Get an AI-powered photo editor, filters and more for just $159.99. Image: StackSocial
Getting just the right shot is exciting, but any professional photographer will tell you that post-production work separates decent vacation snapshots from magazine-worthy images. That requires powerful photo editing software. And photo apps don’t come much more highly recommended than Luminar Neo, which lets you utilize AI to make your images look amazing.
Now there’s a great opportunity for new users to get this versatile software (for Mac or PC), along with hundreds of dollars worth of add-ons and training. You can get the Award-Winning Luminar Neo Lifetime Bundle for just $159.99 with code GET20. That’s a tremendous discount off the retail price of $752.)
Pick your lighting, paint the sky … and more
While the iPhone’s “computational photography mad science” usually captures great images. However, even the best photos typically require some tweaking if you really want them to shine. And you can make all the photo edits you want with lifetime access to the latest version of Skylum’s Luminar Neo. This impressive photo editing software won a Red Dot Award for interface design in 2022. And it’s a favorite on many tech and photography websites. The software lets users perform easy AI enhancements on photos, removing or changing backgrounds and touching up skin tones.
Newer tools include focus stacking, light source manipulation and more, And you’ll gain access to the latest updates as they arrive.
Plus, you get pro photo filters (and videos to teach you how to use everything)
The bundle also includes six professional-grade add-ons to Luminar Neo. They greatly expand the base library of overlays, filters and high-resolution backgrounds, ready to make any photo pop.
Don’t know how to make pro photo edits? You’re in luck. This all-inclusive bundle also comes with courses that will show you how to make the most of the software and extras. Novices and experienced visual artists alike will get a ton of use out of a 10-video tutorial in advanced editing techniques by pro photographer Albert Dros.
Save on the Award-Winning Luminar Neo Lifetime Bundle for Mac or PC
These add-ons cost anywhere from $19 to $269 individually. But with this bundle, you get them all — plus Luminar Neo itself — for a one-time payment of just $159.99. Just enter code GET20 at checkout to secure your savings.
Prices subject to change. All sales handled by StackSocial, our partner who runs Cult of Mac Deals. For customer support, please email StackSocial directly. We originally published this post on January 22, 2024. We updated the pricing info.
Adding high-speed plug-in storage capacity to your computer is so easy it’s something every Mac user should consider. Here are some of the best consumer-oriented external SSDs that are designed for portability.
Today is World Backup Day, which seems a good opportunity to explore external storage options. Especially as there are deals on some of the best SSDs available.
This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.
External storage offers advantages
Apple charges an arm and a leg for additional built-in storage capacity. Configuring a MacBook Air with an additional 256GB costs a whopping $200, for instance. An external SSD it’s a lot more affordable — you can add terabytes of storage for that same amount.
True, the plug-in accessory isn’t quite as convenient, but it’s close. And it’s the better option for Time Machine backups because you can leave the drive at home where it’s not at risk.
To make a a “best of” list, any portable SSD has to include USB-C. That means you can use it with multiple Macs but also your iPad and maybe even your iPhone.
Plus, think about the future. When you switch to a newer computer in a couple of years, the portable SSD you buy now is still useful. Built-in storage goes with the Mac.
Table of contents:
Samsung T9
The Samsung T9 SSD is small but holds terabytes of data. Photo: Samsung
The best external SSD I’ve tested is the Samsung T9. The solid-state drive is small enough and tough enough to go almost anywhere. And it’s available in capacities up to 4 terabytes.
It’s 3.5 inches by 2.4 inches by 0.6 inches, and covered in a layer of rubber. That allows it to survive drops up to 9.8 feet (3 meters), and it’s much less slick than aluminum.
For Mac or iPad users, the external SSD supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 over its USB-C port. Using this standard, it offers speeds of up to 10 Gb/s.
Don’t miss my Samsung T9 review, and also don’t miss the Amazon sale on the accessory going on now.
Buy it on sale:
Kingston XS1000 or XS2000
Add up to 2TB of storage to your Mac or iPad with this pocket-size SSD. Photo: Kingston
Two more of the best SSDs on the market are the Kingston XS1000 and XS2000. Each is about the size of pack of gum.
The XS1000 holds up to 2 terabytes of data, and is 2.75 inches by 1.3 inches by 0.5 inches. It has a plastic exterior, and Kingston makes no promises about drop survivability. The Cult of Mac review goes into more detail.
