Brian

I have 64GB with my 2017 iMac and have no issues editing large Raw files taken with my D850. 64-72GB is really nice to have for editing photos with today’s modern Photoshop. Just think, Apple would have charged you $1000 to only upgrade the RAM to 64GB!

You are in a very good position to add RAM. What I would do is PURCHASE THIS 64GB KIT, and install them into the slots that the existing RAM are occupying. Then install the existing RAM into the slots are currently empty. When it’s all said-and-done, your will have 72GB of RAM. Plenty of YouTube videos demonstrating the process of removing/adding RAM into a 27” iMac.

Pay attention to the details with the used Mac Store Do NOT buy one with a “Fusion Drive.” 1TB SSD or bust! As mentioned above, at least a 1TB main drive. A video card that has at least 8GB of dedicated Video Memory. Cards that are 8GB are usually the “better ones” that play nicely with Photoshop Intel i7 or i9 is “fine.” Honestly, the video card choice is more important than the CPU. Well, stay away from the Intel i5. Too slow, you want an i7 or i9. AVOID THE 21.5” Macs!! 8GB of RAM is fine, with the 27”, we can upgrade things for A LOT less money than what Apple charges and you will get more in the end as well. Look for a 2020 27” iMac, maybe even a late 2017. AppleCare is a requirement. Not only do you get a Warranty, but AppleCare is worth having since Apple is the only ones that fix their hardware. What you see in the used Mac Store is what they have. They don’t have multiples of the same computer. Think of it as a Yard Sale. If you see one you like, can afford it, BUY IT because it may not be there in an hour.

According to Apple, you can go to a maximum of 32GB with your Mac. So you would removed the two 4GB sticks and install two 8GB sticks. So 8GB would be in each slot for a total of 32GB. Now, while 32GB is definitely worth it, you need to have realistic expectations. Going from 24GB to 32GB is not as dramatic as going from 8GB to 24GB, but I'd still do it. If you are trying to get more "Performance" out of your iMac...I'd start saving lots and lots of money for a new one. Here is the RAM Kit you need. B&H Ships to OZ. Normally you see me recommending Crucial's stuff a lot, but OWC is also a good brand. Two sticks for less than $80 is way cheaper than spending over $5200 on a new Mac Studio. Oh, if you don't want to pay International Shipping, just take a screen-shot of the specs and find the exact same RAM locally.

Yes. MacOS Extended (Journaled) is perfect for use on your Mac. The downside is, Windows will absolutely not read it and will want to format it if you plug it in. I guess the first part is for you to get the computer of your choosing and we will go from there.

This is why your Mac is slow. I'm sorry, no way around it, you need a new computer. You can't upgrade the RAM any higher AND the Graphics Card is just below the bare minimum requirements for the current versions of Photoshop. Even for a version like PS CC 2019...you are really pushing things. Why a 27" model over a 21.5"? Because Apple purposely crippled the performance of the 21.5" iMacs. Apple has been a company that wants you to "Go Big or Go Home." You get slower Motherboards, less choices of upgrades, under-powered video cards, slower CPU Chips, slower hard drive performance, etc. etc. with buying a 21.5" iMac. Basically, think of the 21.5" iMac to be like a 4 cyl Hatchback that a Freshman in College would buy, complete with Rust. While it will get you from point A to B, don't expect to do anything that requires more "Umph." The 21.5" iMacs are meant for General Computing. While you can get away with things like Photo Editing in the short term, over the long term Photoshop requires more and more resources from your computer. Plus it's from 2013...that's almost 9 Years for a computer and that's a really good run. When I configure my computers, I have a 7-8 Year time-frame in mind, and you are right around that period where you need to buy a new computer; I'm sorry, there is no upgrading yourself out of this situation. Now for the new Macs. Ugh. You should have replaced this computer in 2019 because now...a new Mac is REALLY EXPENSIVE!! Like $5200 expensive. I know the 24" looks tempting, but guess what? The current calibration devices on the Market are not compatible with the 24" screen. We had a member just buy one, use a brand-new SpyderX and couldn't get her screen to look good. So she contacted their Tech Support and they wrote back saying their device is not compatible. I'd like to recommend a 24" Mac with a few upgrades, but I just can not at this point with the Calibration thing hanging around. As of right now, if you buy a 24" iMac, it's like you are buying a 21.5" under-powered iMac all over again. To make matters worse, Apple has refreshed all of their computers and you now have to purchase ALL of the over-priced upgrades at the time of purchase. Meaning you are stuck with what you buy. Want more RAM in 3 years? Too-Bad-So-Sad...you are buying a new computer. Need more HD space? Either buy a large Thunderbolt 3 External or buy a new computer. Here is an Article that I wrote on this very subject, give it a read. Spoiler Alert: It is a really sucky time to be in the Market for a new Mac. Oh, if you are thinking about ditching you Mac for a Windows computer...I've got news for you, you are spending around $3000 for a computer that is "Good for Photo Editing." Gone are the days of a computer that's $999.99 that will get the job done. Not in 2022 and certainly not for several years. Since the proverbial "Cat" is out of the bag and people are accepting / paying these higher prices, then it's a safe bet to say that the manufactures will keep charging this much because they are getting away with it.

