There’s something slightly odd about the new iMac. Something about the design just doesn’t feel… well… balanced I guess.
Usually when I hear that there’s a new piece of mac hardware I visit apple.com and make the appropriate ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ noises, but this time it was more of a ‘oo…er… hmm’.
Maybe the new iMac just ‘looks’ un-balanced, maybe it’s just me… what do you think?
Check out a similar discussion over at AndyBudd.com.
My fave compact apple design of recent years was the G4 Cube. That ‘was’ a really nice looking object.
Don’t forget that the iMac has always been a consumer-level machine. Many are saying it’s a downside that you can’t upgrade various components, but you’ve never been able to do so. (Also, even in “standard” PCs, something like 98% of people never upgrade a single thing once they take it out of the shop, and Apple provides the towers for those that do want to upgrade.)
The VESA-mounting capability is the big winner IMO. Still, as this is an Apple product, I wouldn’t touch it for three months, until it becomes apparent whether or not it has major problems (G5 fans. anyone?)
I agree that more and more computers will be designed this way, indeed maybe the next iMac will be a laptop/desktop…?
The only downside for the user to this approach is the lack of flexibility which is offered by ‘boxed’ desktops. If you want to add another graphics card and tag on another monitor then the iMac ain’t for you.
RE the comment regarding the stand… obviously I know that the stand ‘is’ stable… but for me it should ‘look’ stable too… form follows function and all that.
1. They fit a G5 brick and everything else in something 2” thick. Thats remarkable.
2. That stand is prefect for the body – it may look light & you may think it to be unsturdy… but it wouldn’t be released if that were true.
3. Computers are going to start to be designed this way more and more. There won’t be desktops/laptops… there will end up being a hybrid that works like both. This is a great step in this direction.
4. I like the look of the flex-arm iMac, but this is even cleaner in my opinion.
The cables run through the hole in the back of the stand. Also, it’s worth noting that this iMac detaches from the stand and can be attached to standard supports.
I reckon the lack of RAM is a big mistake, but other than that, it’s a decent design. It certainly looks a whole lot better than the iLamp.
Oh, and the iPod thing is very obviously intentional—it’s part of the product marketing, and useful, given the iPod’s current reach.
I wonder why they always forget the cables on these slick photos? I’m just trying to imagine how this thing might look if you have the whole assortment of USB, firewire, keyboard, headphones, microphone, vibrator, etc. plugged in?
Nasty +1
Think it’s going to look a lot worse once you plug about a dozen cables in the back. Why didn’t they run the cables down the center support?
The 17inch version of the iMac weighs 18.5 pounds, which is about the same as my 5 and a half month old daughter. She’s better looking than the iMac though.
We have ‘handheld’ PC’s like that, think they’re Fujitsu Siemens. The only problem is they weigh an absolute ton! :s
I’m pretty sure I’ve actually seen a PC where the gubbins all fit neatly behind the screen before… and some time ago… maybe Fujitsu or something… :? Anyone else? I’ll see what I can find on google…
hmm!
Looks like the foot should be the other way up, sort of like a mounting bracket for the wall…
Hehe, yea, that’s about right. iPod on a stick. If the base ‘looked’ heavier maybe I’d like it.
A friend of mine said:’it looks like an oversized i-pod’.
It also looks like functionality design has won over form. I’d say it’s a daring step; going for functionality over form.
Exactly, it looks like if you nudged it by mistake the whole thing would just tople over… I preferred the ‘old’ iMac with the half globe base and anglepoise screen arm.
I maybe be in the minority here, but I actually like it. I do agree it looks like one scuff on the side and it’s falling over, but I’m sure the QA department would have tested for that. Last of vertical alterations isn’t a big issue for somebody like myself as I rarely alter the monitor hieght anyway.
It’s compact, sleek ,looks much better than the original iMacs, much more traditional looking verses some of their other designs. I’d give it a shot.
Yeah, it looks too thick and heavy to fit on that spindly leg. Like a laptop on a pole.