The Kingston XS2000 comes in capacities up to 4TB. It is about the same size as its sister model, but comes bundled with a removable sleeve for drop protection.
The 1TB version is $114.99, and some capacities are currently on sale.
On either version, the USB-C port supports USB 3.2 Gen 2, so Mac and iPad users can move data at up to 1,050 MB/s read and 1,000 MB/s write.
Kingston DataTraveler Max
The high-speed Kingston DataTraveler flash drive comes in sizes up to 1TB. Photo: Kingston
Those who need a bit less storage capacity can appreciate the Kingston DataTraveler Max. It’s the smallest option on this “Best SSD” list, and the only one to come with a built-in USB-C connector so it plugs directly into a Mac or iPad, no cable necessary.
It tops out at 1TB of capacity, and offers USB 3.2 Gen 2.
The Samsung T9 and the Kingston’s XS2000 support USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, which means they can transfer data at up to 20 Gb/s . However, Macs and iPads do not currently support the standard. Apple’s focus is more on Thunderbolt, which is up to twice as fast.
Because Apple users get no benefits from USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, it’s not highlighted on this list. But it’s worth a mention for anyone who’ll use either of the drives with a Windows PC that does support it.
OWC has discounted the popular 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock down to $99.99, from its original price of $279.99. This is a match of the all-time low price on the accessory, which is set to expire on Monday, April 1. Besides this dock, you’ll find a large collection of accessories on sale at this time on OWC, including USB-C hubs, external drives and enclosures, and internal memory upgrade kits for Mac.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with OWC. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
In regards to the 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock, this accessory features two Thunderbolt 3 ports, five USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, one Mini DisplayPort port, one gigabit Ethernet port, one S/PDIF digital audio output port, and one 3.5mm stereo audio input/output port. There are also two memory card slots for microSD and SD cards.
All of the devices listed below are in new condition at OWC, although the retailer does provide various item condition options for anyone who might want to save money by purchasing open box items. Be sure to visit OWC’s sale landing page to browse the full sale, which also features deals on cables, Mac accessories, keyboards, and headphones.
Docks and Hubs
External Drives and Enclosures
Memory
Miscellaneous
Keep up with all of this week’s best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.
Apple will introduce new iPad Pro and iPad Air models in early May, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Gurman previously suggested the new iPads would come out in March, and then April, but the timeline has been pushed back once again. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Apple is working on updates to both the iPad Pro and iPad Air models. The iPad Pro models will…
Phishing attacks taking advantage of Apple’s password reset feature have become increasingly common, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. Multiple Apple users have been targeted in an attack that bombards them with an endless stream of notifications or multi-factor authentication (MFA) messages in an attempt to cause panic so they’ll respond favorably to social engineering. An…
At least some Apple software engineers continue to believe that iOS 18 will be the “biggest” update in the iPhone’s history, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. “The iOS 18 update is expected to be the most ambitious overhaul of the iPhone’s software in its history, according to people working on the upgrade,” wrote Gurman, in a r…
Apple on late Tuesday released revised versions of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 with an updated build number of 21E237, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. The updates previously had a build number of 21E236. The revised updates are available for all iPhone and iPad models that are compatible with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, but they can only be installed via the Finder app on macOS…
With the App Store and app ecosystem undergoing major changes in the European Union, The Wall Street Journal today shared a profile on App Store chief Phil Schiller, who is responsible for the App Store. Though Schiller transitioned from marketing chief to “Apple Fellow” in 2020 to take a step back from Apple and spend more time on personal projects and friends, he is reportedly working…
Apple may be planning to add support for “custom routes” in Apple Maps in iOS 18, according to code reviewed by MacRumors. Apple Maps does not currently offer a way to input self-selected routes, with Maps users limited to Apple’s pre-selected options, but that may change in iOS 18. Apple has pushed an iOS 18 file to its maps backend labeled “CustomRouteCreation.” While not much is revealed…
Apple this month sued its former employee Andrew Aude in California state court, alleging that he breached the company’s confidentiality agreement and violated labor laws by leaking sensitive information to the media and employees at other tech companies. Apple has demanded a jury trial, and it is seeking damages in excess of $25,000. Aude joined Apple as an iOS software engineer in 2016,…
Mac mini may be Apple’s smallest desktop computer, but that doesn’t make it meek. It’s anything but meek, in fact. Today’s M2 Mac mini setup is the user’s first Apple rig, and the computer, working alongside a recent 12.9-inch iPad Pro, drives an impressive 35-inch LG ultra-wide display.
