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I would say, the iMac is a high quality display with a free computer at a first approximation. If you aren’t going to use the mini with a 4K display or better, get the iMac. No portable is as powerful as the M4 or M4 Pro announced, but in time you can spend a lot more $$ for that if you need. Low cost stick with the mini and iMac as resale value and overall value is high.

Everything you have will connect to either choice as Apple went away from custom connectors along with the transition from PowerPC to Intel in 2006.

The only big issue that isn’t solvable for people that I see is some displays exist in a very bad physical size to pixel count (PPI) range and if you are doing text based work, you might hate that display on any Mac.

• What external monitor and size combinations provide best scaling on macOS?
• Which external monitor to choose for MacBook?

Everything else you can change: cables, keyboard mapping, shortcuts, your brain and scroll direction, UI changes, finding software that works in both OS ecosystems.

I would say, the iMac is a high quality display with a free computer at a first approximation. If you aren’t going to use the mini with a 4K display or better, get the iMac. The new M4 portables are as powerful as the M4 or M4 Pro, but you spend a lot more $$ for that if you don’t need or value portability.

Everything you have for USB accessories will connect to either choice as Apple went away from custom connectors along with the transition from PowerPC to Intel in 2006. Just watch for old scanners or printers as driver support can be problematic. Storage, keyboards and mice are highly compatible.

The only big issue that isn’t solvable for people that I see is some displays exist in a very bad physical size to pixel count (PPI) range and if you are doing text based work, you might hate that display on any Mac.

• What external monitor and size combinations provide best scaling on macOS?
• Which external monitor to choose for MacBook?

Everything else you can change: cables, keyboard mapping, shortcuts, your brain and scroll direction, UI changes, finding software that works in both OS ecosystems.

I would say, the iMac is a high quality display with a free computer at a first approximation. Everything you have will connect to either choice as Apple went away from custom connectors along with the transition from PowerPC to Intel in 2006.

The only big issue that isn’t solvable for people that I see is some displays exist in a very bad physical size to pixel count (PPI) range and if you are doing text based work, you might hate that display on any Mac.

• What external monitor and size combinations provide best scaling on macOS?
• Which external monitor to choose for MacBook?

Everything else you can change: cables, keyboard mapping, shortcuts, your brain and scroll direction, UI changes, finding software that works in both OS ecosystems.

I would say, the iMac is a high quality display with a free computer at a first approximation. If you aren’t going to use the mini with a 4K display or better, get the iMac. No portable is as powerful as the M4 or M4 Pro announced, but in time you can spend a lot more $$ for that if you need. Low cost stick with the mini and iMac as resale value and overall value is high.

Everything you have will connect to either choice as Apple went away from custom connectors along with the transition from PowerPC to Intel in 2006.

The only big issue that isn’t solvable for people that I see is some displays exist in a very bad physical size to pixel count (PPI) range and if you are doing text based work, you might hate that display on any Mac.

• What external monitor and size combinations provide best scaling on macOS?
• Which external monitor to choose for MacBook?

Everything else you can change: cables, keyboard mapping, shortcuts, your brain and scroll direction, UI changes, finding software that works in both OS ecosystems.

I would say, the iMac is a high quality display with a free computer at a first approximation. Everything will connect as Apple went away from custom connectors along with the transition from PowerPC to Intel in 2006.

The only big issue that isn’t solvable for people that I see is some displays exist in a very bad physical size to pixel count (PPI) range and if you are doing text based work, you might hate that display on any Mac.

• What external monitor and size combinations provide best scaling on macOS?
• Which external monitor to choose for MacBook?

Everything else you can change: cables, keyboard mapping, shortcuts, your brain and scroll direction, UI changes, finding software that works in both OS ecosystems.

I would say, the iMac is a high quality display with a free computer at a first approximation. Everything you have will connect to either choice as Apple went away from custom connectors along with the transition from PowerPC to Intel in 2006.

The only big issue that isn’t solvable for people that I see is some displays exist in a very bad physical size to pixel count (PPI) range and if you are doing text based work, you might hate that display on any Mac.

• What external monitor and size combinations provide best scaling on macOS?
• Which external monitor to choose for MacBook?

Everything else you can change: cables, keyboard mapping, shortcuts, your brain and scroll direction, UI changes, finding software that works in both OS ecosystems.