A few things that come to mind: 1. Only 16GB of RAM. In 2022, you really want 32GB or more if possible. 2. Files and folders on your Mac Desktop. The more crap you have on your Desktop, the slower the damn thing runs. 3. It does not matter, internal or external, the MacOS treats all HDs the same. So while you may have 700GB free on your internal drive, the EHD that’s 95% full is bogging your Mac down. You never want to go more than 75%-80% full on any Mac HD, internal or external. There are other things, like purchasing a clean up program that I use call CleanMyMac X but more on that later. What year/model/size is your Mac? Hopefully it’s a 27” because if it’s a 21.5”, you are kinda screwed and looking at a new computer. Also, what video card and more importantly video memory is installed? If you never chose a better video card at the time of purchase, you are definitely screwed because today’s modern Photoshop utilizes the GPU and dedicated Video Memory for a performance boost. So if you don’t have a beefy video card, Photoshop will be a bit sluggish. So before I condemn your computer, I need more info.

Adding RAM to a 27” is EASY. Lots of YouTube videos demonstrating the process. Get the Mac first, then we will talk about RAM. You can create a new thread OR check out the ones I’ve already answered in here.

It’s best to purchase a new external for the Windows Computer. The files on various EHDs that were formatted for use on your Mac and Apple purposely make it difficult to go back and forth. This way you can keep the original files intact and if something were to go wrong you can attempt things again. You will also need to purchase special software to act as a “Translator.” Before we get to that, what partition type are your current externals? Hook your drives up and use the Disk Utilities. Are they Journales+, exFAT? Post a screenshot here in this thread.

There is no such thing as "Time Machine" with a Windows Computer. Welcome to Windows!! Now for the Million Dollar Question: "Are you going to be going back-and-forth between the Mac World and a Windows World?" Because this will be VERY COMPLICATED. Apple wants you to be 100% committed to a Macintosh Computer. Pick a format. Mac OR Windows. No going back-and-forth.

Do not buy a Mac with a STUPID FUSION DRIVE!!! Avoid those like the Plague. A Fusion drive is a traditional spinning HD with a small, usually 32GB SSD Drive. Performance SUCKS with those drives. This is what you are looking for: 27" iMac - 5K Retina Screen 1TB SSD Main HD 8GB RAM (or 16 if it comes with it) A Video Card that has at least 8GB Video Memory You can always upgrade the RAM yourself at a later date for A LOT less money than what Apple would charge you. Seriously. A 32GB Configuration is around $1000. You can purchase a Crucial RAM kit for around $350 or so and end up with more RAM in the end, like 72GB. Yep, you read that correctly...more RAM for LESS money. So in your comment, the first Mac out of the two you listed would be the one to get. That said, keep this in mind: When dealing with the Refurbished Mac Store, what you see on their page is what they have in stock AT THAT MOMENT. So if you see something you like, can afford it, BUY IT!! Because it could be gone in as little as a few minutes or not be there tomorrow.

