My assistant has been doing a huge amount of work for us for free. I want to buy her a new Mac Mini so she can use the same Mac programs we use, instead of Google and MS products.

I am going to get her the new M1 chip Mini. I bought one when they came out and it is wonderful.

She is going to buy the monitor herself. What should I recommend?

LG UltraFine 5K Display 27 inches
$1,299.95

LG UltraFine 4K Display 23 inches
$699.95

or a Dell ultrasharp 34 inch?

I have a 7 year old Dell UltraSharp U3415W 34-Inch Curved LED-Lit Monitor and it is superb.

I think it might be better to have a Thunderbolt 3 connector type, but I guess we could get her an adaptor.

The mini has an HDMI connector, so the monitor doesn't need Tbolt3.

What kind of work is she doing? Those LG's are some of the best short of the new Apple display, but they may be overkill, depending on her financial status. Nothing wrong with them at all, but she may be abale to get something that meets her needs for half the price.

So the question is, what's the use case?

this 27" HP 4k is a really nice display at around $500:

[www.amazon.com]

Quote
clay
this 27" HP 4k is a really nice display at around $500:

[www.amazon.com]

That's the one I went with and I've been happy with it.

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Unless shes photo/video editing, $1300 on a monitor is overkill x3.

LOTS of excellent 4K 27" screens out there for $3-400 -- that will make your 7 year old Dell look awful =)

Non 4K 27" will get you under $300.

$700 mini (provided you are getting the base model) + $1300 screen is damn near a really nice 27" iMac, which is an excellent mac. (intel or not) -- I don't think I could recommend that to any of my clients.

$700 mini + $300si 27" 4K screen... that's better.

these guys like an LG

[www.amazon.com]

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2020 03:58PM by jdc.

While it is really generous to gift your assistant a Mac mini, recommending she buy a monitor that costs as much or more just seems odd... Especially for the work it sounds like does.

The run of the mill 4k or 1440p 27" monitor sounds about right for this situation. I just bought a pair of Lenovo 27" 1440p (factory color calibrated) for $250/each.

Quote
Gareth
While it is really generous to gift your assistant a Mac mini, recommending she buy a monitor that costs as much or more just seems odd... Especially for the work it sounds like does.

The run of the mill 4k or 1440p 27" monitor sounds about right for this situation. I just bought a pair of Lenovo 27" 1440p (factory color calibrated) for $250/each.

1440p is just fine if the work is not photo/video work

I have two LG 32" 4K monitors that I paid $299 each for at Sam's. Best Buy had them on BF for $279 each. Unless your assistant makes a lot of money, or as mentioned above needs them for critical video or photo editing, $1,300 for a 27" 5K monitor is serious overkill.

My wife and I both really like our 34" Ultra Wide HD monitors 3440-1440.

Not 4k, but they can be purchased for $400.

If you have a Microcenter near you or can find one willing to ship it, you can get a really nice deal ($330) on this Dell S2721QS 27” 4K IPS display: [www.microcenter.com]

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It is what it is.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2020 05:37PM by N-OS X-tasy!.

thanks, everyone! I hear and obey