iMac

Should you preorder or buy the 24 inch M1 iMac?

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It is only less than an hour before preorders for the new 24 inch M1 iMac start. Have you decided if you are going to buy one?

First things first. Uninformed outlets (including the idiots whom MacWorld UK pay to write their trashy articles) think that Apple shrunk the 27 inch iMac to 24 inches and gave it a low end processor, making it a “down grade” in their eyes.

That is not the case.

The new 24 inch iMac is a replacement for the 21.5 inch iMac, which was always a low end computer filled with low end parts to meet a price point. If you are a current 27 inch iMac user (like myself) you should wait for now.

If you were already thinking of buying a desktop Mac and price is more important than more performance and the absolutely biggest screen size, then the 24 inch iMac is a no brainer (unless of course, you prefer to use your current monitor to save some money or you hate all-in-ones).

The 24 inch is an absolute steal. You get power that’s better than the majority of intel Macs being sold until today, all at a starting price that is only 50 USD more than the 12.9 inch M1 iPad Pro (which comes with no accessories).

Of course you should really buy at least the mid range model to enjoy the benefits of the new system, like the TouchID keyboard and the power adapter with built in Ethernet. But if you prefer to save some money the entry model is definitely as powerful as the other two models. You just will not have the choice of purple, yellow or orange colours if one of those is what you wanted to go for.

If you are a first time Mac desktop user and wonder if the iMac will last you long enough to make your investment worth it, here is an example – my first iMac is the 2007 model, and it is still being used today. Macs are built to last, and the massive performance overhead of all the M1 Macs ensure that you will have them at a usable performance level for probably way longer than the latest Intel Macs (or any x86 machine, for that matter).

The final question is, of course, what colour will you pick? (I pick purple, because while I cannot decide between blue and purple, purple is limited to online sales and only reserved for the higher grade models).

MacRyu’s Mac Setup 2014

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So in 2007 I posted my old setup based around my 2007 24″ Aluminum iMac and 12″ iBook on Flickr.

Then in 2011 I posted my revamped setup based on the same iMac but with a relatively new 2010 MacBook Air.

After another 3 years and spending the last 12 months not bothered with updating this site, I want to reboot this site with my first decent post – my current Mac setup.

And here it is.

2014 Mac setup - 1

The iMac, now in its seventh year of service, has been semi-retired and is only used sparingly these days. Its main duties have been taken over by the 2012 11″ MacBook Air, which is connected to a Crossover 27″ high resolution monitor (2560X1440, LG’s IPS panel, the same ones used in the current 27″ Thunderbolt Display) via Dual-link DVI, which I run in clamshell mode for the time being. It will be eventually replaced by the next Mac Mini, whenever that thing is refreshed, because running clamshell mode can be a pain in the arse for long term use.

2014 Mac setup - 2

The iMac is these days used as a BT machine, iTunes server or for casual file access when I don’t want to turn on 4 switches just to access or print a file. It has been upgraded with a OCZ SSD last year, and boots into Mavericks in about 6 seconds flat, which is extremely speedy for a 7 year old machine. It is also connected to my HDD docks for serious backing up duties.

2014 Mac setup - 4

The Harman Kardon Soundsticks III is the world’s favourite computer speakers (they are almost always in every celebrity’s home or desks, just watch TV!) and I finally saved enough to get them last year. The iPad mini stand was a real replica of the see-through acrylic ones found in authentic Apple Stores, and was a gift from my brother a few weeks ago. Also on the table are docks for my iPhones (the 5S is being used to take the photos, that is why it is not in its modified Belkin dock), iPads, and other pieces of tech toys including the PS Vita 2002, Cowon Z2, Nexus 4 and the Xiaomi Note+. Oh and I love my Starbucks Reserve Mug.

2014 Mac setup - 3

Yes, those are the Sony consoles hiding in the dark corner.

Hopefully this site will still be around in 2017, when I will (most probably) post my updated Mac setup again.

Follow me on twitter @ryuworks or @macryudotcom (official account for this site). And join MacNet at http://sgmac.net for all Apple related discussions on FB!

First Post of 2011 – MacRyu’s iMac Setup 2011

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Almost five years ago, I posted my iMac setup (basically the stuff that’s on my work desk 90% of the time) on flickr. Since that time, components of that 2007 setup have changed, items have been removed and added, well, mostly added (thus a much messier table), and for the first post of 2011, I thought I’ll post some photos of my current work desk setup.

Here is the original September 2007 MacRyu iMac Setup.

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And here are the January 2011 MacRyu iMac Setup photos……

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New iMacs to have USB 3.0 and Firewire 3200?

