From 2014 MacBook Pro to new iMac but which one?

I checked on just adding a large monitor to my MacBook Pro but it seems more cost effective to just get a new iMac with the 27" screen. (The monitors are almost as much as the whole computer).

I would appreciate advice on which one to purchase, and with which, if any, upgrades.

This is the one I am thinking of getting:

I think this is the same one I have. I love it and have had no problems at all. I am slowly adding RAM to get it up to 64gb. The only suggestion I would make is maybe swap the 2TB Fusion drive for a 500gb or 1 TB Flash Drive.

I prefer to store most of my work on external drives and just use the internal for current projects. I'm sure you would be happy with the 2TB Fusion drive, but if it were me, I would get the Flash Drive for a bit more speed with LR and starting apps. Mainly for LR, my understanding is that flash drives are noticeably faster generating previews and working on files in LR.

The display is fantastic, you're going to love it!

Good machine. Make sure to get no less than 16GB of RAM.

ShotByTom & FarmerTed1971,

Thank you for your replies. I appreciate the suggestions to upgrade the RAM and the drive. That is exactly the kind of information I was looking for.

I have always used a MacBook Pro (this is my second one) and I don't even have a desktop right now. I have been wanting a larger screen for quite a while. Really looking forward to it.

Thanks again.

PS--Any benefit to ordering directly from Apple vs. purchasing at Best Buy? Just wondering.

No difference at all between Apple and Best Buy. This is the memory I have been adding, it went from $160 before the holidays to $190, and is coming back down now

https://www.amazon.com …keywords=crucia​l+iMac+ram

Apple can custom configure for you. Best Buy can give you 18 months same as cash.

I have a mid-2015 version of the above and would recommend a solid state (flash) drive, even if it's only 500Gb (and use external drives for storing old photos etc.) for speed, and get the minimum RAM. RAM is user upgradable and cheap to buy (unless it's from Apple), and takes 5 minutes to put in. It will take up to 64Gb of RAM, more than enough for photo editing.

I went with 4.2GH i7 CPU, 580 GPU, 8GB memory, and 512GB SSD. Before I booted it the first time, I added 16GB more memory. The internal SSD is only for boot/OS/apps/caches...​etc....not library storage. For storage I hooked up RAID sets over Thunderbolt.

MCAsan wrote in post #18535878
I went with 4.2GH i7 CPU, 580 GPU, 8GB memory, and 512GB SSD. Before I booted it the first time, I added 16GB more memory. The internal SSD is only for boot/OS/apps/caches...​etc....not library storage. For storage I hooked up RAID sets over Thunderbolt.

Good choice!

OK so I pulled the trigger at B&H.

Based on helpful information here, I ordered the iMac w/ 4.2 GHz Intel Core i7 Quad-Core, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, 27" 5120 x 2880 IPS Retina 5K Display, & AMD Radeon Pro 580 Graphics Card (8GB). Then I ordered the OWC 64GB RAM kit for $648 directly from them (Apple wanted $1400 for the same amount)--and OWC will take the memory that will be coming with the iMac, saving a little bit more (in retrospect should have probably just ordered 32GB though, as I probably don't need 64GB). It is supposed to arrive on Thursday. As I don't have a desktop at the moment (just the laptop) this will be quite a change. Other than second-guessing myself and thinking I should only have ordered 32GB of the OWC memory, I am happy with this choice. Appreciate the input--thank you.

Edit: Forgot to mention also ordered Magic 2 Trackpad. I am VERY used to the trackpad on the MacBook Pro. Would have swapped it out when speccing out the iMac but couldn't do that at B&H. Maybe I will be able to sell the mouse or something.

You mention that you added the memory before you booted it for the first time. My computer is arriving Thursday but my memory (OWC) is probably not arriving until Monday. Would you recommend waiting until the memory arrives and is installed prior to booting for the first time?

OK very ignorant here. . .

It seems that most people use external drives for most of their storage (and backups). B&H recommends several different ones under Recommended Accessories for the iMac. What do you all recommend and why? Brand / type / size / etc. Anything wrong with just plain ol' HD (super cheap for many TB's) or better to get something else? And what is RAID if I may ask? Sorry--coming from laptop w/ no peripherals to speak of.

ozziepuppy wrote in post #18537266
You mention that you added the memory before you booted it for the first time. My computer is arriving Thursday but my memory (OWC) is probably not arriving until Monday. Would you recommend waiting until the memory arrives and is installed prior to booting for the first time?

Memory up grade is easy and can be done later when it arrives. Boot up your new computer and confirm no problems and you happy with it. Later add the new memory.

Mouse and track pad, a lot of people use both at the same time or switch back and forth, give it a try and see if you like both at the same time, I use both.

I bought the same setup after trying a few laptops including top of the line MacBook Pro, my eyes aren’t what the used to be and editing on a laptop was to much of an effort to get the results I wanted for larger prints.

I have a 1.5 tb for back up with time machine and also bought a Samsung T5 SSD 500gb to store some of my photos after editing. The 1tb ssd that came with the IMac will be used primarily since it will be the fastest.

Good luck and enjoy your new machine

Yesterday my trackpad, printer, and OWC memory all arrived in spite of the bad weather (icy roads, schools closed, many cancellations). These items were ordered at the same time the iMac was ordered.

However, my iMac not only did not arrive, but there had been no tracking information since Monday even though it was ordered on Saturday. I contacted UPS and so far have received no help, so I contacted B&H Photo.

This morning I received an email from B&H saying that the iMac had been LOST in transit! They said they would be replacing it, but I have not yet heard back from them with a tracking number or anything like that.

This is fairly frustrating to say the least. I will need to sign for the computer and have already cancelled / rescheduled several appointments to be sure that I am here to sign for it. Now I will need to cancel several more. Hopefully this will all work out OK. I feel like my computer was stolen within the UPS system; at the time I ordered it I remember thinking UPS ground was not a good shipping method (I've had some problems with it in the past) but when I went to pay with ApplePay I was not given any shipping options during checkout.

k9trainer wrote in post #18539198
Memory up grade is easy and can be done later when it arrives. Boot up your new computer and confirm no problems and you happy with it. Later add the new memory.

Mouse and track pad, a lot of people use both at the same time or switch back and forth, give it a try and see if you like both at the same time, I use both.

Thanks for the info. Good suggestion to make sure everything works before replacing the memory.

I will try using both the trackpad & mouse since both will be available. I haven't used a mouse in so many years I can't imagine what I would use it for, but perhaps I will discover that it is useful.