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Mac mini setup: Little desktop drives LG external display in user’s first Apple rig
Redditor KSen420 (“Sen”) showcased the workstation in a post entitled, “My first Macsetup.” As many commenters on the post noted, it’s a clean and solid computer setup that appears wonderfully complete for a first attempt.
The M2 Mac mini sits under a white desk shelf on a white desk driving a 35-inch LG 35WN75CN-B curved ultra-wide external display. Visible in the dark photograph — but only just — you can see a 2020 12.9-inch iPad Pro sitting on a stand to the right of the monitor.
The display rests on a Worldlift arm, which makes it easy to move around. A mount like that keeps the monitor off the desk, too, creating more space for other items.
M2 Mac mini models made quite a splash
Mac mini models with an M2 chip — the base M2 and M2 Pro — are small but incredibly powerful. Photo: Apple
M2 Mac mini and M2 Pro Mac mini came out in January 2023 to positive reviews focused on M2’s remarkable power. The base M2 features an 8-core CPU, a 10-core GPU up to 24GB unified memory and 100GB/s memory bandwidth. The M2 Pro Mac mini sports specs up to 12‑core CPU, 19‑core GPU, 32GB unified memory and 200GB/s memory bandwidth.
“After living with the new Mac mini for over a month, I can confidently say this is a fantastically powerful machine within the reach of independent creators, small businesses and schools,” Cult of Mac‘s reviewer said of the Pro model in a 5-star review. The post’s headline called M2 Pro “Apple silicon for the rest of us,” as opposed to much pricier models in the Mac Studio and Mac Pro lineups.
Ultra-wide 1440p display
And we noticed the display is a bit unusual compared to many we see in our Setups coverage. In this M2 Mac mini setup, it’s a 35-inch ultra-wide (not 34 inches) monitor featuring 3440 x 1440p resolution monitor with sRGB 99% color saturation and HDR10 and AMD FreeSynch technologies. And it features a 100Hz refresh rate and a 5ms response time. Its USB-C hub offers a stout 90 watts of power delivery for a computer.
And if you like the moody wallpaper showing on the display, you can find it here, Sen said.
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Computers:
Display:
Input devices:
Audio:
If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to [email protected]. Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches, challenges and plans for new additions.
Apple’s small-but-mighty base-level desktop computer features an M2 chip with 8‑core CPU and 10‑core GPU, 8GB unified memory, 256GB SSD storage and Gigabit Ethernet.
March 27, 1995: The Radius System 100, the first official Macintosh clone, launches.
A high-end computer made by a company founded by several notable Macintosh alumni, this marvelous machine kicks off the era of clone Macs in grand fashion. However, it won’t be long until things take a turn for the worse.
Radius System 100 launches
The System 100 Mac clone debuted at an event called Seybold Seminars ’95 in Boston. Although unauthorized Apple clones popped up in the past, this marked the first time Apple officially licensed another company to create a machine that would natively run Mac OS.
People often look back on the Mac clone era as a time of low-cost Macs designed to undercut Apple on cost. In fact, the Radius System 100 represented the complete opposite.
Aimed at media-intensive electronic publishers, a fully kitted-out System 100 cost $12,495. Adjusted for inflation, that’s more than $25,400 today. And you still needed to buy a monitor.
A Macintosh clone for pros: System 100 specs
One of Radius’ ultra-reinforced Mac clones. Photo: Digibarn CC
Radius System 100 customers didn’t get shortchanged on specs, though. The top-end Mac clone came with a modified Power Mac 8100 motherboard, 110 MHz 601 processor, 72MB of RAM, a CD-ROM drive, a 2GB hard disk, accelerated 24-bit video out to a 1,600-by-1,200-pixel display, and preinstalled Photoshop software. All of this came inside a ridiculously tough tower enclosure.
