This feels like a critique that doesn’t understand people, and instead is trying to consider the product by itself.
Who is it for? Well, why not see the actual places buying them.
- Reception/lobby/greeting desks because they’re an aesthetic entry point.
- families who don’t want to deal with a computer. That’s a lot of people who upgrade once in a blue moon, don’t want to deal with shopping for different components like a display/mouse/keyboard. Over the last decade, ever single friend I know has had their parents transition to an iPad or an iMac.
For the last point, it’s not even that they’re technically illiterate. My dad records music in his retirement. My friends dad used to be a software engineer. They just don’t want to futz with stuff anymore.
Places that have a need for work stations, like offices and academic environments. Creative workers that have dedicated work areas and favor an uncluttered environment. It might not make as much sense for individual consumers, but I still see offices full of iMacs out in the world. Not every company wants to issue personal laptops for workers.
But the iMac is not a workstation. It's even less of a workstation that the Mac Mini, which is available with a faster processor, more RAM, bigger SSD and faster networking.
It's basically the lower-tier Mac Mini that's permanently attached to a (relatively small) monitor that cannot be repurposed, and you'd probably be better off getting a separate monitor for a Mini to allow upgrading those separately.
It's not your definition of a workstation, but for many businesses/locations, it is.
They're deployed by the hundreds, in one or two configurations, then are replaced after 3/5/7 years. They never get repurposed, they just get recycled/refurbished when they reach end of life or the value has been depreciated to zero.
I wish they still had target display mode. Then I could connect my work laptop to a “home” iMac. Was a good setup when I could use my iMac as a gaming computer back in the x86 days.
While not as versatile as Target Display Mode, you can use AirPlay over a wired connection from Mac to Mac: https://www.macrumors.com/2021/06/09/airplay-mac-to-mac-exte...
Weird it's still called AirPlay, but at least it's possible. The video will be compressed, though unlike Target Display Mode
It's clear to me both from the reviewer and some of the comments here on HN that some people don't understand that their bubble is a bubble inside of a bubble. most people I know who aren't technical would like a simple, no-nonsense computer.
I hope those people who only want a "simple, no-nonsense computer" don't get scammed out of $1700 for an iMac when they'd just as easily be satisfied with a computer that costs less than a fifth of that price.
That's not a scam any more than Ferraris and Lamborghinis and Louis Vuitton are. Which is to say, they might be priced high, but at the end of the day, the good being represented is exchanged for money. A scam would be misrepresenting a product aka lying and selling something that isn't as advertised. A scam is a 1 terabyte hard drive that only holds 128 gigabytes, a car that has no engine.
Sincere concern for others exposed to scams is always appreciated, but I think you're still not considering the variety of needs and tastes. It seems clear you are not the customer Apple has in mind for the iMac, but that doesn't mean those customers don't exist.
Is there still no easy way to use it as a target display? I'd consider an iMac as my personal computing device, but I'd like to use the display to plug into my work Macbook.
Readit News
Who is it for? Well, why not see the actual places buying them.
- Reception/lobby/greeting desks because they’re an aesthetic entry point.
- families who don’t want to deal with a computer. That’s a lot of people who upgrade once in a blue moon, don’t want to deal with shopping for different components like a display/mouse/keyboard. Over the last decade, ever single friend I know has had their parents transition to an iPad or an iMac.
For the last point, it’s not even that they’re technically illiterate. My dad records music in his retirement. My friends dad used to be a software engineer. They just don’t want to futz with stuff anymore.
It's basically the lower-tier Mac Mini that's permanently attached to a (relatively small) monitor that cannot be repurposed, and you'd probably be better off getting a separate monitor for a Mini to allow upgrading those separately.
They're deployed by the hundreds, in one or two configurations, then are replaced after 3/5/7 years. They never get repurposed, they just get recycled/refurbished when they reach end of life or the value has been depreciated to zero.
Especially true with the Mac Studio being available too.
> It really only makes sense if you’re buying a computer for a reception desk or lobby area
That's the market. Reception desks.
I asked him why not get a $500 Mac Mini and a webcam to save half the cost, and he said he thought his wife would like the color.
Raccoon coats, I guess.
Or the trackpad. TouchID works well on iPad Air power button.