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Hardmac.com : Le “Macbidouille” in English – [Rumour] Some little tidbits on the MacPro and the iMac

Hardmac reports that we will see the next iMac and Mac Pro at the “end of summer”, which is around the August/September timeframe.

We should also see USB 3.0 and Firewire 1600/3200 ports in the new iMacs and Mac Pros.

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Macworld predictions roundup

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We are 5 days away from the holy mecca of all Mac fans – Macworld Expo. As usual, there are many last minute rumors flooding the Mac rumors sites. Will do a listing of all the rumors listed on Macrumors.com so far.

Basically, we have the following;

1. iWork and iMovie to become online apps
2. iPhone nano
3. Cheaper MacBook
4. Smaller iPod Shuffle
5. Updated iMac and Mac mini

So, the usual question: how true are these rumors?

Firstly, the possibility of iWork and iMovie becoming web apps is high. However, it is highly impossible that desktop versions of the apps will be totally gone. It is almost impossible to recreate web versions of the desktop apps while retaining all functions that the current desktop apps have, and if iWork’09 have lesser functions than iWork’08 had, we all know how well that will turn out. Anyone remember the iMovie’08 fiasco?

Secondly, iPhone nano. So yeah. You have the usual case makers revealing the possible existence of a nano-ized version of the iPhone. So what? Who cares? If it’s cheaper than the iPhone then maybe you will have a few people who are interested, but right now I think more people are really interested in getting the next iPhone software update from Apple in order to get more functionality out of their current iPhones.

Next, the cheaper MacBook. So drop the white MacBook entirely and lower the price of the entry Aluminum model. That will rock with me. Possibility of such an action happening at Macworld 2009 is low though.

Next, the smaller iPod Shuffle. Possible. Just not at Macworld 2009.

Lastly, the updated Mac Mini and iMac. This is almost a definite YES. 3 almost definite updates;

i. MiniDisplay port. Apple’s new standards-based almost-proprietary-for-now port will make its way to all Macs.

ii. Nvidia 9400. Obviously.

iii. New CPUs. You know which ones I’m talking about.

I can’t wait for 6th Jan!!!

iMacs Redesigned?

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Steve Jobs and the unveiling of the original iMac G3

The original iMac was largely responsible from bringing Apple back from its ashes in the late nineties, after screwed-up CEOs such as Scully brought the once-mighty Apple to its knees in the 1994-1997 period. When Steve Jobs (all hail the God!!) came back he axed almost all the product lines and kept only the PowerBook and the Power Mac lines (bybye Newton!). However he needed a consumer desktop, and the original iMac was the answer.


The Original iMac G3

The original iMac signified the start of a brand new world for Apple, as such it was often referred as the first of the New World Macs, distinguished from the Old World Macs mainly through the splendid designs which Jobs demanded for all the Macs that created under his supreme reign. The original iMacs served their purpose and lasted through many years all the way until 2002, when the second generation iMac, nicknamed the Lampshade, debuted.


iMac G4 – The Lampshade

Fast forward to 2007. The current iMac is technically speaking, the 4th Generation iMac, if we were to classify the iMacs by the chips that power them. The original iMac was called the iMac G3, the Lampshade the iMac G4, then there will be the iMac G5, the third generation iMac, and then the current iMac, iMac Intel Core Duo/Core 2 Duo. However, during the transition from PPC chips to Intel chips, with the exception of the MacBooks, the other lines did not see much of a redesign in their form factors at all. Which is why generally though, the current iMac is still referred to as the third generation iMac.


The current iMac

While the current generation iMac is extremely pleasing to the eye and is indeed a wonder piece of art that still looks like it’s centuries ahead of its PC counterparts, to me it feels pretty dated already, probably because it really is dated. It has been out ever since 2004, which makes this its 3rd/4th year and in New World Macs land, 3 or 4 years is a long time.

Which is why I am really really excited at the rumored redesigned 20 and 24-inch iMacs. I have sold off my MacBook a while ago, and am currently only using my iBook G4 with a 19-inch widescreen LCD monitor through screen spanning (thanks SSD!). While I like the iBook (it is my first Mac), performance wise it is quite dated. It is a G4 after all. I have been planning to buy the next 24-inch iMac that comes along until I read about the upcoming redesigned iMacs. What perfect timing! I could not have asked for more from the great God Steve Jobs.

That said, I will still very much like to own a 3rd generation iMac. Perhaps I will buy one of those refurbished Core 2 Duo iMacs for my brother when their prices drop. Hehz.