burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

GOOD POINT. The 27" iMac has a door to the socketed RAM, so you can order the base amount, and upgrade it very easily with third party DIMMs at a much lower cost (It takes maybe five minutes on those models).

Some RAM dealers offer trade-in credit for your old RAM. Coincidentally, OWC (Other World Computing) is one of them: http://www.macsales.com/

OWC gave me a $30 refund check for returning my two 4GB sticks.

Consider ordering your new iMac with the better video card option, too, if you deal with lots of really large files or edit 4K video. You can't change it later.

dick ranez

buy the best newest biggest one you can afford. operating systems don't get smaller, photo files don't get smaller, and "wait times" don't decrease.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Speaking of memory, the solid state drives (SSD) are a great option. No moving parts and sizes into the terra-byte range.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

BTW, you can use your existing computer as a second screen if you want to do that. I finally figured it out, although it took me a bit of time. You can message me if you are interested in knowing how to do it.

hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

For the following specs:
8 GB RAM
512GB SSD

2017 i5 3.4 GHz 4 core $1999 @ B.H. Photo

2019 i5 3.0 GHZ 6 core $2099 @ Apple

If you believe that the Geekbench scores mean something, the 2019 iMac is faster (higher scores are better)

2019 i5 3.0 single core 5221 multicore 20369
2017 i5 3.4 single core 4731 multicore 13827

The 2019 is faster on the single core by 10% and on the multicore by 47%. The big multicore difference reflects the 2019 model with 6 cores versus 4 cores on the 2017 model. Either computer will be faster than what you have and both will fit your needs.

I have a late 2013 model (max CPU and 1 TB SSD) that came with 8 GB. I added another 16 GB (2x8 GB) myself. OWC has videos on what to do, takes less than 5 minutes. I plan to keep this computer for awhile as a second monitor. It has zero value if I use the Apple trade-in program, but worth something if I go to one of the online Mac purchase outfits.

Good luck!

fantom Loc: Colorado

[quote=mcmama]Although it’s still kicking, my mid-2010 iMac is worrying me as Photo keeps quitting, and it’s starting to get a bit “jiggly.”

Apple has released the 2019 iMacs, and B&H is selling the 2017s for considerable discounts.

I’m absolutely not interested in:

iMac Pro-it would be overkill for me;
Constructing my own system;
“Settling” for any other company’s system-I’m an Apple gal all the way. I personally knew Eve;
Buying refurbished-I’m blessed as cost (to an extent) isn’t an issue.


I was faced with the same question and opted to go with the 2017 after doing several comparisons off features. A very helpful Apple sales lady agreed that that was the smart buy. She sent me several emails explaining memory choices, speeds etc.
I bought the 2TB and used the savings to upgrade the memory thru Best Buy and saved another $130 vs the Apple memory and it has worked fine.

Ronsh Loc: Floresville,Tx.

One thing you might want to think about. If you get a 2017 model you will be 2 years short of updates when that one dies or the 2019 should last 2 years longer in the world iOS updates. My 2011 is on it’s way out.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

I bought a 27" iMac i7 last fall to replace my mid-2010. Regardless of which iMac you decide on, I suggest you save your 2010 iMac and use it as a second monitor for the new iMac by using OS 10's "Extended Desktop" mode. You will find this very useful especially if you decide to use both Lightroom and Photoshop together. One program can be on one monitor and the other program can be on the second. Everything can be controlled by a single keyboard and mouse, trackpad or tablet. Some photographers use Photoshop with the image on the new iMac and the tools on the other screen. I do not know if Photos can be set up that way, but at some point you might want to move up to more versatile software.

The setup also allows you to work more efficiently for other purposes. For example, Word can be on one screen and Excel on the other or you could have a program on one screen at the same time your Internet browser is on the other. The possibilities are endless.

In any case, your old iMac in top condition is worth less than $300 and its display is as good or superior to another monitor in the $600 to $1,000 price range since its color gamut exceeds the sRGB standard.

jweeks Loc: Phoenix

Don't buy for what you need today, buy for what you may need two or three years from now.

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

I doubled my RAM to 16 from 8 on my older 27". It is not as easy as some say. The issue of seating
the cards is risky. You have to put a lot of pressure on the add on card and feel like it is going to break.
At one point an Apple alarm went off a loud noise looked it up and that can happen. My 27 Mac
is older and I did it a couple of years ago. Worked fine.
I read that Apple does not want you to work on your computer and makes it hard to upgrade and fix.
They are now asking prices for their computers that shut a lot of users out. I started from the beginning
when Apple started. Sometimes I think we are paying for when the iPhone doesnt sell as well as they want.
I have an iPhone and think the pricing is crazy.

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

I am confused. New iMac's 27 etc are being advertised on B&H. And I just read the new Mac's will come out
in the fall. I these last years iMac's at B&H. They are also offering trade in's.

mcmama

B&H had the 2017s on sale since the 2019s are out there now.

mcmama

Thanks, everyone. I’ve pretty much decided to go with the 27” 3.0 ghz, 512 SSD, and then put at least an additional 32gb of RAM in it myself. We’re heading out to the Midwest on Thursday for about three weeks, and I’ll be purchasing it when we return.

I do appreciate all your comments and suggestions.