Radius’ decision not to cut corners shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. The company had a long history with Apple. It was founded by members of the former Macintosh team in 1986, two years after the first Mac shipped. Founders included Burrell Smith, Andy Hertzfeld and Mike Boich. Many of the same names were immortalized as team members who signed the inside of the original Macintosh case.
Before moving into clone Macs with the System 100 computer, Radius made waves by shipping the Radius Full Page Display. A vertically oriented second screen for personal computers (initially the Macintosh II), the Radius monitor pioneered the concept of letting users drag windows between multiple displays.
Troubled waters for Macs and Mac clones?
By 1995, however, both Apple and Radius struggled in the marketplace. Despite launching some massively innovative products, Apple suffered due to the rise of Microsoft Windows 95 and some questionable management decisions.
This began a period during which Cupertino would hemorrhage boatloads of cash.
Radius, meanwhile, also stumbled, even though the company scored a massive coup when it became the second third-party manufacturer to sign a deal licensing the Macintosh operating system. (Although it was the second to sign up, after Power Computing, Radius became the first to bring an actual Mac clone to market on this day in 1995.)
As per the deal Radius signed, the clone-maker only paid Apple $50 per machine produced. Apple thought the clones would increase the Mac’s market share. However, the strategy actually cost Cupertino money. It stopped people from buying Macs directly from Apple, without enlarging the size of the overall pie.
Radius quit making the System 100 computer in January 1996. The company then sold its Mac license to Taiwanese scanner manufacturer Umax Data Systems in May. The following year, when Steve Jobs returned to Apple and began to turn the company in the right direction, he pulled the plug on clone Macs.
Did you own, or ever use, a Radius System 100 Mac clone? What are your memories of this era in Apple history? Leave your comments below.
Optimize and supercharge your Mac with MacPilot. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Want to customize your Mac? MacPilot shows you how to tap into macOS’s Unix underpinnings to deliver under-the-hood tweaks and customizations that will make your Mac life simpler.
For a limited time, you can get lifetime access to MacPilot for just $29.97 (regularly $99).
Customize your Mac, front to back, with MacPilot
The MacPilot tools are built on the Unix that underlies every modern version of macOS. Apple introduced the Unix-based Mac OS X operating system at the turn of the millennium. And down at the kernel, macOS remains a Unix system. That said, Apple made numerous changes over the years — not least because not everyone wants to monkey around with a command line.
That’s where MacPilot comes in.
Building off of Unix, MacPilot offers more than 1,200 options for you to customize your Mac precisely to your liking. In addition, it takes what could be intimidating about Unix and presents it in the Mac interface, so you won’t need to tap commands into Terminal.
MacPilot lets you operate your Mac more like a Unix machine. You can run common Unix scripts or reveal hidden files, for example. The options range from cosmetic changes like turning off animations and changing how your Mac’s Dock is organized to serving up access to your Mac’s statistics to ensure it’s running at top efficiency.
This Mac customization tool proves so helpful that it earned 4 out of 5 on MacUpdate. And Tech Journey called MacPilot a “Swiss Army knife” for day-to-day Mac maintenance and customization.
Save on a MacPilot lifetime license and commence tweaking
Everyone is different, and we all use our Macs for different things. This lifetime MacPilot license lets you easily customize your Mac your way for $29.97 (regularly $99).
Today’s M2 Ultra Mac Studio setup puts one of Apple’s most powerful desktop computers front and center, driving a pair of beautiful Studio Displays.
And while the user pointed out his machine packs only base specifications, that’s still a hell of a lot of computer for most people. And if you max it out, the thing is astonishing. Check out the options below.
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M2 Ultra Mac Studio setup drives dual Studio Displays
Redditor FaithlessnessDry387 showcased the powerful setup in a post entitled, “You guys were right; the Magic Mouse is ass, MX Master FTW.” They run an M2 Ultra Mac Studio desktop computer with a 24-core CPU and 60-core GPU driving two 27-inch 5K resolution Studio Displays.
When asked about the desktop machine’s specs, Faith said “It’s just the regular 60 core,” as if were nothing special. Not so. Even the “entry-level” M2 Ultra Mac Studio is a screamer, with double the CPU cores of the M2 Max version to start. Cult of Mac‘s buying guide singled out Mac Studio as “best Mac for music production and photo editing.”
