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In June 2018, I bought a new 21.5in iMac
with 1TB hard drive storage to replace an
earlier model that could not be upgraded.
From the outset it ran slowly, took minutes
to do virtually anything and was generally
a disappointment. I spent hours on the
phone to AppleCare and got nowhere.
The beachball was constantly present.
An Apple repairer could not find anything wrong and so, for 18 months,
I have lived with my SlowMac.
Now, you’ve solved the problem in the answer to ‘Booting Catalina
from a hard drive’ (Genius Tips, MF #349). Why, I wonder, is Apple selling
computers with hardware that does not work well with the operating
system or why does it produce an OS that does not work well with the
hardware. You advised your correspondent to have an SSD fitted; my local
authorised Apple repairer, CAD of High Wycombe, will charge £415 to
supply and fit a 1TB SSD to my iMac. Time to raid the piggy bank!
BY ROY PEMBROKEROB SAYS...
We completely agree. It seems somewhat bizarre that Apple continues
to offer a 5400rpm hard drive as the default option on its entry-level
and mid-range 21.5in iMacs, especially
when they perform so slowly – something
we’ve noted in reviews previously. We
recommend that anyone buying one of
these machines should at least pay the
extra £90 and upgrade to a 1TB Fusion
Drive instead, although they really should
be the default option by now.
We recently encountered an identical
issue with a friend’s machine, only they
opted to install macOS on an external 1TB
SSD and boot directly from that. Result?
A more reasonable £240 price tag and
vastly increased iMac performance.USB DILEMMAS
Apple’s argument that switching to USB-C
for iPhones (MF #349) would create a
mountain of waste totally negates their
argument for only putting USB-C sockets
on their laptops about four years ago. What
a mountain of dongles and adapters thatLETTER OF THE MONTH!
Have your say on all things Apple!
Q LETTER OF
THE MONTHcreated. Now we’ve adapted to one connector
we can use to connect all our stuff together,
Apple is dragging its heels on allowing us to
add the iPhone to the USB-C club.
Even if Apple goes completely wireless
with the iPhone, the wireless charger will be
yet another piece of disposable gear that
won’t work on the iPad or laptop, so chargers
for both will be needed. The only beneficiary
of this decision will be Apple’s bottom line.
I hope the EU prevails in getting Apple to
switch to USB-C for iPhones.
BY ARTHUR GOODINGROB SAYS...
We have boxes of dongles that can attest
to this. What do other readers think?HEARPODS # 2
Clive Foster’s idea of adapting AirPods as
hearing aids (MF #349) is a good one, and I
expect the technology is already in place to
make this happen, if it is decided to do so. Just
one reservation: some people with hearing
problems are sensitive about appearing so.
That is why hearing aids are always flesh-
coloured and fit behind or in the ear. AirPods
are always evident in appearance.
Another approach might be the use of
non-surgical bone conduction hearing devices
that could be incorporated into the arms of VR
sets. These would have to be the ones that
look like conventional spectacles, like Google
Glass. A device like this would be unobtrusive.
This would complement Apple’s movement
towards being a healthcare company.
BY DAVID SEYMOURThe author of our Letter
of the Month receives a
prize! Email us for your
chance to win an AirFly
Pro – the wireless
headphone Bluetooth
transmitter, perfect for
use with Apple’s AirPods
and AirPods Pro. Find out
more at twelvesouth.com.Contact us
Email your queries
and your questions to
[email protected]12 | MACFORMAT | APRIL 2020
The entry-level and mid-range 21.5in iMacs still come
with 5400rpm hard drives - no wonder they’re so slow.Win an AirFly Pro!