FiddleMaker wrote:
I need a new computer: either the traditional iMac 27 or the new iMac 24 but I don't know which is better for photo editing (I use Lightroom). One advantage of the newer 24 inch iMac is it weight - less than 9 or 10 lbs whereas the newer version of the traditional iMac 27 inch weighs 20 lbs. My current Dell weighs nearly 39 lbs. and is a beast to move. Also, it has been nothing but trouble since day one.
I am open for suggestions. Thanks.
~ FiddleMaker
Apple has DISCONTINUED the 27" Intel iMac. The replacement for now is the Mac Studio desktop computer with separate Studio Display.
For my money, the 24" iMac is a great buy if you need decent speakers, a 1080P webcam, great built-in microphones, a keyboard, and a mouse or trackpad. Don't buy the base model, as it lacks an Ethernet jack, one fan, and two ports, all of which you get with the mid-tier models. Nicely spec'd with 1TB SSD and 16GB UNIFIED memory, the mid-tier model costs around $2100.
The Mac Studio with M1 Pro processor looks like a Mac mini with a taller case. It is a more powerful machine than any of the base M1 Macs, but with 32GB UNIFIED Memory and 1TB SSD storage, it's $2200 *without* a monitor, keyboard, mouse, mics, speakers, and webcam. (If you have those items from your current computer, they should work with the Mac Studio.)
I'm using a 2020 M1 MacBook Air with 1TB SSD and 16GB Unified Memory. It has been a dream to use, and I have not been able to choke it yet. I connect it to an LG 27UP850-W monitor with USB cable, so it gets charged by the monitor power supply. It's the best of both worlds, portable and desktop.
The new Macs are either noiseless or whisper quiet. The M1 Air has NO fan, yet never gets more than warm when pushed hard. My son has a 14" M1 Pro MacBook Pro, and it is silent enough under heavy load not to be heard "on microphone" while recording audio.
The new Apple Silicon machines are faster than the Intel machines they replace, and faster than most Intel machines running Windows that are in the same price classes. Since they use about one third the power as did the old Intel machines, they are less expensive to operate.