Mac OS Monterey 2015 27" monitor hook up?? OR New Mac? But which one?
I am currently in need of upgrading Mac OS Monterey 2015 to enable the running of SketchUp Pro 2022-24, plus Indesign, Photoshop and a few similar grade software, and if I can ever afford it thirsty 'Vectorworks!'
I have tried to research and educate myself - as much as I can handle anyway- as to what my afforable options are, as I am just setting up my business and funds are low, but updating is neccessary to gain work.
My Mac has really slowed down and not performing as it used to. I bought a Lenovo Yoga laptop to get me through my studies which just manages all but Vectorworks. I struggle with windows as my day to day pc however as I'm used to Apple plus, the ease of airdrop from iphone - ipad - imac etc.
I love the old Monterey iMac 27'' screen as it seems lots of people do too. I have looked into how I can still use this if I purchase an upgrade to Mac mini, Studio or Macbook Pro by buying the 'Astropad Luna Display' and installing the app, as Target Display Mode is not an option on this monitor.
Is there anyone out there that is using the same old monitor this way? Also it would be great to use the monitor with my old ipad pro OS, of which I'm think I read can be done in this way too.
(All the Apple dealers I have asked so far say otherwise, or that its quite complicated! Ha).
Next thought is- RE: RAMming it up to 16 or even better 32GB (not sure if 32 is possible??) by configuring my old iMac. There are apparantly 2 empty memory ports (currently got only 8GB as 2 x 4 GB). I was wondering if at least 2 x 8GB memory sticks can be added?
This would be great for the memory requirements needed for SketchUp and Vectorworks software, but then the processor and graphics may still not be up to scratch?! By the time I've bought the above to try and 'make do' for a bit longer, I may well end up wasting this money and still need to make the bigger purchase on a new Mac.
I am also unsure if I should bother to pay for software to clean up the Mac too - would that help with it now operating more slowly than it used to, even after uninstalling the CAD software. It is probably the amount of photos I store on it?
I would still want to keep my 27'' monitor regardless - heartbraking to get rid when it is still soooo good. Surely I could still use it somehow.
Any answers to my queries, or kind suggestions will be really helpful to enable me to decide on what to do. I have a 15 year tech-gap out of the work place - it's crazy hard trying to catch up with the world and make a decent living! Help would be sooooo much appreciated.
(Working as a Gardener was much less costly & complicated, but I can't replace my back!)
iMac 27″, macOS 12.7