On Friday we covered the mouse fight Faith’s post provoked among commenters — Magic Mouse vs. Logitech MX Master 3(s). They’re two of the most popular mice among Mac users by far. Today we’ll look at Faith’s fantastic desktop computer, a base M2 Ultra Mac Studio (not pictured in the photo, but very much present).
M2 Ultra Mac Studio setup: Apple’s workhorse desktop computer
Among Apple desktop computers, Apple’s Mac Studio sits sort of in the high middle. It’s not at the top, like the ultimate Mac Pro. But it sits above an iMac or a compact (but potent) Mac mini. Indeed, Mac Studio is a powerful machine, offering more than enough computing power for most users in its choice of specifications.
So Faith’s machine is a “base” M2 Ultra Mac Studio. While we often mean “the cheap one” or “low end” when we say “base,” that version of the M2 Ultra Mac Studio is a total smokeshow of a computer.
M2 Ultra specifications and options
Here are the specs on Faith’s machine, along with possible upgrades buyers can choose in parenthesis:
Apple M2 Ultra chip with 24‑core CPU, 60‑core GPU, 32‑core Neural Engine: $3,999 (version with 76‑core GPU adds $1,000)
Front: Two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one SDXC card slot
Back: Four Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, one HDMI port, one 10Gb Ethernet port, one 3.5 mm headphone jack
So, if you max it out at Apple.com, the ultimate M2 Ultra Mac Studio costs $8,799 before you add any software or Apple Care. And while Faith’s powerful machine should be good for several years, future-proofing with maximum specs would keep it going great guns for even longer.
Shop these items now:
Computer:
Displays and monitor light:
Input devices:
If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to [email protected]. Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches, challenges and plans for new additions.
Apple’s workhorse desktop computer starts with a 24‑core CPU, a 60‑core GPU and a 32‑core Neural Engine, 64GB unified memory and a 1TB SSD for storage.
OWC has again knocked the price of the popular 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock down to $99.99, from its original price of $279.99. This is a match of the all-time low price on the accessory, which we last tracked earlier in March. Besides this dock, you’ll find a large collection of accessories on sale at this time on OWC, including USB-C hubs, external drives and enclosures, and internal memory upgrade kits for Mac.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with OWC. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
In regards to the 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock, this accessory features two Thunderbolt 3 ports, five USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, one Mini DisplayPort port, one gigabit Ethernet port, one S/PDIF digital audio output port, and one 3.5mm stereo audio input/output port. There are also two memory card slots for microSD and SD cards.
All of the devices listed below are in new condition at OWC, although the retailer does provide various item condition options for anyone who might want to save money by purchasing open box items. Be sure to visit OWC’s sale landing page to browse the full sale, which also features deals on cables, Mac accessories, keyboards, and headphones.
Docks and Hubs
External Drives and Enclosures
Memory
Miscellaneous
Keep up with all of this week’s best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.
Apple’s iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models concurrently, which is why we sometimes get rumored feature leaks so far ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and already we have some idea of what to expect from Apple’s 2025 smartphone lineup. If you plan to skip…
Apple today released iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1, minor updates to the iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 operating systems. The new software comes a couple of weeks after Apple released iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 with app changes in the European Union, new emoji, and more. iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software…
Apple plans to maximize the display size on the upcoming iPhone 16 series by using a new ultra-thin bezel technology, claims a new report out of Korea. According to Sisa Journal, Apple will use Border Reduction Structure (BRS) technology to minimize the bezel at the bottom of the display. BRS achieves this by rolling up the internal copper wiring into a more compact package. Apple…
Apple’s next-generation iPad Pro models will be offered with a matte display option for the first time, according to the Weibo leaker known as “Instant Digital.” The Weibo user explained that the iPad Pro’s new matte display option will be offered in addition to the standard, glossy glass finish. It apparently features -4° to +29° of haze and may tout some kind of blue-light blocking…
The next-generation iPad Air is now reportedly shipping to the United States and other countries in preparation for launch. The rumor comes from the leaker known as “Instant Digital,” who claims that manufacturers in China are now shipping the 2024 iPad Air in two sizes to overseas locations. “Everything is ready” for launch, the Weibo user says. The sixth-generation iPad Air is rumored…
Earlier this week, leaker “Instant Digital” on Chinese blogging site Weibo claimed that Apple will be making an iPad-related announcement next Tuesday, March 26, suggesting a potential press release introduction ahead of pre-orders and a launch date. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has now weighed in, however, to say that this claim is “not true.” While disputing a March 26 announcement, Gurman has…
The next-generation iPad Pro models will feature thinner bezels around the screen compared to previous models, according to a rumor shared today by a previously-accurate leaker known as “Instant Digital” on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The leaker claimed that the next 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models will have 7.12mm and 7.08mm bezels, respectively, when excluding the metal…
March 23, 1992: The “headless” Macintosh LC II arrives, wooing value-oriented customers with a beguiling mix of updated internals and budget pricing.
