So I'm getting a new computer...

[Kia Stinger]

Yeah. I figured I'd start a computer thread. I currently use a 13" 2012 MacBook Pro for my main computer. It's hooked up to a Samsung 27" monitor from around the same time - 2012 or so. Maybe a little earlier. I swap between this (the computer I'm on now) and a 17" MacBook Pro from 2010 when I'm away from my office. It's come time I upgrade and place an order for an iMac - my first desktop computer purchase since probably 2004. Possibly longer...

My main computer is maxed out with memory and I'm starting to experience serious slowness with the way I work - which usually means 15 or 20 Chrome tabs opened, constant email flowing back and forth, Pandora playing music, Adobe Photoshop CS5, sometimes Dreamweaver CS5, and an FTP program opened... My current setup looks like this:

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)

• 2.9 GHz Intel Core i7
• 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
• Macintosh HD
• Intel HD Graphics 4000 1536 MB

...and here's what I'm getting:

27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display

• 4.2GHz quad-core 7th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz
• 32GB 2400MHz DDR4
• 3TB Fusion Drive
• Radeon Pro 580 with 8GB video memory

I'm hoping this iMac holds me over for at least as long as my MacBook Pros have. Which both still work, surprisingly. I used them every day - for a long time - every day... 7 days a week. For years... That's a testament to how good these computers have been...

I moved on to the newer MacBook Pro because my 2010 was getting slow. Once I relieved it of most of its duties (mainly email) it treated me much better. I imagine the 2012 will also treat me much better once the iMac takes over for the brunt of my work...

Before my Macs I always had Dell Windows PCs. The great thing about Dell is I could call them for support - and get somebody to replace a part AT MY HOME the same day. With Apple - not so much. ONE of my Apple MacBook Pros (my first, and I forget what year that was) needed a logic board (mother board in normal speak) - and I actually had to take that one into the Apple store - AND LEAVE IT with them. What?!

So I had no Mac for a week or so. Luckily I still had my Windows computer. Nowadays I always keep a spare computer around for if/when this happens. In any event, that only happened once and my last two Macs have been perfect over the years. But I like to play things safe.

Anyway, once I get my new computer with the apparently amazing 5K screen, I'll be able to do some really good Photoshop work. As it stands, people with good screens can have a field day criticizing my altered car pictures.

I placed the order last week and expect to have it some time in 2019.

 

[moinmoin]

Nice, that should keep the bytes moving!
But then, it's probably the price of a new Stinger.
Either way, Congrats!

 

[Kia Stinger]

Nice, that should keep the bytes moving!
But then, it's probably the price of a new Stinger.
Either way, Congrats!

Yeah. Heh! It was slightly less. I could have done a lot worse (or better, depending on how you look at it) if I'd purchased an iMac Pro!

 

[moinmoin]

Admit it, not by much LOL
Funny though, I am thinking of getting a new PC too.
Having built my PCs since the mid eighties, I am now going to let the next generation take over. I want an HTPC, with enough connections, that I can run my collection of videos & music out of 8 NAS boxes, each with mostly four 4TB drives. I am going to build a dolly for all those boxes. But I'll the PC to a buddy of mine. Working on the specs now that the Stinger is in the box so to speak.

 

[tofu]

Not springing for the iMac Pro?

 

[moinmoin]

Not springing for the iMac Pro?

No, for two reasons:

• Can't customize Apple products the way I want it.
• After the Stinger purchase, a distinct lack of funds.

The reasons are completely interchangeable.

 

[Kia Stinger]

Admit it, not by much LOL
Funny though, I am thinking of getting a new PC too.
Having built my PCs since the mid eighties, I am now going to let the next generation take over. I want an HTPC, with enough connections, that I can run my collection of videos & music out of 8 NAS boxes, each with mostly four 4TB drives. I am going to build a dolly for all those boxes. But I'll the PC to a buddy of mine. Working on the specs now that the Stinger is in the box so to speak.

I had to Google that. HTPC. I see! So you've got a bizillion movies, huh? That's cool. I used to be like that with music - but now I just listed to SiriusXM. The first computer I was old enough to actually USE was a Commodore 64. I had a BBS. My first message board. I've built a few in my day - but that was mostly at work when I had a job doing IT.

