New iMac with M4

I'm surprised they are still shipping these with 256GB of storage base. I had a Macbook with a ~500GB SSD in 2012 (I installed it), and a 500GB spinning disk in like 2008 (also user installed).

A 500GB SSD can be had for <$50 these days, and a 1TB for <$100. Still plenty of profit for Apple, even if they bump up the base storage to 512GB and make 1TB a $200 upgrade...

Right now, the Apple computer lineup is totally out of alignment for me. The iMac is too small and the laptops are too big. I'd like a minimum 27" display for the iMac, maybe 31". For a laptop, give me something more portable, like the old 2 pound, 12" MacBook.

It's frustrating how disposable these are designed to be

edit: e.g. screen replacements cost nearly as much as the entire computer

I still miss the 27" iMacs. They were such a great form factor.

What's with the green iMac picture? https://www.apple.com/newsroom/images/2024/10/apple-introduc...

It only shows two USB-C ports while further down the marketing material talks about "all four USB-C ports". EDIT: the low-end 8-core model for $1300 only has two ports.

It also has what looks like a rear-facing camera in the stand cutout. What is that for? EDIT: It's the magnetic power connector. I did not expect that to be round.

Supposedly there's a gigabit Ethernet port somewhere too. Not shown in any of the pictures on the site that I can find.

> iMac features a color-matched keyboard and mouse or trackpad... These accessories now come with USB-C ports, so users can charge all of their favorite devices with just a single cable

WOW!

I could never justify getting an iMac. All the downsides of a laptop & desktop in one; not upgradeable and not portable. Leaves me wondering how many of these Apple actually sell. A Mac Mini with a separate screen feels like it makes far more sense.

I’ve been using an M1 iMac as my main home computer (with 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD) and have zero reason to upgrade. I’ve loved it. Exactly what I need, though I offload a lot of home server type tasks to a big tower PC, including messing with local AI stuff.

BUT a new hockey puck Mac mini that shared a screen with my gaming PC would be a nice space-saver. If only the studio display could switch inputs—using macOS on a curved gaming monitor seems weird.

I was really hoping they'd have announced a MacBook Pro based on M4. I had been waiting all year for it.

https://www.macrumors.com/2024/03/11/apple-reportedly-develo...

However, reading Nanoreview it looks like the performance of the M3 Max still actually beats the M4 for graphics and multicore performance.

https://nanoreview.net/en/cpu-compare/apple-m4-vs-apple-m3-m...

I love the innovation Apple has brought with their investment in ARM. That said, I can't imagine buying a computer in the 21st century that can't be opened and upgraded, especially with a price premium attached. I just don't get it.

I am in no way trying to be combative, but I'd love to hear a counterpoint that makes sense for these machines.

Why does this still have the ridiculous iMac chin? Surely they can fit everything behind the screen at this point.

Do you think there is a chance that they will remove the huge bottom bezel one day?

It may be part of the iMac design identity at this point, but I don’t like it since its appearance on the iMac G5.

I'm glad to see Nano-Texture coming to their budget line.

That was definitely unexpected.

So basically it's the same thing but with M4 and more RAM at the baseline. I suppose Apple would like us to be gratefull for that. Yet since it comes with only 256Gb storage standard, the minimum viable model is just under 2k euros with still a paltry 512Gb storage. That just crazy.

Considering there are report of the first generation having problem with the display (most likely because of heat generation) it's even more problematic because you can't expect it to last that long. And since M4 output a lot more heat, how much this thing is going to throttle and how much faster it's going to create display problem ?

No large iMac of course, that would be too cost effective compared to the eggregeriously priced Studio Display. Not that you would want one with this terrible design.

It is really a testament of modern Apple : form over function, in the name of design.

Yet this design is really not good, dumb white bezel, external PSU, annoyingly placed ports (only USB4 anyway). Basically you need a USB4 dock and an external drive to make this worthwhile, completly rendering moot the point of an all-in-one. If you are going to having cable galore, why even bother with this form factor.