Designed to take up minimal space underneath a monitor (sold separately), the Mac LC II is destined to become a hit. In retrospect, the entry-level machine is roughly analogous to today’s Mac mini.
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Macintosh LC II: A budget Mac
The Mac LC II wasn’t Apple’s first “pizza box” computer to come without a monitor. It looked much like its predecessor, the first-gen Mac LC (for “Low Cost”), which Apple released in October 1990 (and discontinued the same day the LC II came on the scene).
The original LC was a heavily crippled computer that used the old Motorola 68020 chip that Apple retired with the Mac II. However, the LC sold 500,000 units within its first year, which made it a massive success.
A sequel to the Mac LC
The Macintosh LC II measured about 3 inches high. Photo: Jonathan Zufi
The LC II served as a worthy sequel. It didn’t change much in terms of the formula, which was clearly working. But it packed more power — and came with a lower price tag. At a time when Macs were, adjusted for inflation, a lot more expensive than today, the LC II cost just $1,699 for a base model with 4MB of RAM and a 40MB hard drive. Still, that’s $3,779 in 2024 dollars.
This was $800 cheaper than its predecessor, although with both models you had to shell out extra for a monitor. (A more-expensive version with an 80MB hard drive ran $1,849.)
Mac LC II and System 7
The Mac LC II boasted all the standard Apple ports you’d expect. Photo: Jonathan Zufi
Instead of the 16-MHz 68020 CPU of the original, the LC II boasted a Motorola 68030 CPU. This provided an on-board memory management unit, 256K data cache and 32-bit data path.
The low-cost machine (relatively speaking) let users tap into the virtual memory of Mac’s System 7 operating system. Apple considered that a big advantage at the time — and an important selling point.
Despite these improvements, many speed tests found that the LC II ran a bit slower than its predecessor.
Another ‘headless’ hit for Apple
Still, the computer won reviewers’ recommendations. The LC II wasn’t a computer you’d buy if you were looking for a top-of-the-range Macintosh with every feature under the sun. Instead, it offered budget-conscious customers an improved, entry-level machine that was more affordable.
If you went to school in the early 1990s, and used a Mac in your classroom, this could well have been it.
Do you remember the Macintosh LC II? Leave your comments below.
iMac vs MacBook? Should your next Mac be a portable or a desktop? More than 90% of Macs sold are laptops, and it’s easy to see why — MacBooks are light while offering best-in-class performance and battery life.
But there are some compelling reasons to stick to the iMac, Mac mini or Mac Studio as well. You save money and you have a more reliable machine.
This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.
iMac vs MacBook: Which should you buy?
1. It’s easier to take a MacBook with you
The biggest and most obvious reason to get a MacBook is that it’s easier to take with you.
Unplug it and put it in your bag — a ten-second process and you’re good to go. In a pinch, you can take it out, sit it on your lap and you can get some work done.
An iMac, being an all-in-one computer, is pretty easy to transport as far as desktop computers go. But it doesn’t have a battery and it won’t fit inside your backpack. A Mac mini can also be relatively easy to move around — provided you have a keyboard, mouse and monitor set up at both destinations.
But nothing can compare to the portability of a MacBook Air.
2. Most desktop Macs are considerably cheaper than MacBooks
The Mac mini starts at only $599. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
The one thing everyone knows about buying Apple products is that they tend to be expensive. I would strongly argue that buying a Mac is worth the price for the quality, power and longevity of the computer you get, but that may not be so reassuring if you only have a little bit of money to spend.
Buying a desktop Mac can save you a lot of money over buying a MacBook. If you compare like-for-like:
The base Mac mini is $500 cheaper than the MacBook Air.