I was just thinking about this. The honest answer is, "...I don't know." I also don't have $5200 laying around for me to buy one and check. If the Mac Studio Display uses the same technology as the 24" iMac, then everyone is in the same boat and will be buying a new calibration tool in the very near future. If we have to wait, then I can add the 24" iMac on my recommended configurations and we will just have to wait for the calibration devices to catch up. I'm not understanding your question. Switching back to a Windows Computer?

Well, here is the 2nd Version of this Article. I'm sure over time it will be modified and the Date / Time of that I created this Article is March 24, 2022 @ 22:03. Prices and links are subject to change, so please do your due diligence before clicking "Add to Cart." Hopefully we will have another "Advanced" computer besides the Mac Studio...a true 27" iMac Replacement. But I wouldn't hold your breath. Apple is going in a new direction. Have a question or concern? Please post a new question in one of the Main Hardware Forums in "Ask Brian." Buy Brian a Beer!!

Just published this as well:

Just published:

Just published:

Just published:

The current Mac Laptops are also M1 CPU-based, meaning you have to purchase all of the over-priced upgrades at the time of purchase, just like the Desktop Models. Here is what I would configure for a Mac Laptop that is "Good for Photo Editing." Head to Apple's Website and select the MacBook Pro section. As always, start with the most expensive option, usually the column on the right. For Photo-editing purposes, select the 16-Inch Version. Upgrade the RAM to 64GB Leave the storage at 1TB Everything else, leave at the defaults. Remember, you are rewarded for choosing the most expensive model. If we went with a lower-priced option, we would be upgrading other things. In the end, you would only save around $100 or so; which at this price-point is not worth it. Buy it Right - Buy it Once! It should look like this: The cost should be $3899. Click Add to bag. Purchase AppleCare for $399. Yes, you want AppleCare. Apple is the only one who fixes Apple's products. Authorized Apple Service Centers are very rare in 2022. You want a flat rate of 3 Years of Coverage. The cost before Tax should be $4298.00. Shipping is usually free. $4300 for a Mac Laptop that is "Good for Photo Editing." Sheesh. Of course, you could save a little money and go with the standard 32GB option, that's your choice. But remember, there is no upgrading after the fact. If you have a high MP camera (45MP or more) you are really going to want 64GB. In 2022 I'd say 32GB is the Minimum that you would want for today's software. Besides, at the current price point for this laptop, spending a few hundred more isn't THAT big of a deal. It's only money, right?

