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points by shadedtriangle 2 days ago | 0 comments

I think it's obvious why someone would buy this and why Apples continues to slowly update them.

It's got a bright and colorful design where a Mac mini and any third party monitor would just be silver/grey + black plastic. Everything works together, no decision making about compatibility, no extra purchases, it has a webcam, speakers, one power cable, only one customer support call if you need help with any of it, one warranty etc. It's quite far from the "same" computer as a Mac Mini.

[–] solatic 2 days ago

This 100%.

A Mac Mini is what I buy when I need a CI runner to run build, signature, and UI testing for macOS / iOS apps. I also have (one of) mine hooked up to a projector for home theater.

An iMac is what I buy my aging parents so that they can have an Internet terminal in the breakfast nook.

Totally different markets.

[–] fsloth 2 days ago

Yes. Design sells.

"Why would anyone get Eames Lounge Chair? I can buy similar enough kit for a 20th of the price".

Since many of us are sort of keen on products this would be really, really good to remember :)

[–] 80fj0348i 2 days ago

The Eames Lounge Chair is a terrible example; you can buy near-exact clones for about 1/7th the price of a real one. There's one in the room with me right now. It's fantastic, and will probably last me decades.

[–] throwaway270925 1 day ago

Unfortunately there are strangely no clones of current imacs.

I would buy one in a heartbeat!

But basically no AIOs or monitors come anywhere near the "slab on a stand" look of current imacs/Studio displays - would love one for my next Linux PC though...

[–] jamespo 2 days ago

Does the chair stop fitting your bottom after 8 years?

[–] ericd 2 days ago

Yep, for someone with ~zero technical aptitude, I'd happily pay the premium for decreasing the number of things that can go wrong. Things getting unplugged accidentally account for a lot of tech support.

[–] nxpnsv 2 days ago

I am sure that you can have both taste for that design and technical aptitude.

[–] ericd 2 days ago

Oh yeah, for sure, they're nice. Just mean that it's also just a real utilitarian benefit for those without technical aptitude.

[–] pampas 2 days ago

This. Cables suck. Imagine if cars were like this and you had to haul the engine or battery around on trailer.