Now one could pair Mac Mini or Mini Pro as stand-in for iMac tech guts and then perhaps the impending Samsung Viewfinity S9 ('') for a 27' 5K screen likely much less expensive than Apple Studio ('plastic' and 'wobbly' complaints addressed, 5K (not 4K) addressed, VESA mount flexibility INCLUDED, etc). Unlike when I purchased Mac Studio, value options have expanded. When my last iMac conked, it took my best Mac, my best PC and my best screen with it. When one part conks, that one part can be replaced. with an actual PC) and a pretty useful hub not limited to only a few thunderbolt ports. So now I have much more screen RE than AS, additional video inputs (for old fashioned bootcamp too. Instead, I went 5K ultra-wide for about the same money. Separating the two offers less value up front but more at the end (of the Macs life).Īnd for what it's worth: I did not go Apple Studio. No new Mac is likely to be in up-to-date use in 10 years.

A good monitor can easily be just as good for 10+ years. When my Mac Studio conks or is made obsolete, the monitor will move on to the replacement. when tech guts fail (or being made obsolete) means the best screen gets tossed too. As a long-term iMac owner, I finally learned the lesson: iMac was high value at purchase time but a terrible waste at the end. I keep seeing people make that argument and yet we have the Mac Studio/Apple Studio Display combo, that costs a whole lot more and provides nothing additional over an iMac, being touted as a substitute.Īctually, it does.

Keyshot mac m1