20-inch vs 21.5-inch

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Hi. I'm planning to upgrade my 2006 20-inch iMac. Just wondering if anyone can give me an opinion of how the screens of my current model and the 21.5 iMac compare. The 21.5 has a higher resolution, so I'm thinking the screen will feel larger than the actual physical size difference?

Cheers.
 

pigoo3

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Hi. I'm planning to upgrade my 2006 20-inch iMac. Just wondering if anyone can give me an opinion of how the screens of my current model and the 21.5 iMac compare. The 21.5 has a higher resolution, so I'm thinking the screen will feel larger than the actual physical size difference?

Cheers.

I thought you were going to get a 27" iMac?;)

- Nick
 
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Ha! Yeah... But the 27-inch is £400 more expensive and I also want AppleCare and a UPS. Do I really need a 27-inch monster...?

Hmmm.
 

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Ha! Yeah... But the 27-inch is £400 more expensive and I also want AppleCare and a UPS. Do I really need a 27-inch monster...?

Hmmm.

Sounds like you're bored...and letting your minds random thoughts come to life on Mac-Forums!;)

The 21.5" iMac has always been less expensive than the 27" iMac. If cost & size were issues...then the 27" should never have been considered. Make it easy on yourself.:)

- Nick
 

chscag

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Ha! Yeah... But the 27-inch is £400 more expensive and I also want AppleCare and a UPS. Do I really need a 27-inch monster...? Hmmm.

Same here. We need a new desktop for the business, but like you is the additional cost worth it for a 27" model versus the 21.5"?

Apple Care is an additional $169.00 (Apple's cost), a good UPS - around $200.00. Tough decision for us also.

Now maybe if Nick would donate $500 to us, I would consider it. ;P
 

pigoo3

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Now maybe if Nick would donate $500 to us, I would consider it. ;P

Hey...after selling my old Mac Pro for $800...and buying a "new to me" newer used Mac Pro for $1600 a couple weeks ago...the $$$ well is definitely dry!!!:(...;)

- Nick
 
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Hi. I'm planning to upgrade my 2006 20-inch iMac. Just wondering if anyone can give me an opinion of how the screens of my current model and the 21.5 iMac compare. The 21.5 has a higher resolution, so I'm thinking the screen will feel larger than the actual physical size difference?

Cheers.

My wife has an iMac similar to your old one and I can tell you, as would she, that my 21.5 feels much bigger than her 20 even if it isn't physically much larger.
 
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I'm still struggling (haven't had time to get into the store yet...) While the 21.5 display will be heaps better than my 2006 20-inch, I feel like I'd prefer a greater increase in size. Yet the only option is the 27-inch.
 

chscag

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I too would have liked to see Apple offer the new iMacs in a 23" or 24" version in addition to the 27". However, since they didn't, we'll buy the 21.5". The 27" is just too large for our liking.
 
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I too would have liked to see Apple offer the new iMacs in a 23" or 24" version in addition to the 27". However, since they didn't, we'll buy the 21.5". The 27" is just too large for our liking.

Do you often speak in plural?
 

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I was referring to our business needs not my personal ones. "We" being the business entity.
 
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I too would have liked to see Apple offer the new iMacs in a 23" or 24" version in addition to the 27". However, since they didn't, we'll buy the 21.5". The 27" is just too large for our liking.

It depends on your personal preferences and the space you use your machines in...
I am just about to get my 2nd iMac 27" - and to possibly sell my iMac 24"..

I have a small study / office my friends call ' Mac Mission Control,Espana' - and I currently have the 27" to the left of an Ikea computer work station desk, the 24" in the middle, with my newest iMac 21.5 to the right...

On Tuesday when the new i5 Mac 27" arrives, I will probably configure with the new 27" to the right - moving the 21.5 to the middle...
An Orchid - between 2 Prize Winning Roses ?!:p

Personally - I don't think there's any beating the 27" high-def. LED screens !
For a computer monitor that is...
I do however, have my Windows iMedia pc connected to my 46" Samsung LED HDTV in the salon/lounge - and use it with wireless keyboard and mouse - and that looks pretty good - but it's in a bigger space !
 
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The 21.5" model is 16:9, as opposed to the 20" iMac which was 16:10. So the screen might initially feel a bit smaller. The resolution is higher though, so you'll get a nice bump in usable screen real estate.

Not trying to change your mind or anything (<– lies!), but do you really need the UPS? Americans will jump in here and tell you it's a necessity to prevent data loss during "brownouts", blackouts, lightning storms, earthquakes and other unpleasant events.

But in Europe, with our new-fangled reliable powergrids and agreeably boring climates, I have never experienced a power grid issue that would require me to have a UPS.

Obviously it's different in a server environment, but do you think you'll really need it at home?
 
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Hi. I just went into the local Apple store and compared the 21.5 and 27 side by side - the 27 is just too large so I went with the smaller one. Going to set it up now!

Aptmunich: re the UPS - we had a power cut here only last night due to a thunderstorm, and I'm certain the power cut that occurred late last year is what fried my iMac's hard drive.

Reckon a UPS might be a good investment just in case...
 
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Oh, and the best part was I was entitled to educational discount!
 
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Not trying to change your mind or anything (<– lies!), but do you really need the UPS? Americans will jump in here and tell you it's a necessity to prevent data loss during "brownouts", blackouts, lightning storms, earthquakes and other unpleasant events.

But in Europe, with our new-fangled reliable powergrids and agreeably boring climates, I have never experienced a power grid issue that would require me to have a UPS.

The power grid in the US is notoriously outdated. I don't use a UPS myself, though I do have a high quality surge protector. Personally I suspect that people who have frequent issues with their computers failing prematurely in various ways are falling victim to issues with their power service. A high quality UPS would be a wise investment for anyone who is subject to power issues in their community.
 
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Hi. I just went into the local Apple store and compared the 21.5 and 27 side by side - the 27 is just too large so I went with the smaller one. Going to set it up now!

Aptmunich: re the UPS - we had a power cut here only last night due to a thunderstorm, and I'm certain the power cut that occurred late last year is what fried my iMac's hard drive.

Reckon a UPS might be a good investment just in case...
Fair enough then!

I never experienced issues like that in Cardiff, nor here in Munich (we do get incredible thunderstorms here in the summer, ze german electrical engineering seems to be able to cope with it), which is why I was asking…

But better be safe than sorry, congratulations on the new setup!
 
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Wow. This machine looks fantastic. Not greatly larger than my old one, but just the right size, I think.
 

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