Topic: Would You Buy This Used iMac For $265?

[wehideandseek]

Ready to stop using my laptop for editing (WavePad & AdobeAudition).

Processor = Intel 17 4.2 GHz
500GB hard drive
RAM = 1.6G


Am i setting myself up for a PITA if it can't update past Ventura  think i'll be ok w/ AdobeAudition & WavePad).

[aaronji]

Personally, I would be hesitant. All current releases are on Apple Silicon and Apple is pretty notorious for dropping support for old systems. Audition is also picky about older OSs. The most affordable Apple option, in my opinion, is an M1 MacMini. M2 is better, but more expensive. You can probably make it work, though, if you are good at that sort of thing...

[wehideandseek]

Thank you aaron!
Also looking at a Mac Studio at the pawn shop for $900...

[ol' dirty taper]

I'm using a iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2019) with a 3.1 GHz 6-Core Intel Core i5 processor and 128 GB 2667 MHz DDR4, cant complain. Some apps have begun to phase to a newer OS, but I figure I still have another 5-6 years on this machine before it becomes a burden. 

[BlueSky71]

Mac Mini's are awesome. I have an M2. Buy a nice monitor and a card reader, good to go. They can be had cheap

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

New Mac Mini M4 is supposed to be announced next week. It will probably be more like $600, but it will be WAY faster, and more importantly get updates for a lot longer than a non-Apple silicon Mac's.

That also means the current M2 Mac Mini will get cheaper. Wal-mart has recently started selling the older Apple models for a very fair price. Unsure if they'd carry the Mac Mini, but someone likely will sell the old stock.

M2 Mac Mini is going to be plenty fast for audio (I use one for editing video, but only small projects). M4 will just get you longer updates. It will be faster too, but M2 is plenty fast for audio.

[wehideandseek]

I appreciate the continued feedback.
Just saw this at the pawn shop.
What do y'all think?

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

Unless you intend to edit 4k video the Studio is overkill for audio. Basically the Studio is going to have more CPU cores that most audio software is going to need.

If $900 is in your price range I'd wait it out until next week and pick up that M4 Mac Mini. It likely will cost $600. Bonus it comes with a warranty where that used Studio won't.

The Mac Studio is a killer machine though.

[wehideandseek]

Thanks F.
I want to get more into video (producing small multimedia clips for my NPR affiliate / transferring old DVC masters) but I'm not out there shooting docs / producing films.

[GLouie]

I am using a nearly identical iMac i7 since 2019, and it's still just fine for me. I got it as an Apple refurb, it is a BTO item they had. I use external SATA SSDs on USB3 for Final Cut ProX video editing or Reaper audio edits and it's fine for me, didn't bother with Thunderbolt due to added cost. I did up the RAM to 40GB right away. That said, Apple Silicon is the future for sure, and I recently bought a refurbed Macbook Air M2, with the thought of having a small portable and maybe accessorizing it for desktop use. It's a bit unsettling how fast they change M processors, however the iMac is still my daily driver. Here are some +/- thoughts;

+ (plusses)
..seems cheap, if working OK. Talk them down, offer $200!
..assuming 27 inch, the 5k screen is very good; cannot be used as a standalone screen
..I don't have a problem with speed for FCP videos, Reaper, or Affinity Photo, but I might be happier with newer speeds. Just use all SSDs and Thunderbolt or USB3.x storage.
..very quiet, unless pushed hard and fan activates
..built-in speakers are surprisingly decent

- (minuses)
..it's a 2017 computer, so without the latest speeds for Thunderbolt/USB, graphics, etc.
..old enough that aging electronic components may be a consideration; it could die tomorrow
..500GB SSD is small now, and may be due for upgrade due to size & wear. PITA to open up the computer and install a larger SSD, which is a special Apple size. You could run everything from an external Thunderbolt SSD.
..When Apple drops security support for the last MacOS it runs, you have to decide to risk keeping it online, or disconnect it and run it iso. Similar for apps, you may have to run older apps.
..camera is 720p and not great, so Zoom calls are subpar.

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

Thanks F.
I want to get more into video (producing small multimedia clips for my NPR affiliate / transferring old DVC masters) but I'm not out there shooting docs / producing films.

That's pretty much what I use my MacBook Air M2 for (basically the same as the current Mac Mini with a keyboard and monitor). Very basic 1080p video edits of under 10 minutes. Also for editing my live recordings on the road. Works fine for that. No experience with transferring old DVC tapes, but I'm sure it can handle it.

[wehideandseek]

Thanks so very much Glouie; so very helpful to have the pros/cons broken down like that!
I had no idea i wouldn't be able to use the iMac as a standalone screen / monitor by itself or in conjunction w/ an upgraded system. Got some good thinking to do...

BlueSky, F, will start poking around the M4 Mac mini. Appreciate that tip!

And thanks as well ol dirt; definitely in the pros side of the equation.

[aaronji]

Mac Mini's are awesome. I have an M2. Buy a nice monitor and a card reader, good to go. They can be had cheap

I have an M2 and it is great. When I first got it, I was astonished by how much faster it was compared to my previous Windows machine. As Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B) put it, "M2 Mac Mini is going to be plenty fast for audio".

An awesome MacMini accessory is the Satechi Stand & Hub, which comes in two versions with/without SSD capability. It provides SD and microSD slots, plus some (non-charging) USB and USB-C ports.

[BlueSky71]

An awesome MacMini accessory is the Satechi Stand & Hub, which comes in two versions with/without SSD capability. It provides SD and microSD slots, plus some (non-charging) USB and USB-C ports.
[/quote]

That's what I meant by card reader I have the same sorta thing by a different name. It holds a mini HD and SSD stick. My only complaint with it is that for use it requires using the 2 rear USB-C ports on the min, at least mine does. It's not as fast as internal SSD, but it is still very fast. Basically, use the internal Mac SSD for processing/speed and when completed move it to other long term storage.

[BlueSky71]

That's what I meant by card reader I have the same sorta thing by a different name. It holds a mini HD and SSD stick. My only complaint with it is that for use it requires using the 2 rear USB-C ports on the min, at least mine does. It's not as fast as internal SSD, but it is still very fast. Basically, use the internal Mac SSD for processing/speed and when completed move it to other long term storage.