Well, yes-and-no. And don't call me Shirley. You could purchase a M1 Mac Mini and a LG 27 Inch UltraFine 5K IPS Display, that's an option. Or pair a M1 Mac Mini with the new 27" Studio Display. So let's configure the Mac Mini first and we will start by going to their Mac Mini Page. Choose the $899 Mac Mini (the one on the right) and upgrade a few things. Remember, no upgrading things after-the-fact. Go Big or Go Home!! Upgrade the RAM to 16GB Upgrade the HD to at least 1TB Ethernet Gigabit is fine for now but I'm going to talk about this in the next paragraph. For folks that have Gigabit Ethernet or some other really-really high-speed Internet Connection, you might want to consider upgrading to 10 Gigabit Ethernet. I know the Xfinity that I have, and I have Gig-Speed Internet, it is now being advertised of possible download speeds of 1200mbps. The downside is your typical 1 Gigabit connection caps out at around 940mbps due to overhead limitations with 1 Gig / Standard Ethernet. If you want to go faster, you not only need 10 Gig Ethernet, but also Cat 6A Cable and your switch/router must also have 10 Gigabit ports as this will remove the limitations that come with 1 Gigabit Ethernet. Understand? For the vast majority of folks out there, the Standard Gigabit Ethernet is fine. Chances are, you don't have internet that is faster than 200-300 down or 600 if you are lucky. But if you are in a position to get more download speeds, the only way you can get around those limitations is to purchase a computer with 10 Gig Ethernet and have all devices "On your Physical Layer" that are also 10 Gig. For 99.999% of you reading this, your standard 1 Gig Ethernet is fine. This upgrade is completely optional and like I said, you will need ALL of your Ethernet Infrastructure to be 10 Gig. Moving on... So your new Mac Mini should look something like this: The cost should be around $1299.00 (US Dollars.) Click Continue. Add the Standard Glass 27" Studio Display Choose the Stand that suits your needs. For the vast Majority, the standard Tilt-Adjustable Stand is fine. But for those few, you might want to spend the extra $400 and get the one that is not only tilt adjustable, but height adjustable as well. I'm sticking with the standard Tilt-Adjustable Stand for this example. Then add AppleCare if asked. Yes, you want AppleCare. Apple is the only one who fixes Apple's products. Authorized Apple Service Centers are very rare in 2022. You want a flat rate of 3 Years of Coverage. Click Add to Bag. If everything went smoothly, it should look something like this: At this point, your cost should be around $3047 or so, depending on your Country / Region. Of course Sales Tax will be involved, adding to the cost. Shipping for the most part is free, though that also may vary depending on your location. I'm living in the US, make adjustments for your situation as necessary. Yes, this is an OPTION. Though I'm seeing mixed reviews. On the plus-side, Apple helped LG develop this Display and it's perfect to use on a Macintosh Product. I've seen reports that the colors aren't as vibrant and it's not as bright as a Mac screen, but this may not be a bad thing; Macintosh Displays are traditionally WAY too bright which usually results in dark prints. The other benefit is you save about $300 or so which keeps the price below $3000. That being said: Good Luck in finding one. This Display is often out of stock. So if you are going to go the LG Display route and you find one, BUY IT! That's a very valid question. At the $1600 price-point of a Mac Studio Display, a single Eizo should be at least on-par with it, right? But here is the catch, the Apple M1 chip sends a different video signal to the display if you are using a cable other than a Thunderbolt 3. Instead of the RGB standard that has been around for decades, it seems that the Apple M1 / M1x sends a YUV Limited Range signal via DisplayPort, HDMI or if you are using some sort of conversion device, i.e. DisplayPort to HDMI. This primarily causes banding issues and in addition to these banding issues, it seems that Color Profiles are also affected, which means your colors don't look quite right. For more information, check out this article on Eizo's Website and they seem to have some sort of work-around. But in reality, Macs like a 5K Display. 4K just doesn't give you the full "Macintosh Experience" and I really don't recommend 4K displays for use with Macs. Banding? Color Issues? While editing photos? No thank you, I will pass. Especially with an expensive Monitor like an Eizo. As time goes on, I'm thinking more and more display manufactures will offer a Thunderbolt 3 option but it's really hard to say. This is the primary reason that I'm only recommending the Apple Studio Display and LG 5K Display at this time. One is of course made by Apple, but the LG Display was designed with Apple so it's 100% compatible and both of these displays come with a Thunderbolt 3 port. Trust me, there is a method-to-my-madness when I recommend things. More often than not, I lean towards a Conservative viewpoint, and I will purposely leave out the "other" devices because I'm not 100% sure if they will work or not.

