Question What to do, what to do?! New iMac? MacBook? Monitors?

[Mr X]

So I took the plunge. Need to get a keyboard, mouse and monitor next.

@Mr X did I see you got a new mouse a little while back? Is it the one on hukd, mx master 3?

To be honest I was going to go all Apple but after being put off by reviews of the Apple keyboard I came across the mx keys. Then the mouse pops up on a deal today so might take a look at it that as well.

Yep it was the MX Master 3 but… I ended up returning it. Nothing wrong with it at all BUT I’m just a Magic Trackpad kinda guy and missed using it.

I just use the Apple Magic Keyboard and like that a lot.

 

[Fergal82]

Yep it was the MX Master 3 but… I ended up returning it. Nothing wrong with it at all BUT I’m just a Magic Trackpad kinda guy and missed using it.

I just use the Apple Magic Keyboard and like that a lot.

Thanks.
Do you use the one with the number pad on the end? Or the smaller version. Quite like the look of the space grey iMac Pro one

 

[Mr X]

Thanks.
Do you use the one with the number pad on the end? Or the smaller version. Quite like the look of the space grey iMac Pro one

Yep! In fact nicked straight from my iMac Pro which I gave to the Mrs when I got the Ultrawide

Using it here with a Walnut surround. Have a Magic Mouse but hardly use it as love the trackpad too much.

 

[Fergal82]

Yep! In fact nicked straight from my iMac Pro which I gave to the Mrs when I got the Ultrawide

Using it here with a Walnut surround. Have a Magic Mouse but hardly use it as love the trackpad too much.
View attachment 1477441

Love it, looks spot on

 

[noel83]

Hope it's ok to jump in with a query along the same lines as this awesome post?!

I've got a MacBook Air M1, I'm staying in a furnished studio that has a hideous Samsung Hospitality TV on the wall (fine as a tv but absolutely tosh for a monitor with blurry text that's hurting my eyes when 2ft in front using as a monitor).

So nice and simple I thought I'd just get a 4k Samsung TV and all will be well....it's not!

Samsung UE43TU7100 from ao.com.

Connected via USB-C to HDMI, 4k resolution but 30Hz and the menu bars and there areas like the coloured dots to maximise, close windows etc are speckled in the style of Windows 3.1 many moons ago!!

Samsung support don't care.
Apple Support also don't seem to care.

Lots of posts online around difficulties with getting 4k 60Hz chroma 4:4:4 out of the MacBook Air M1.

Ideally I'd like something 32" or above, that will double as a screen for my Amazon fire stick, speakers included ideally, that gives me crystal clear display

Previously had a Viewsonic 2K 32" monitor which was great but sound no good.

Should I just go back to using that and ditch the idea of getting a reasonably priced (sub £500) 4k tv/display or is there a solution you can recommend?!

Thanks all and if this should go in a different post then no worries just thought it was pretty close to topic

 

[Inked]

I’m seriously considering 2 of these on a double arm for the Mac mini and forgoing the potential new iMac.
4K with 31.5” screen

31.5'' UHD 4K Ergo IPS Monitor with USB Type-C™ | LG UK

Get information on the LG 32'' 32UN880-B UltraFine™ Display Ergo 4K HDR10 Monitor. Find pictures, reviews, and technical specifications for this LG 32UN880-B.

www.lg.com

Any reason not to?(Don't know why the link is showing incorrectly - it links correctly to the 32un500 which doesn’t have USB C)
EDIT: just seen it’s a VA Panel rather than IPS.

Alternatively the 27 with USB C

LG 27” UHD 4K Monitor | 27UL850 | LG UK

Get information on the LG 27UL850. Find pictures, reviews, and tech specs for the 27” UHD 4K Monitor

www.lg.com

 

[Jamie]

So nice and simple I thought I'd just get a 4k Samsung TV and all will be well....it's not!

What specifically are you using to connect the Mac and TV. Not all dongles are equal, quite a few of the cheaper ones only do 4k30 at best.

 

[Inked]

Or do I save some cash, skip the speakers (buy HomePod mini's instead), USB C, lose a bit of brightness and colour gamut and opt for the cheaper LG 27UL500?

LG 27'' UHD 4K HDR Monitor : buy online | LG UK

Shop LG 27UL500 on the official LG.com website for the most recent product information. Buy online now with delivery or in-store pick-up.

www.lg.com

And has anyone used novatech.co.uk?

