what should i buy?

In most online forums for graphic designers (the ones on Facebook, for example), one question keeps popping up: “I have a 27-inch iMac that is getting old. I would like to replace it, but I am not sure which model to choose. Anyone has some good advice?” That is a question commonly shared by lots of freelancers. The 27-inch iMac is a powerful computer that is arguably the most popular model in the graphic designers community. There was an overheating problem in the first generation but since then, it has become an almost indestructible machine. And the price-quality ratio has always been quite reasonable… for a Mac.

?In addition to its 5K screen and its lightning-quick and powerful processor, adding RAM memory is as easy as changing batteries on a remote control. Unfortunately, Apple has ceased production of this model this year.

?Times are changing

?In 2021, Apple unveiled the iMac models with the M1 chip. They are simply stunning with their multiple colours, their 4.5K screen, and their thinner frame. And at 24 inches, they are still quite big. One major caveat: they have a locked architecture, meaning you cannot add RAM memory. Also, you will find no network port on the machine itself, you will need to add it separately on the power block.

?Before the iMac, Apple unveiled the Mac Mini M1 which, like the iMac, came only with 8 or 16 gigabytes (GB) of RAM, but they are nevertheless powerful. In 2021, Kinos bought both a Mini M1 and a 24-inch Mac Pro M1, and we concluded that both models were faster than the last-generation Mac Pros (the ones that looked like a small black garbage can, not those that resembled cheese graters!). The price of the M1s is also quite attractive. While a Mac Pro could take you back $3,000 to $5,000 (sometimes more, depending on the configuration – and the separately sold display!), an iMac M1 costs $2,500 and a Mac Mini M1 around $1,500.

?And then came Mac Studio

This machine is precisely built for us graphic designers. Forget Mac Pro (the cheese grater). is made for online video editors, 3D animators, and virtual reality enthusiasts. Even in its entry level configuration, Mac Studio with the M1 Max chip is more than enough for graphic design, video editing, motion design, and huge Photoshop files, which, let’s face it, covers most basic needs of our clients. I strongly suggest opting for the 64GB RAM and a 1TB SSD hard drive, at the minimum. Each unit has a $2,600 SRP, but screen, keyboard and mouse are all sold separately. Oh well.

?Now for the display

The new Apple Studio Display is by all accounts a superfluous investment, but oh man, what a f…lying thing of beauty. And if there is one thing that we graphic designers drool over, it's beauty. Sure, a good 4K display can do the trick, but it will still take you back $800 to $1,000. Or maybe you heard you can turn your obsolete (!) 27-inch iMac into a display for your Studio Display. I never tried it myself, but I heard it depends on which iOS you are running. Like they say, do your own research

?So, if you are like me and are considering buying a Mac Studio with the 27-inch screen (as long as it’s quality you want, let’s go all in), then you are looking at an approximate investment of $5,000. You can apply for the Apple 12-month no interest financing plan that works pretty well. Also, if I’m not mistaken, computer hardware is tax-deductible for two years. You also have to consider the performance increase (these are the strongest arguments I offered our finance director… which is also my wife… hope it will be convincing enough…).

?Get more job done quicker

Indeed, a more powerful machine will allow you to do more work more rapidly. “How can that be? It is still only just me,” you may think. Yes, it’s true, but the performance gain does not reside in your mouse-moving skills or your lightning-quick cut-and-paste power. The performance increase will be noticeable in complex operations, video rendering, animation export, huge files saves, and manipulation of enormous Photoshop files. That is where you will save precious time.

Quick story: Last year we produced a 3D animation for a client; nothing as spectacular as a Jeep-eater dinosaur, but rather a simple water-filtering module. The animated video lasted 20-30 seconds and the rendering took 2 hours on my Mac Pro (aka the black garbage can, 8-core/64GB); on a Mac Mini (M1/16GB), the same rendering operation was done in 20 minutes, one sixth of the time! Now, imagine the same operation on a still more powerful Mac Studio: this machine would almost pay for itself in time improvement (and that is one last argument for my finance director!).

?“Yeah, but what about PC computers?”

?How can I put it politely…

To be honest, I am not really familiar with the PC market. I have been toiling away on Macs for more than three decades. My first (computer) love was the beige LC2 with Apple printer running Mac OS 9. Bam! Love at first sight, and I have never looked back.

?Hardware turnover for a studio

Typically, a freelance designer will buy a new machine every 3-5 years, but for a studio the turnover should probably be quicker, more like 2 years. That translates to about $2,500 to $5,000 every year for hardware turnover. Your newest (read “best”) machine should be reserved to your team’s black belt: your best Photoshop handler, video editor or motion designer. Give the “obsolete” machine to an experienced designer, who in turn can give his/her machine to a project manager who mostly uses Office and the internet, and so on.

You can bequeath all obsolete workstations to non-profit organizations or eco-friendly recycling companies. One thing must not be overlooked: as soon as two designers or more are on the payroll, you must think about investing in an efficient server. A Mac Mini can do the job quite nicely and facilitates your internal files sharing.

Well, that’s it for today. In a next blog entry, we will discuss archiving and filing of all your files.