This is where it's gets a little complicated. In 2022, it is VERY EXPENSIVE now to buy a Mac that's "Good for Photo Editing..." Really expensive. Like around $5200 expensive (US Dollars.) The 24" iMac is off the table, as the 24" screen is not compatible with the current Calibration Devices, meaning...until the manufacturers update their Calibration Devices (the part that goes on the display) you won't be able to Calibrate your screen. This will pose an issue when it comes to printing photos and even delivering digital-only images. Without matching your screen to a set of physical prints, you have no base-line to judge your screen. It might look fine on your screen and to your eyes, but look like complete garbage on your client's screen or from their point-of-view. I am hoping that this will change and we will have a new round of Calibration Tools to put the 24" iMac on the table. On paper it is "fine" for Photo-Editing, with a few upgrades, but it's just that blasted screen that prevents me from recommending them. For "General Computing?" (No Photo-Editing) Fine. Anything else that deals with Photos or Video? I would not recommend in buying that model. So what would I buy? If money was no object, and it needs to be in 2022, this is what I would configure for the majority of Photographers: I picked the lower-cost "Mac Studio" and made a few changes. Start with the new $1999 Apple Mac Studio on the left, and upgraded a few things: Upgrade the CPU to the Apple M1 Max with 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine Increase the RAM to 64GB Increase the Hard Drive to 1TB Ethernet Gigabit is fine for now but I'm going to talk about this in the next paragraph. For folks that have Gigabit Ethernet or some other really-really high-speed Internet Connection, you might want to consider upgrading to 10 Gigabit Ethernet. I know the Xfinity that I have, and I have Gig-Speed Internet, it is now being advertised of possible download speeds of 1200mbps. The downside is your typical 1 Gigabit connection caps out at around 940mbps due to overhead limitations with 1 Gig / Standard Ethernet. If you want to go faster, you not only need 10 Gig Ethernet, but also Cat 6A Cable and your switch/router must also have 10 Gigabit ports as this will remove the limitations that come with 1 Gigabit Ethernet. Understand? For the vast majority of folks out there, the Standard Gigabit Ethernet is fine. Chances are, you don't have internet that is faster than 200-300 down or 600 if you are lucky. But if you are in a position to get more download speeds, the only way you can get around those limitations is to purchase a computer with 10 Gig Ethernet and have all devices on your "Physical Layer" that are also 10 Gig. For 99.999% of you reading this, your standard 1 Gig Ethernet is fine. This upgrade is completely optional and like I said, you will need ALL of your Ethernet Infrastructure to be 10 Gig. Moving on... Then add AppleCare if asked. Yes, you want AppleCare. Apple is the only one who fixes Apple's products. Authorized Apple Service Centers are very rare in 2022. It should look like this: Click Continue, this will take you to the screen where you can choose the Display Pick the Standard Glass Choose the Stand that suits your needs. For the vast Majority, the standard Tilt-Adjustable Stand is fine. But for those few, you might want to spend the extra $400 and get the one that is not only tilt adjustable, but height adjustable as well. I'm sticking with the standard Tilt-Adjustable Stand for this example. It should look like this: Click "Add to Bag." At this point, you have the option of purchasing a new Mac Keyboard with Number-Pad (The Number Pad is totally worth it) and Magic Mouse. Keep in mind, there are two colors, a Keyboard with Black Keys and one with White Keys. Same thing goes for the Magic Mouse, there is the classic White Version and now a newer Black Version. You could save a little here and use a Keyboard & Mouse from an older iMac, or purchase this one without the Touch-ID feature. That said, many some people like everything to match so for this example, we will add both of the same color. I'm choosing White. Alright, still with me? Now it's time for your Wallet to Cry-out in PAIN. The cost for all the items in your cart is now $5093.30. Depending on your region, Tax & Shipping may more may-not be added, but it will be listed. At this point you are probably looking around $5200 give-or-take a few hundred before applicable Shipping and Tax. That pains me to type that. $5200 for a Mac, that's not even a Mac Pro!! Apple really wants you to "Go Big or Go Home" and people thought the 27" iMac for $3800-ish (tricked-out) was expensive.

