Enjoying a Big Mac (iMac, that is)!

For those of you who regularly read the Senior Lawyers Section Council Newsletter (which should be all of you), you may have noticed that We/I like to write about the latest from Apple, which I have usually recently purchased. After a brief spell of “small is cool”—e.g. the iPhones 4 and 5 (including the s versions), and the iPad Minis, I came to the realization that “big is better”—e.g. the iPhone. 6+ and 6s+, as well as the iPad Pro. This change in thinking about the importance of size (I have a call in to my therapist about this) is not only due to senior eyesight, but also to the amazing features that these larger versions of the latest technology have to offer.

Apple describes its two versions of iMac (its desktop computer) as “colossal and ginormous,” and they aren’t kidding. The two models have 21.5” and 27” (diagonal) monitors. I, of course, had to have the 27” model which has to be seen in person to believe. It is truly huge—you literally have to move the computer back on your desk to see it all without having to turn your head! Its size, however,. is not just what it is all about. That huge screen is more than that—it’s the whole computer. The retina 5K (14.7 million pixels) display panel is only 1.4mm thick and the whole enclosure is only 5mm thick at its edges. I say enclosure because it is the entire computer—i.e. display, processor, camera, graphics, storage and memory, all behind the display in a tapered few inches of back cover. From the front, all you see is the display and the base stand. In the back,. there are 4 USB 3 ports, an SDXC.card slot, 2 Thunderbolt 2 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet connector, a Kensington lock slot and a headphone jack. The mouse and keyboard are wireless so your desk is not covered with tangled cords leaving lots of room for those piles of files and documents, which you keep planning to complete.

This amazing machine also has a FaceTime HD camera (the grandkids are virtually life-size when FaceTiming), stereo speakers and dual microphones. If speed is what you want/need (and who doesn’t?), you can get a .4.0 GHz processor, 3 TB Fusion Drive or 1 TB flash storage for memory and a 1.3 Gbps Wi-Fi data rate. I have no idea what all that means, but I can assure you, it is faster than any computer you have ever used!

While I’m sure you are impressed, I know you are wondering why you should consider switching away from Windows (which you never really learned) to a whole new operating system? You are already nervous at the thought of “starting over” with technology at your age. Well, breathe deeply and relax. Talk about “userfriendly”—you can set up and operate this computer literally right out ofthe box. As with most Apple products, it does all the work. All you have to do is find and press the power switch on the back oft he monitor/computer and follow the prompts. It finds your Wi-Fi network and connects, sets up your mail and calendar, transfers. your Favorites for use with Safari (Apple’s browser,—although you can use others) and loads your contacts, etc. from your now-discarded PC. It comes loaded with 18 main apps including Pages, Numbers and Keynote (the Apple equivalents of Microsoft Office’s Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and another 33 apps/utilities. Included are Messages, Maps, Reminders, Photos, iMovie, FaceTime, Notes, iBooks and the App Store, so that you can download over a million more!

One of the big fears in leaving Windows for OS X (Apple’s operating system) is that none of your previous “stuff’ will be. compatible and work on your new computer. Not true—almost everything does. You may have to download a Mac version of a few of the apps, but the data syncs and is not lost. Using Pages instead of Word is, in my opinion, a lot easier. More importantly, you can save Pages’ documents in Word format (e.g. this article) so that you can share and work on them with those who are still squinting to see their tiny screens and using Windows. The same applies to Numbers/Excel and PowerPoint/Keynote. You can, of course, also share most of the features of your Mac with other iOS devices such as your iPhone and iPad.

I could go on and on about why you “need” this latest from Apple, but you are probably still back trying to picture what a 27” Retina 5K display would look like in your office or home. With the gigantic screen, you can move between several apps all running at the same time on the same screen, while you listen to some Frank Sinatra in the background. So your IT guy may whine a little about compatibility with your office VPN, but tell him/her to. get over it and make it work. At home, there is no excuse—you want this. Yes, it is a desktop but, when you decide to leave the house, just take your iPad Pro (with the Keyboard Cover and Apple Pencil) along and you will have it all with you (either to Court or to the beach).

Finally on the display size, you shouldn’t settle for the 21.5”just because you think the 27” is for graphics and/or gamer types. I can assure you that your senior eyes will appreciate the detail and clarity, not to mention the ability to actually see rather than imagine all that is on the screen. And, perhaps more importantly, your grand kids will think you are really awesome! 