In the end this thing is mostly a showroom computer or a luxury information appliance. For someone who just want a simple information appliance the price doesn't make a lot of sense, you can get something that works at half the price, the display won't be as good but it really doesn't matter that much. The display has this resolution because Apple has chosen the eazy for resolution scaling in order for them to claim to be first and "perfect".

It really is a display of modern Apple: beautiful hardware but extremely impractical and absurd pricing. I guess they want to push for the Mini/Studio + studio display for workstation use cases but the pricing is just nuts.

Note: The 24” iMac is never going to be the platform of choice for HackerNews readers.

I have a more than a decade-old iMac with a 27” display that I’m stil using as a monitor (though it’s seen better days), so that worked out well, but a Mac mini and an external monitor seems better in every way.

Which monitor to get, though? Maybe Apple should sell a Mac mini bundled with a nice external monitor instead of iMacs.

I've held off replacing my MBP for about 5 years. In the meantime I built my own PC with an Nvidia card, but I have to admit it's been such a nuisance to get CUDA set up (I started doing it when WSL documentation wasn't quite fully baked) that I'm nostalgic for the days of doing `brew install everything`.

The state of AI and other development in macOS seems like it's been pretty popular and solid for the past few years? Worth jumping in when the M4 laptops are announced, or better to get a deep discount on the M3s?

> A new 12MP Center Stage camera makes video calls even more engaging, perfectly centering users and those around them in the frame, even when moving around.

For WFH, do you have a sense of what's potentially in-frame?

In the video, the active frame expands automatically to include additional people -- showing parts of the background that it didn't initially.

(Time to update the videoconf skills of not including messy kitchen doorway in frame, and of SOs estimating whether they can walk past out of the camera's field of view.)

Integrating an LLM capabilities directly into the OS is pretty slick. I know it's just one less step than copy/pasting something into a ChatGPT tab in your browser, but that seamless experience makes it that much more accessible and lower friction.

I'm excited to see where Apple Intelligence goes; though I do wonder if Apple choosing to partner with OpenAI will eventually put them in the backseat when other models like those from Anthropic surpass OpenAI's capabilities.

Curious who uses iMac over a MBP with an external monitor? Is it mainly for front desk, businesses, and perhaps people with large homes and need stationary mac?

Got the Mac Studio when it came out and while its speed was impressive at first, ultimately I've been disappointed, too many technical glitches and issues with peripherals and the like, and my several iMacs before it are all junk now. I'm done with Apple desktops. So I'll be passing on this iMac.

They're laptops are still premium (better be for the price).

I've been looking for an upgrade from my 2015 5k iMac 27.

Might finally pull the trigger on this version. What I will miss is the 27 inch 5k display.

Also, my use case is exactly what this iMac is meant for - shared family computer that takes up little space in the kitchen.

Do they sell matching monitors to go with these all in one style iMac's?

I'm not really an Apple person, but I can't imagine having a single monitor in this day and age and any other color would look silly next to a weird pastel pink device.

2.1x faster than M1, but they tested an M4 with 32 Gb vs. an M1 with 16Gb. Sad to see this kind of comparison. I guess in "performance-per-"dollar it still stands since they just doubled the baseline RAM levels.

I guess it is just me, but I cannot stand working on small screens on the desktop. I will accept a small screen on a laptop because it is inconvenient carrying around something larger, but on a desktop, there is no reason to compromise.

I use a 48" OLED with my MacBook Air M3 and for me that is a near ultimate web development experience both on desktop and when travelling: https://bsky.app/profile/benhouston3d.bsky.social/post/3l7li...

As someone who mucks around with running LLMs and other large models on my computer the 32GB maximum RAM is a show-stopper for me. I'm on a M2 with 64GB at the moment and I'm already regretting not going for 96 or even 128.

I want to be able to run a large model AND other apps at the same time.

I've not sure I've ever had so much product lust for something I had so little use for as the Apple Silicon iMacs. Gorgeous objects, but I've already got a MacBook Pro and a bigger monitor

It's almost becoming a bother of how accurate the rumors are becoming now a days. With this release they were spot on with the 16gb min ram and no change in screen size.