Welcome to the 2022 Edition of "Buying a Mac for Photo-Editing." My inbox and recent posts here in The Macintosh User Group have been mostly centered on one topic: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 27" IMAC?!?!! It seems people are either getting Tax Refunds or have been saving and now they are ready to buy. Unfortunately, I have VERY BAD News... Yep, you have read that correctly. For the first time since...what, 2008? 2009? Apple is no longer offering a 27" iMac and a computer that is user upgrade-able. Meaning you can not add additional RAM, replace the Hard Drive...basically do ANYTHING other than to use the computer when it was originally configured for the life of the computer! If you want more RAM in a few years time, too-bad-so-sad...you are buying a new computer! I'm not happy with this situation. At all...and I'm a Mac Guy! In fact, I'm typing this very article on my 2017 27" iMac. So what happened? In November 2020, Apple released the first Macs with a brand-new processor that had a completely different Architecture than the previous Processor, namely the Intel CPU Line. For whatever reason, Apple made known to the world that the new M1 Line, was the future, and the days of them using a Intel-based computer were coming to an end. The new M1 Chips are known as a ARM CPU. What is ARM? ARM stands for Advanced RISC Machines. So what's the big deal? What's the difference? I could write an entire Article explaining the particulars that would make the average person's eyes glaze-over. But to put it in Layman's Terms, a ARM CPU is a flavor of a RISC CPU. RISC CPUs have been around since the 1990's but have never really caught on until now. A RISC Based CPU consume less power and is much more efficient than an Intel-based CPU Chip, at least on paper. Especially when it comes to Memory Management and how it is treated. Plus, since Apple is now designing and building their own CPUs, they get to save a "whole 'lotta money" without having to pay another Manufacturer or pay licensing fees for them to use another company's technology. Given the fact that the M1 chips can be used across different models, from Smartphones, to iPads, to Desktop Computers...it just makes sense from a manufacturing and cost standpoint to have a single source of chips. As we become more and more portable, and let's face it, iPhones are little computers that make Phone Calls, and we are so addicted to laptops....our needs are changing, and we want better battery life. The push towards being portable and not being chained to a desk are stronger now more than ever. The problem is, this is a completely new way of thinking. We are no longer dealing with a computer that has Intel-based Architecture; namely you need to purchase things like extra RAM, Graphics Power and even storage options because for the most part, everything is built into one chip!! How does that affect you and me? You are stuck with the initial configuration of your computer with no upgrade path! So let's say in 3-4 years...you start noticing your computer is "Acting Slow" or certain software is complaining that there isn't enough resources available. (e.g. not enough RAM, lack of HD capacity, etc.) In the past with your typical computer, you were able to add more RAM to provide additional resources for the software to use. This also allowed one to span money paid out over the course of several years; you can buy a computer now, use it with current software and when new software that came out in a few years required more "Horsepower" from your computer, you could purchase a upgrade to get a few more years of life out of your investment. Sounds logical, doesn't it? ...and I'd have to agree with you. It's my way of thinking since dealing with computers starting in 1981. (Man, I'm getting old...but I digress. ) Anyway, Apple is and always has been a company that has created computers that their software and hardware are completely integrated. They also like to control what they call the "User Experience." You play by Apple's Rules or you don't play at all. It's this way of thinking that Die-Hard Windows Users have such an extreme problem with. These folks seem to go out of their way to bash Apple's products and state that Windows is better because there are more choices which drives down costs and blah-blah-blah. I'm not here to debate, as this conversation has been going on since 1984 and will not be resolved anytime soon! So where was I going with this? Oh yeah...Apple's way of thinking. Apple is a company that wants you to "Go Big or Go Home." You get a better value and more offerings if you spend more money. Sure, they have lower-end and more "Affordable" products, but those products are often purposely crippled and frankly, a waste of money. Remember this when it comes time to choose a new Macintosh Computer. OK, now that's out of the way, how does this affect everyone? First, to get the most performance out of your new M1-based computer, is your software needs to be optimized for use with a M1 chip. For the folks here in Ask Damien, they are mostly Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom users. They will be REQUIRED to use the latest versions of those two programs, and at the time of this writing is Adobe Photoshop CC 2022 - Version 23.2.2 and Adobe Lightroom Classic CC - Version 11.2. Gone are the days of holding onto an older copy of Photoshop, even one as recent as Photoshop CC 2019. Nope...you are stuck using the most current version, complete with any bugs or quirks that come with that software. It also doesn't just apply to Photoshop or Lightroom, but ALL software used. So before you purchase a computer, check to see if there are any updates for them to be compatible with the M1 Line of computers. Since the M1 Macs have been out for a few years, this isn't as big of an issue as it was in 2020 / early 2021. OK, I'm sure if you have made it this far, you are getting a little impatient with me. I do thank you for sticking with me until this point. Now onto the next section and the one you all have been waiting for...