The Pro-level Mac mini is $700 cheaper than the MacBook Pro.
And the Max-level Mac Studio is a whopping $1,000 cheaper than the MacBook Pro.
Add an extra $200 if you prefer the bigger 15-inch MacBook Air — or $300 for the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
MacBooks cost more for a reason. But do you really need the portability?
Most people with a laptop have a desktop display, keyboard and mouse to dock it to, anyways. Photo: Apple
Granted, the price differences are there for a reason: the Mac mini and Mac Studio don’t come with a built-in display, keyboard and trackpad like the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. On the other hand, if you’re doing your daily work on a MacBook, you probably have it docked to an external display, keyboard and mouse anyway.
So if you don’t have as much money to spend — and you already have a display — you can save a lot of dough getting a Mac mini instead of a MacBook.
The iMac, Apple’s all-in-one computer with a built-in display (which comes with a keyboard and mouse in the box) is actually the same price as a comparable MacBook Air. But while you give up the portability, you trade the laptop’s small 13-inch screen for a desktop-size 24-inch display.
Or, you can use the price difference to get a more powerful Mac. Instead of getting the cheapest 14-inch MacBook Pro, you can get a Mac mini with a more powerful Pro-level chip, double the memory and double the storage — for $100 less.
3. Desktop Macs last longer
In my personal collection of computers, old and new, the desktops give me way fewer problems. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
If you only buy a new computer when yours literally stops functioning, you’ll likely get more years out of a desktop Mac than a laptop. Laptops contain more parts and, therefore, more things that can fail over time. (Plus, laptops typically take more abuse than desktop Macs.)
Assuming you don’t drop your laptop, the MacBook battery is the part most likely to go south.
Let me put it this way: If you’re the sort of person who’s still not sure if you should get an iMac or MacBook, you probably don’t use your laptop as a laptop too often. You probably travel for a weekend or the occasional work trip just often enough to make you unsure.
That kind of lifestyle — leaving a laptop plugged in and docked on your desk 364 days out of the year — is devastating to the lithium-ion battery inside a MacBook. My MacBook Pro held up fantasticly throughout college. But as soon as I graduated and kept it at home every day, the battery life plummeted. And now, it’s totally nonfunctional.
4. MacBooks are equally as powerful as their desktop counterparts
The Mac product family, as seen deep in the dark depths of the Intel era. Photo: Apple
When Apple put Intel chips inside Macs, the desktops would outperform the laptops — even with similar specs.
That’s because Intel packaged processors with manufacturing defects, which didn’t run as fast or as hot as better-manufactured ones, as laptop chips. Now that more energy-efficient Apple silicon powers the Mac lineup, the game has changed. Apple wants all of its processors to perform the same: The company puts its best-manufactured chips in MacBooks so the laptops can take advantage of their superior power efficiency, and puts underperforming chips in desktop computers at a higher power rate so they can run just as fast.
All of this means that Apple laptops are no longer second-rate computers. A MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro chip inside will run equally as well as a Mac mini with the same Apple silicon processor.
5. Only desktop Macs get the most powerful processors
The Ultra chip is two Max chips transposed into one. Image: Apple
While an iMac or MacBook can be identically configured to run the same, you can still buy a more powerful desktop Mac than you can a MacBook.
The MacBook Pro can be configured with up to a Max chip, but the Mac Studio gets the even more powerful Ultra chip. This is effectively two Max chips interposed together, delivering double the processing power, double the graphics power and double the memory.
It isn’t Apple’s style to sell a MacBook Pro with “half-day battery life,” and while Apple silicon chips run much cooler than others, they’re not magic. The MacBook Pro is simply too thin to house such power.
iMac vs MacBook? Mac mini vs MacBook Pro?
Get an iMac if you want good performance with a big screen. Get a MacBook if you need the portability. Go for a Mac mini to save the most amount of money. And choose a MacBook Pro for portability and power.
The real magic about Apple silicon is that these days, no matter what Mac you buy, you’re going to get a great computer that’ll last you years.
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March 27, 1995: The Radius System 100, the first official Macintosh clone, launches.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with OWC. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
March 23, 1992: The “headless” Macintosh LC II arrives, wooing value-oriented customers with a beguiling mix of updated internals and budget pricing.
