much faster, but even those older ones can handle basic tasks just fine.
Probably 7 to 10 years.
The Mac mini with a third-party monitor is a better option. You can upgrade to the pro chip, which is way better.
Arlen said:
The Mac mini with a third-party monitor is a better option. You can upgrade to the pro chip, which is way better.
I’m trying to decide between these two. Can you explain why you think the mini is the better choice?
Arlen said:
The Mac mini with a third-party monitor is a better option. You can upgrade to the pro chip, which is way better.
I’m trying to decide between these two. Can you explain why you think the mini is the better choice?
The Mac mini costs about half the price of an iMac. You can get the mini with a monitor and accessories for less than the iMac. Plus, if you want to upgrade later, you can keep the monitor and just swap out the computer.
Arlen said:
The Mac mini with a third-party monitor is a better option. You can upgrade to the pro chip, which is way better.
I’m trying to decide between these two. Can you explain why you think the mini is the better choice?
But remember, the Mac mini still has the m2 chip, which is a bit old now. If you go with the mini, you might want to wait for the m4 chip or buy a used one.
Val said:
Arlen said:
The Mac mini with a third-party monitor is a better option. You can upgrade to the pro chip, which is way better.
I’m trying to decide between these two. Can you explain why you think the mini is the better choice?
But remember, the Mac mini still has the m2 chip, which is a bit old now. If you go with the mini, you might want to wait for the m4 chip or buy a used one.
Thanks!
Arlen said:
The Mac mini with a third-party monitor is a better option. You can upgrade to the pro chip, which is way better.
I went with the Mac Studio Pro. Love it.
My 2014 iMac just died, so I’d suggest replacing it after 8 years to avoid problems. You can always use external storage.
Mai said:
My 2014 iMac just died, so I’d suggest replacing it after 8 years to avoid problems. You can always use external storage.
I agree. All-in-one systems make me nervous.
Zaren said:
I’m thinking about getting an m3 iMac, but I’m worried about the soldered memory and storage. Right now, I have a 2008 MacBook and a 2008 ThinkPad that I use every day. Both are easy to fix, and if I spend a lot on a new iMac, I’d hope it lasts as long as these old machines.
I know no one can predict the future, but does anyone have info on how long the memory and storage in these iMacs usually hold up? Thanks!
I’ve had three MacBooks, and they all lasted about 5 years before they started having issues. Fans, batteries, and other parts needed replacing, but I fixed them myself. I had a 2015 MacBook Pro that lasted 8 years (4 for me, 4 for my wife). The fan and battery both needed fixing. I also have a 2017 MacBook Pro that still works. I replaced the heatsink paste, but the battery is failing now. I have a work laptop from 2018, and the battery isn’t great anymore, but it’s still running without repairs. Work usually replaces them by this age, but I like to keep using mine as long as possible. My personal M2 MacBook Pro hasn’t had any issues yet.
People say MacBooks can’t be repaired, but it’s not as bad as it sounds. You can replace batteries, fans, and USB-C ports if needed, and it’s not super expensive. The bigger issue is not being able to upgrade, but that’s becoming common with most laptops.
Zaren said:
I’m thinking about getting an m3 iMac, but I’m worried about the soldered memory and storage. Right now, I have a 2008 MacBook and a 2008 ThinkPad that I use every day. Both are easy to fix, and if I spend a lot on a new iMac, I’d hope it lasts as long as these old machines.
I know no one can predict the future, but does anyone have info on how long the memory and storage in these iMacs usually hold up? Thanks!
Depends on what you’re using it for. If it’s just turning on and running basic stuff, it could last a really long time. SSDs tend to outlive most other parts of the computer.
Zaren said:
I’m thinking about getting an m3 iMac, but I’m worried about the soldered memory and storage. Right now, I have a 2008 MacBook and a 2008 ThinkPad that I use every day. Both are easy to fix, and if I spend a lot on a new iMac, I’d hope it lasts as long as these old machines.
I know no one can predict the future, but does anyone have info on how long the memory and storage in these iMacs usually hold up? Thanks!
I’ve been using iMacs since 1998. There’s a big difference between how long they last and how long they’re useful. If you do stuff like video editing, they start to struggle after 5 years. Once you can’t update the OS, you’re stuck. But if you’re just browsing the web or sending emails, they’ll last longer, though you’ll slowly be able to do less with them.
Zaren said:
I’m thinking about getting an m3 iMac, but I’m worried about the soldered memory and storage. Right now, I have a 2008 MacBook and a 2008 ThinkPad that I use every day. Both are easy to fix, and if I spend a lot on a new iMac, I’d hope it lasts as long as these old machines.
I know no one can predict the future, but does anyone have info on how long the memory and storage in these iMacs usually hold up? Thanks!
My 2017 MacBook is still going strong. I had to replace the battery after 3 years, though.
Zaren said:
I’m thinking about getting an m3 iMac, but I’m worried about the soldered memory and storage. Right now, I have a 2008 MacBook and a 2008 ThinkPad that I use every day. Both are easy to fix, and if I spend a lot on a new iMac, I’d hope it lasts as long as these old machines.
I know no one can predict the future, but does anyone have info on how long the memory and storage in these iMacs usually hold up? Thanks!
I’ve seen M1 iMacs selling for $700-800 online, and they weren’t even the base models. A lot of people buy desktops and then realize they wanted a laptop instead. If you’re using a computer that’s over 10 years old, you probably don’t need the newest technology. The M1 might be enough for your needs, and you won’t have to spend as much. Just my two cents.
Zaren said:
I’m thinking about getting an m3 iMac, but I’m worried about the soldered memory and storage. Right now, I have a 2008 MacBook and a 2008 ThinkPad that I use every day. Both are easy to fix, and if I spend a lot on a new iMac, I’d hope it lasts as long as these old machines.
I know no one can predict the future, but does anyone have info on how long the memory and storage in these iMacs usually hold up? Thanks!
If you take good care of it, nothing else will last as long.
The Mac mini is another option, but then you might need to spend more to get a good display. There’s a 27” 5K Samsung monitor for around $1k or the Apple Studio Display for $1599.
You could also go for a cheaper 4K or 1080p display, but that’s a whole different conversation.