Andrew Leavitt, writing on Medium:
You need only spend $171 for your anemic 27” iMac to run macOS Sierra, boot in seconds and open applications in a blink. Or you can buy a used one and upgrade it for just $500 starting from scratch. You really only require the latest models if you are working frequently with 4K video.
A machine that was originally built in 2009 can easily perform past another 5–10 years with a few straightforward upgrades. CraigsList has these computers lightly used for as little as $325 if you are patient. For another $171 in parts you can rock a machine almost matching today’s specs. And if you are presently struggling with an older iMac the decision is even easier (c’mon, it’s less than $200 and just an hour of tinkering). It’s fun and you might even learn something. Keep in mind that a new 27 iMac has a base price of $1800 (that’s with a 5K screen but no SSD and only 8GB of RAM). Boom, you just saved $1300.
We’re at a unique point in the upgrade cycle, with machines like the Mac Pro and MacBook Pro long overdue for an update, yet still selling at a premium. The opportunity is there to buy a used machine and upgrade it.
One path to explore is to build your own Mac from parts, a so called Hackintosh. Before you go that route, read this article. Then make your way through Andrew’s post and consider starting with a used iMac and retrofitting it. That’d be my choice.
We’ve got a family iMac from 2006 that’s on its last legs (it’s the fantastic looking 24″ white model, but Apple pulled OS X support at 10.7, and the Nvidia chip gets hot and the display goes all weird, especially in summer). I’ve been stuck trying to decide what to replace it with for years now. Second hand is risky, and upgrades to the more recent iMacs do not look not fun (I had to unglue the glass on my wife’s Alu MacBook when the screen went bad, and the thought of doing that on a 27″ piece of glass is not something I fancy doing at all). And new models, even refurbs, are way too expensive because of Apple’s outrageous SSD prices — and there’s no way I can buy a spinning disk computer again.
So I’m stuck, paralysed by choice and a real reluctance to spend too much money. We’ll possibly end up with an Intel NUC or something instead – being the family computer, it only really needs a web browser these days to do pretty much everything…
“We’re at a unique point in the upgrade cycle, with machines like the Mac Pro and MacBook Pro long overdue for an update, yet still selling at a premium.”
Well said.
I am still on my (original) 2012 Retina 15″MBP. I needed an additional portable machine to run multiple VMs (I am lecturing MS System Center among other things, and a somewhat full demo deployment needs at least 6 virtual servers.) I could not put that off any longer, since new students are coming in. The top of the line 15″ MBP (with two year old CPUs and graphics) still goes for 2,799 Euros here (that is 3,133 USD). The top of the line Dell XPS 15 with a 6th generation quad-core i7, 32GB RAM, newest GTX 960M with 2 GB VRAM, UHD display with full Adobe RGB coverage, 512 GB PCIe SSD, Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C, Windows 10 Pro, pickup service and 180 days no-questions-asked returns and same day delivery was USD 2,406 – that is almost $1k less for somewhat more (sans the OS, agreed). And that Is a machine with a full aluminum and carbon body, one of the best screens on the market and all current goodies. It even has one of the best trackpads in the Windows universe Most important: I can get 32 GB RAM. So, Apple lost out on almost $4k (including Apple Care and all the dongles etc) and I bought the first piece of non-Apple gear since 1983!
I know, Apple does not care. But it is getting a bit sad. I hope they will have anything by the time I must replace my rMBP which will, from now on, be for home use only.
happy hackintosh (and mac) user here. i won’t recommend them to people who are afraid of tinkering with their machines, but really, it’s no more complicated than building your own windows/linux machine, all things considered.
compared to an iMac, the price difference evens out if you factor in the time for research, building and maintaining, but if you compare it to a Mac mini or mac pro, things look different, because you can do a lot of things macs have lost over the years (internal hard drives, disc-drives, expandability, capable nvidia cards, a design that doesn’t roll around in the production van…). also, the price difference is not only about internal specs. if you compare external vs. internal components, it really adds up (besides cable & desk clutter ). e.g. internal LTO-drive & controller-card = 2k, external solution with thunderbolt = 3.5 k.
it’s sad, because i’d gladly pay more for a “fire & forget” solution running OSX, but at the time the “new” mac pro just doesn’t cut it, unless you fit into a very small niche.
I’m Mac systems consultant. Much of my recent work is installing 16GB of RAM and an SSD in 2009 and newer MacBook Pros. For a total of $300 to $400 folks get what feels to them like a brand new Mac and a few more years from their initial investment. This is especially important for some of my clients that have 17 inch MB Pros, since no more 17s are made.
I am working on a 2013 MB Retina 13. with the next generation, I will probably upgrade. This is the longest I’ve gone with one computer for quite some time. I usually upgrade every two years, but there has not been a compelling reason to change yet.
I have a late 2009 iMac and it is already fast enough for most things except 4K video is a nonstarter. The video card isn’t up to snuff. This machine is the best mac I have ever owned.