I am not building LLMs on my computer (I wish :)) but I do use my iMac for both work and photography. Lightroom slugs big time on my 2019 iMac. My dream spec for the next iMac would be:

- bring back the 27" form factor

- dumb down use as monitor. My work computer has disabled file & screen sharing so current methods dont work. I just want to plug my work macbook using a cable or wireless and use the imac as a display.

Question. Is this "Apple Intelligence" phoning home all the time?

> the new iMac is up to 1.7x faster than iMac with M1

This seems like a much lower than expected speed bump for M1 to M4? Would’ve been nice to see something more for something designed to be non-upgradeable.

Sorry for this stupid tangential question. I had read that newer MacBooks with the M line of processors give a great battery life for a number of reasons like using ARM instruction set, the SoC architecture. I noticed that some Windows laptops now come with ARM processors too though they are touted as AI ready and not much else. Do these Windows laptop have improved battery life as well? Or have other manyfacturers not tried to catch up to Apple yet?

Form factor isn't updated afaik, but man, I am just so so impressed with the form factor. It looks like a giant tablet. Makes me want to hold it and draw on it.

It sucks that the TB4 ports still point out the back of the machine like that. It has never made sense! Every Thunderbolt cable has a bulky active electronic assembly that is at least a few centimeters long, followed by a cable strain relief. I hate having my cables hanging out like that. It seems like it would be possible to build a little port hutch on the back, with the ports pointing straight down.

It looks beautiful, but it's such a waste to bind the monitor to the computer this way. Monitors outlast many computers.

How about a bigger model? 24” is kinda small.

If 32GB is the max, why not just make that the one and only model and get rid of this weird segmentation. That's a ridiculously low minimum and only just barely adequate. 8GB was practically criminal.

Or -- and I know this is crazy -- slottable RAM on a device that is designed for things other than portability. Wild, I know.

>Gamers can enjoy incredibly smooth gameplay, with up to 2x higher frame rates5 than on iMac with M1.

Serious question, is gaming relevant on iMac outside of Steam? My subjective view is that it’s all concentrated there.

I'm waiting to replace my 2015 MBP with an M4 MBP. I bought the m2 Studio Max and love it. But I need a mobile computer. Working only at my desk sucks sometimes.

What are some reasons these can’t be used as monitors?

I’d imagine only upside if they could as I’d buy one in an instant if I could use it as a monitor for my MacBook

> The iMac also features a new 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View

(from the marketing page)

wait so this thing has the universally reviled Studio Display camera??

It'd be awesome if Apple could make skins for the iMac. That way it wouldn't look as dated in 3-5 yrs.

Am I the only one who thinks the colors are bad? Seems designed for a 4th grader.

Just saw the picture of new mac. Don't see much need to upgrade.

Why are they not releasing it in 27" size that they had before?

Interesting to roll out the M4 with the low end machine

Ha! Loop back to Macintosh colors from 25 years ago.

Accessories are updated to USB-C instead of Lightning

Literally every comment is nerds complaining

They need to bring back the 27 inch model.

Mmm, in an era where monitors no longer need large bezels, apple sure decided to keep the neck fat on the iMac which to me makes it quite ugly.

How long will Apple put forth, and customers support this charade of massively inflated storage prices?

Apple really does bend the reality field.

I will never consider an iMac again because the first iMac I purchased in 2021 (with the M1 chip) had a screen problem immediately after the warranty expired.

Many users have reported this problem to Apple, but they have yet to acknowledge the problem.

I am very disappointed in Apple. They lie about sustainability

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255220596?answerId=2604...

Apple giving us 16GB base RAM in the iMac is like finally getting a decent cup of coffee after years of instant

> the new iMac is up to 1.7x faster than iMac with M1

Now 4 generations in, they are still comparing performance to M1. I get that 15-20% improvements aren't too exciting but it feels old.

Looks like everything below a Mac Pro has been relegated to be a toy. Apple is practising how to disappoint. Successfully.

Only a maximum of 32GB shared RAM?! Surely that must be the minimum now?

Their commitment to absolutely god awful designs really makes it exceptionally easy for me to avoid buying any of their products, with iMacs being chief among them.

