I’m slowly switching to Apple. I’m thinking about getting either a MacBook or an iMac. I prefer larger screens. I want to edit simple videos I took on my phone, take notes for college while browsing the web and have some music playing in the background. It’s just regular office work and some downtime. I saw a lot of different versions of the 24-inch iMac. Will the 8GB base version be good enough for what I need? Should I look at the 8-core 8GB version or go for the 16GB 8-core? I appreciate any thoughts you have on this. Have a wonderful day everyone
Do you already have an external monitor? If so, you might want to think about the Mac Mini M2 since it costs less
Scout said:
Do you already have an external monitor? If so, you might want to think about the Mac Mini M2 since it costs less
Totally agree. The iMac doesn’t seem practical since you’d have to replace your monitor every time you upgrade. A Mac Mini with an external monitor gives you a lot more options. And if you can, go for an ultrawide monitor. A 34-inch is amazing.
By the way, I’d say 16GB is the least amount of RAM I would consider.
@Charlie
Current iMacs are really pretty though
Haha imagine picking a computer just because it’s pretty
Haha imagine picking a computer just because it’s pretty
That has always been a big deal for many home users. Looks really matter for a lot of people. Just think about how household tools or vehicles would look if they didn’t care about style!
@Bennet
I get that everyone has their reasons, and you can keep downvoting me for this, but I would still chuckle at anyone who buys a computer just because it looks nice.
Charlie said:
@Bennet
I get that everyone has their reasons, and you can keep downvoting me for this, but I would still chuckle at anyone who buys a computer just because it looks nice.
You must have a very functional home.
Haha imagine picking a computer just because it’s pretty
So why do people buy RGB lights then?
The base model should be enough for your needs. But since you are in college, I’d suggest a MacBook, because you might need a laptop in class sometimes. If you need a monitor later, that’s something you can buy, but you can’t take an iMac with you when you go out.
@Jagger
I think a MacBook or maybe a Mini could work, but the person who posted this seems to want an all-in-one setup.
I’ve been thinking about getting a refurbished Air from Apple… You can get an M2 Air with 16GB and a 10-core GPU for just $90 more than a new base model. It’s a brand new shell, battery, and has a new warranty.
To be honest, my family’s 2006 iMac went to a bunch of LAN parties, and I took it to school one time. It was in high school, on a bus 
@Mal
Can you share more about that bus ride and how it went?
Avery said:
@Mal
Can you share more about that bus ride and how it went?
Haha that was ages ago but I remember clearly I was being a stubborn teenager trying to make a point…
The bus ride was nothing special. I just held the base like a handle next to me.
I had a PowerPoint to show but I said ‘my computer only has Keynote, it won’t work,’ which really meant ‘I haven’t even started on this.’
The teacher called my bluff and said to bring my computer in. She probably thought I would show up with a MacBook Pro that I just got broken from a friend and had been working on in class.
But nope, it was a full iMac.
Of course, the projector only supported VGA, which I didn’t have an adapter for, so everyone had to squint at my awful presentation. I guess that probably didn’t help my grade
@Mal
That is quite a funny, detailed story. Thanks for sharing!
@Jagger
I have an M1 MacBook Air, base model. It’s like a Mac Mini that I can take with me. (I mainly use it with a 32-inch 4K monitor, but it’s great to have portability too)
[This comment has been removed]
The iMac hasn’t had an update in 891 days, and normally updates happen every 398 days. Now is not a good time to buy an iMac.
Source: MacRumors Buyers Guide
If a 24-inch 4.5K screen works for you and you like the all-in-one setup, then maybe the base version is okay. But remember, 8GB RAM isn’t a lot, given it only has 256GB of storage.
Also, the iMac hasn’t seen hardware updates since 2021, so it’s a likely candidate for the M3 chip soon, possibly this year or early next year.
You should think about whether to get an M2 Mini or a MacBook instead.
The M2 Mini starts almost 1000 euros lower than the iMac, with similar specs except for the newer M2 chip (plus it has 2 USB-A ports, while the iMac has none in the base model). You can upgrade RAM and SSD and still have money left for a nice 27-inch display compared to the current iMac.
A new iMac M1 with 16GB RAM costs $1499.
An M2 Mac Mini with 16GB is $799.
An HP U28 4K Monitor is $449.
Total = $1298.
I don’t think the 24-inch iMac is a good buy anymore. You can get a better-performing computer for less than half the price, plus find a decent monitor and save money overall.
The design of the 24-inch iMac might be appealing, and that’s worth something, but remember you’re paying more for beauty. If that’s fine with you, then go for it.
No matter what you choose, upgrading to 16GB RAM is a smart move (for context, my 2012 Mac Mini has 16GB RAM). The 8GB machines work but should be seen as a compromise if you want a low-cost option. An 8GB M1 MacBook Air makes sense because they are cheap. But getting an expensive all-in-one with a nice screen and only 8GB RAM seems crazy to me.
@Corin
Not really, because you still need speakers and a camera. Plus, you’ll have all those wires and half your ports will be used. Even with an M1, the 24-inch is still a decent deal.
That said, I would wait at least until next month to see if there’s a refresh.