The problem is, it is VERY EXPENSIVE now to buy a Mac that's "Good for photo editing..." Really expensive. Like $5200 expensive. The 24" iMac is off the table, as the screen is not compatible with the current Calibration Devices, meaning...until the manufacturers update their Calibration Devices (the part that goes on the display) you won't be able to Calibrate your screen. Apple quietly discontinued the 27" iMac and it's unfortunate that you weren't able to buy one 6 months ago because now I'm stuck having to recommend over-priced options . I'm finally getting around to writing that Article. Stand-by.

Buy Brian a Beer!! (PayPal Donation) Thank You!!

I've been busy with my day-job. Yes, the article will be posted shortly and it will be here, not on Facebook...I'm never coming back to Facebook. It's going to be a pain in the ass. Apple makes it very easy to switch from a Windows Computer to a Mac, but not the other way around. It is doable though. Let me write this article.

OK, good. That's a healthy budget. Now if anyone else comes across this thread, the only reason that I am recommending this model is that Kathy's sister IS NOT EDITING PHOTOS!! For "General Computing" and a budget of $3000, I'd recommend a 24" iMac, but with a few upgrades. Since the new 24" iMac is basically a sealed unit, and the RAM & GPU is "unified" with the CPU, meaning the RAM, Graphics Chip and CPU chip are all integrated on a single chip, there is NO UPGRADING AFTER THE INITIAL PURCHASE. So it's important to configure things correctly now to get the most life out of your computer. First, head to the 24" iMac Section. Start with the model all the way on the right, yes...this is the most expensive option, but with this model, it has all upgrades available. Then select the color you wish. Personally, I'd pick Silver but that's just me. Then Click the SELECT Button for the $1699 24" iMac. Now start upgrading things: Upgrade the RAM to 16GB Upgrade the HD to 1TB Upgrade the Keyboard (Optional) Personally, I find the Keyboard with the built-in number pad is totally worth the extra $30. If she likes the small keyboard you can leave this at the default. The real important thing is to upgrade the RAM and HD. Click Add to bag. Then select three years of AppleCare for $169.00. (Prices may vary depending on your Country, I'm in the US.) Yes, AppleCare is worth it. Apple is the only one who fixes their stuff. Authorized Repair Centers are few-and-far-between. Click Add to bag, then click Review your bag. It should look like this: The cost of my configuration, including my local sales tax is $2435.88. So call it $2500-ish for a 24" iMac, depending on your local tax rates. Shipping is free so that's a plus. This fits well within her $3000 budget. Now, when I configure things, I have a 7 year time-frame in mind; I want my computers to last at least 7-8 years. This is why I feel that it's important to upgrade to 16GB of RAM and increase the storage to at least 1TB. While it's true that the M1 Chip treats RAM more efficiently, and 8GB on a M1 Chip is more like 16GB on a Intel CPU Chip, RAM is RAM, and if you are the type of person who likes using Chrome with 150 tabs open, "Because they are all important!!" you are going to want 16GB of RAM, which acts more like 32GB of RAM on a Intel CPU. Make sense? Plus, since it's built on the CPU chip and in 4 years time you are finding that 8GB just isn't enough...too-bad-so-sad, you are buying a new Mac to get more. I'd rather spend a few hundred now than a few thousand in 3-4 years. Buy it Right...Buy it Once. Why do I NOT recommend a 24" iMac for photo editing? On the surface it looks fine, but you can not calibrate the screen!! That's right, even the modern Calibration Devices such as the SpyderX line ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE 24" IMAC DISPLAY!!! Hopefully things will change because since Apple quietly discontinued the 27" iMac, it's really difficult not to recommend a Mac "That's Good for Photo Editing..." at a $5200 price-point. Apple has a hole in their line-up; we have a "General Computing Model," such as this one we are talking about, but not "Advanced" Model that is good for Photo Editing that is "Affordable." Sure, there is the new Mac Studio and 27" Display, but by the time you are done you are around $5200 for a stupid Mac Computer. That's an insane amount of money to spend on a computer, but welcome to 2022/2023 pricing.