It's baffling to me people tolerate (or even like!) those massive disgusting chins for example. Sure is a big world out there.

The displays on these iMacs are so crisp, but disappointing that 24" only. Happy that the base RAM is increased, perhaps trying to pander to AI audience. But, who buys these at costs almost at Macbook Pros? Isn't this just a monitor?

Don't care about anything other than Mac Mini

> M4, iMac is up to 1.7x faster for daily productivity, and up to 2.1x faster for demanding workflows like photo editing and gaming, compared to iMac with M1

Huh? how about than an M3?

still no 27" display :(

How much of the price is the AI tax

Apple doesn’t excite me anymore.

Why is it being compared to an M1 rather than M2/M3? I think I can imagine the answer but it's disappointing.

I don't need another computer, but, hell, I want one of these...

Reading this on 2017 iMac 27" - is the first 5k iMac that couldn't be used as a monitor after the computer inside is irrelevant. I hope EU will push for some law that requires all AIO computers to work in monitor-only mode if internal hardware is no longer good enough or no longer supported by software updates. I love the 5k screen on this iMac but the CPU is too old for photo or video editing as software got so much slower over the years. I could have used this screen for many more years, but now it will hit landfill... Apple is only "green" in their presentations - in reality they care more about inifite sales only.

They're just never gonna make a 32" one, huh?

16GB base RAM, they finally did it.

They also did move the Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse to USB-C.

Since this thread seems to be about niche asks for pro users, despite the product being targeted towards casual users who want an easy out of the box experience, I'll add my own to the mix.

I'd love a bigger/better screen on these, specifically an ultrawide variety. An iMac Pro with an 8k ultrawide would be a near-instant purchase for me. I find the ultrawide form factor so good for productivity. I love the apple "it just works" approach to their hardware, so if something was fully integrated I'd jump on it immediately.

Today I use a 49" CRG9, but the input and connection setup is somewhat finicky. Not a huge blocker, but it would be lovely to be able to simplify.

I love in Apple product announcements when they show people doing tasks that not only don't require recent hardware, but in fact could have been done without much trouble 20 or 30 years ago. Specifically talking about the ice cream spreadsheet that I suppose was there to show off how small businesses can use the new iMac.

I'm sure it's a fine machine, but it does to me highlight the upgrade treadmill.

Side note, is there anyone that uses a Magic Mouse? It looks uncomfortable to use for an extended period of time and curious if that's true.

Let me guess, all USB connectors are on the back side again? Great thinking, Apple.

Will it blend?

32gb RAM max?

I don't understand, macbooks on battery power have 128gb, why this limitation on an always powered device

> available in fresh colors

Is this really so important that it needs to be in the title? We are talking about computers here, not a clothing brand!

An arbitrary limit of 32G of memory? Laughable. Glad I exited the Apple ecosystem long ago. Only have 2-3 year old machines now. Current phone is “free” from carrier due to trade ins.

I think Apple should shift away from personal computing (iMac, MBP/A, iPhone) and focus on selling their SoC. Get these into data centers.

Powering a data center with their chips would likely result in significant decrease in power consumption. I am running an “old” M1 as a small remote k8s cluster for personal dev work and home automation. Works wonderfully.

Power consumption during peak load (20 W?) is very low compared to my Intel based computer (120-150W?) I use for occasional gaming.

> The M4 chip brings a boost in performance to iMac. Featuring a more capable CPU with the world’s fastest CPU core,(4)

Then, deeper in the footnotes where no one ever reads

> (4) Testing was conducted by Apple in October 2024 using shipping competitive systems and select industry-standard benchmarks.

This is why I could never take this company seriously.

Oh, and 1499€ for a computer with 256GB of storage. That you can't upgrade.

Apple makes some dubious claims:

> Gamers can enjoy incredibly smooth gameplay, with up to 2x higher frame rates5 than on iMac with M1.

What games do run on the Mac? Certainly, most AAA titles do not.

>Compared to the most popular 24-inch all-in-one PC with the latest Intel Core 7 processor, the new iMac is up to 4.5x faster.

You can build PCs there are more powerful than that Mac, cheaper. And you can easily repair them.