Not springing for the iMac Pro?

Nope, me neither. What I'm getting is probably technically overkill for me anyway. I could surely even get by with a new MacBook Pro but to get a similar computer I'd have spent a good bit more money. I'm trying to be more financially responsible these days.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Good desicion on the iMac 27”, we are still running a mid 2010 21” with no problems & it still updates. You may want to also consider the 2tb time capsule, excellent for backing up & provides another wifi hub. As I am not an IT expert I also went with the 3 years tech support with Apple this is also an excellent service.

 

[Kia Stinger]

Good desicion on the iMac 27”, we are still running a mid 2010 21” with no problems & it still updates. You may want to also consider the 2tb time capsule, excellent for backing up & provides another wifi hub. As I am not an IT expert I also went with the 3 years tech support with Apple this is also an excellent service.

I forget which tech support I ordered but I got the Apple Care program that showed up in the options as I was building. I do already have a 3TB time capsule from a few years ago. So I'll stick with that and use it to backup both my current MacBook Pro and the new computer separately. I want to start clean with this new computer because my current keeps doing 8GB backups EVERY HOUR and it makes my system crawl.

I can't upgrade to High Sierra because I'm using Dreamweaver CS5 and it's not supported. If I could upgrade, then I could also upgrade my app that only backed up to Time Machine once per day at the time I scheduled it - which was perfect. I think my new system will be strong enough that it can do its hourly backups without me noticing. Worst case scenario I'll just install that app again...

The only thing I wish I could have afforded was a solid state drive/flash drive. I would need at LEAST 1TB and it was just too expensive...

 

[Kazz]

Sorry, I'm Windows all the way (with only a tiny dash of Linux). So I can't say much other than, "YEAH! UPGRADE!" LOL

 

[Kia Stinger]

Sorry, I'm Windows all the way (with only a tiny dash of Linux). So I can't say much other than, "YEAH! UPGRADE!" LOL

I was a Windows guy until the Treo that came with Windows OS. That device was so bad that I gave up on Microsoft completely. My two previous Treo devices were amazing...

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Sorry, I'm Windows all the way (with only a tiny dash of Linux). So I can't say much other than, "YEAH! UPGRADE!" LOL

Once you go Mac you’ll never go back.

 

[Kazz]

Once you go Mac you’ll never go back.

Uh, no. I've been in Microsoft-land since DOS 2.0. LOL

 

[Kia Stinger]

Uh, no. I've been in Microsoft-land since DOS 2.0. LOL

Yeah. But don't go - or...

 

[ibmaxx]

Uh, no. I've been in Microsoft-land since DOS 2.0. LOL

Mein Gott - so have I. Currently running a 2006 Dell Dimension 5150 which I have bullet proofed (cue applause) so it will run forever on Ta da - Win XP! (remember Win XP anyone?). It has a massive 3.5GB RAM with a world shattering 160GB hard drive and (gasp) a DUAL CORE CPU of 3.4GHz. Don't watch movies on it just download 'em. Sorry, it ain't for sale either. Anyway it does me and will indefinitely.

 

[Euljiro1ga]

Uh! computer talks.

I was such a big mac fan until they started only concentrating on the iphones. I have the PowerMac G3, 2007 13" Macbook, 2010 17" Macbook pro, many ipods, iphones, and ipads including first gen ipod, iphone and ipad. The last couple of years, it seems they stop innovating the macs and placed most of the focus on the iphone. Since I think the best products apple makes are the macs - I got very frustrated with the lack of updates on the macs, especially no more 17" Macbooks.

Now, no one can take the Note8 out of my hands and happy with my Thinkpad and ThinkStation at work. Thanks to Windows 10 has caught up with Macs in the recent years. Have a custom gaming PC at home. The best thing I have is the massive 43" 4K LG monitor I use at work.

Same with cars to some degree - I always believe BMW makes some of the best cars until all the upgrades become so subtle and trivial. So, screw loyalty and I was happy to explore other brands. Went to see many pre-owned BMWs before committing to the Stinger. The Stinger is just so much more refreshing as a car than the usual suspects.