Apple unveils iMac with M4 chip

[Daniel Puchert]

Apple iMac M4 unveiled

Apple, heralding a “new era” for its devices, started rolling out its first set of Apple Intelligence features and introduced a new 24-inch iMac desktop with an AI-focused M4 processor.

The iMac, starting at the same $1,299 (R22,986) price as the previous model, is faster and sports an enhanced Neural Engine for handling AI tasks, the company said in an announcement.

 

[bwana]

Makes me almost wish I had a desk.

 

[Tman*]

The iMac now starts with 16 gigabytes of random-access memory, or RAM, double the 8 gigabytes that Apple had offered in its entry-level model the past several years.

In before: 16gb is simply not enough!

 

[bwana]

In before: 16gb is simply not enough!

Base model still comes with only 256gb of storage which is still simply not enough.

 

[Thor]

I wish they made a screen only version.

 

[airborne]

The US price is actually pretty decent, that's a very well spec'd machine but the base model will probably be well over R30k once it hits our shores

 

[quovadis]

I wish they made a screen only version.

An iMac is a screen with an integrated computer? You can buy a version with a VESA mount if you don't want the stand?

 

[Polymathic]

Now that this one is out , I wonder if the old one will drop under R10K locally.

I'm interested to see the performance of the M4 in gaming and how it handles AI upscaling, with the PS5 pro priced at $699, Apple could be tempted to create a beefier version to compete on that segment

 

[quovadis]

Now that this one is out , I wonder if the old one will drop under R10K locally.

In the second hand market there'll be likely plenty of deals. Can't see the previous model dropping more than 15-30% as per what seems to be the norm on older gen models if the new model is priced similarly to the old at launch.

 

[Bernoldus Niemand]

Base model still comes with only 256gb of storage which is still simply not enough.

View attachment 1768585

I still have 90gb free.

 

[bwana]

I still have 90gb free.

After some clean up I have 322gb free. Is there a point to this?

 

[Thor]

An iMac is a screen with an integrated computer? You can buy a version with a VESA mount if you don't want the stand?

No, I have an iMAC what I want is 2 additional screens.

Not the fancy R100k screen, just a normal iMAC screen without the computer. Standalone screen, same body same everything.

 

[SauRoNZA]

No, I have an iMAC what I want is 2 additional screens.

Not the fancy R100k screen, just a normal iMAC screen without the computer. Standalone screen, same body same everything.

But isn't that exactly what the Studio Display is?

 

[quovadis]

No, I have an iMAC what I want is 2 additional screens.

Not the fancy R100k screen, just a normal iMAC screen without the computer. Standalone screen, same body same everything.

Ahhh ok.

 

[quovadis]

But isn't that exactly what the Studio Display is?

If there was a 24" perhaps. I'd think most would go with a Mac mini and 2x or 3x studio displays.

 

[konfab]

Base model still comes with only 256gb of storage which is still simply not enough.

View attachment 1768585

Storage isn't as difficult to remedy as RAM. You can buy a 2TB external drive for the thing and have almost no issues with storage.

What I would love in a Mac mini is the addition of a small, standby only battery that allows you to have the same sort of standby power experience on a laptop. Except you of course need to plug the thing in if you want to actually start.

Even a cellphone battery would likely be able to keep it powered on standby for days.

 

[bwana]

Storage isn't as difficult to remedy as RAM. You can buy a 2TB external drive for the thing and have almost no issues with storage.

I haven't found external storage for my MBA that is as fast as the internal drive. Does it exist for the desktops?

What I would love in a Mac mini is the addition of a small, standby only battery that allows you to have the same sort of standby power experience on a laptop. Except you of course need to plug the thing in if you want to actually start.

Out of curiosity, why? Start up times are so short I don't see what that would bring to the table. As it is they seem so intent on making the mini as small as possible...

 

[konfab]

I haven't found external storage for my MBA that is as fast as the internal drive. Does it exist for the desktops?

Nothing is going to be as fast as the internal drive. But a good quality internal drive is fast enough.

Out of curiosity, why? Start up times are so short I don't see what that would bring to the table. As it is they seem so intent on making the mini as small as possible...

Start up times are not the issue, it would be application loading time. With a laptop, you can shut the lid and go wherever you need to go, open it and continue where you left off.

I don't like using a laptop monitor for work because of ergonomics. Same thing for keyboards.

 

[bwana]

Start up times are not the issue, it would be application loading time. With a laptop, you can shut the lid and go wherever you need to go, open it and continue where you left off.

Isn't the mini designed to sit on a desk?

Nothing is going to be as fast as the internal drive. But a good quality internal drive is fast enough.

Exactly - that's why I want one big enough to handle big projects. I'm working on one right now that's several hundred GB. Externals just aren't fast enough.

 

[airborne]

I haven't found external storage for my MBA that is as fast as the internal drive. Does it exist for the desktops?

A thunderbolt SSD external will be pretty quick, more than fast enough for data use for most purposes.
They aren't cheap though, R5k for a 2tb but the speeds are impressive.
Sequential Read/Writes: 2,700/1,900 MBps