Or is there something better for the money than the LGs? (£250 to £400 per monitor)

 

[Fergal82]

See what @Mr X meant when he said about disappearing down a rabbit hole looking at desk stuff now!

Have you considered the Samsung G9 Odyssey @Inked? Just had a price drop to £1049 at Amazon. Probably a bit overkill for most but does look a sweet monitor

Amazon product

 

[Inked]

See what @Mr X meant when he said about disappearing down a rabbit hole looking at desk stuff now!

Have you considered the Samsung G9 Odyssey @Inked? Just had a price drop to £1049 at Amazon. Probably a bit overkill for most but does look a sweet monitor

Amazon product

Yeah, looked at it early on, but the more extreme curve put me off.
Decided to go with two separate 27” 4K monitors as I really don’t want such a drastic drop in resolution. Went for the LG 27UL850, they should be here at some point tomorrow.

 

[Inked]

Thanks for all your help guys!

 

[iamsludge]

Looks nice! How are the connections? Are they daisy-chained from a single port on the mini?

 

[Inked]

Looks nice! How are the connections? Are they daisy-chained from a single port on the mini?

At the moment they are connected hdmi to hdmi and USB-C to HDMI. Hadn’t even thought about daisy chaining.

 

[ascender]

I've ended up with a 32" 4K screen from LG. The 32UN88A, currently connected to a 16" MBP while I wait for my M1 Mac Mini to arrive.

 

[Inked]

Ended up purchasing two individual mounts for more flexibility and as I couldn't decide on a dual monitor arm.

It really feels like I've ignored every piece of advice I've been given - sorry guys!

 

[Jamie]

As you're a Rossi fan I forgive you

 

[Inked]

As you're a Rossi fan I forgive you

Wanted to name my son after him but was denied by the wife (managed to get it in as his middle name)

 

[Jamie]

That's awesome, I jokingly suggested we have Rocket as a middle name in honour of an 80s GP rider who shares my surname. Presumably his middle name is Valentino or is it Rossi

 

[Inked]

That's awesome, I jokingly suggested we have Rocket as a middle name in honour of an 80s GP rider who shares my surname. Presumably his middle name is Valentino or is it Rossi

Love it! I see he’s closed down his race school now, such a shame.

It is indeed Valentino, I’m Italian on my father’s side, so all names have to fit in with our surname!

 

[Inked]

Very glad I didn’t wait for the new iMacs

 

[Flashy]

Very glad I didn’t wait for the new iMacs

It might be just me but I think they look hideous. And they’re overpriced compared to a Mac mini and external display.

Conscious my 2012 mini isn’t getting any younger. At least this reaffirms my plan to replace it with another mini when the time does come.

 

[Inked]

It might be just me but I think they look hideous. And they’re overpriced compared to a Mac mini and external display.

Conscious my 2012 mini isn’t getting any younger. At least this reaffirms my plan to replace it with another mini when the time does come.

Yep, they’ve tried to bid the fact that they still have large bezels by making them white rather than black. They should have released at least one with a dark bezel and silver or grey aluminium.

 

[Mr X]

Yep, they’ve tried to bid the fact that they still have large bezels by making them white rather than black. They should have released at least one with a dark bezel and silver or grey aluminium.

Totally agree. Disappointed with the chin but could live with that but there’s not a single colour that would not look out of place in my current office set up. Give me black/ white, silver or grey at least one!

Though I’m sure they will release a Hermes black cover for it costing £3k!

Have you seen the price of the Hermes key rings for air tag!!!

 

[Flashy]

Totally agree. Disappointed with the chin but could live with that but there’s not a single colour that would not look out of place in my current office set up. Give me black/ white, silver or grey at least one!

Though I’m sure they will release a Hermes Bkafk cover for it costing £3k!

Have you seen the price of the Hermes key rings for air tag!!!

That pricing’s stonishing, isn’t it? Just beggars belief. I’m probably in for some AirTags, though – and just noticed the iPhone autocorrects the capital letters already. Useful for keys, for sure.

 

[Inked]

Totally agree. Disappointed with the chin but could live with that but there’s not a single colour that would not look out of place in my current office set up. Give me black/ white, silver or grey at least one!

Though I’m sure they will release a Hermes black cover for it costing £3k!

Have you seen the price of the Hermes key rings for air tag!!!

Ridiculous isn’t it. I’ll wait for JL to hopefully get the air tags and accessories so that I at least save 12%. The Hermes stuff is just crazy.