Somebody had to do it. Really.

August 31, 2004 6:25 PM

Following a long history of innovative designs Apple has created a loyal following. Today they released their newest iMac into the wild.
posted by elwoodwiles (99 comments total)

Wow, all the photoshop prognosticators were pretty much spot-on.
posted by kevspace at 6:29 PM on August 31, 2004

a Pepsi Blue, and a vibrating broom.

I don't love it, and i wonder how the heat from the hard drive will affect the screen.
posted by amberglow at 6:34 PM on August 31, 2004

I honestly didn't like the iLamp design a whole bunch. I like how this has a more compact footprint and clean lines. It's minimalist, but looks distinctive. Can you hang it on a wall?
posted by elwoodwiles at 6:37 PM on August 31, 2004

All of the ports are on the back, elwood, so probably not. I think I like this, but I definitely thought the swivel-arm iMac was teh hotness, so.

God I miss Pepsi Blue.
posted by logovisual at 6:48 PM on August 31, 2004

I don't want the computer tucked into the screen. I want the computer to disappear entirely. I want a bajillion teraflops to come out of the wall like electricity or water, and to be able to partition it into as many virtual Macs, PCs, Linux boxes or whatever that I happen to need. I don't want to hear a fan or a a drive or even be reminded that those things exist. If I need physical access to a CD or DVD-ROM drive I'll get a network-attached one and plug it into to the wall as well and netmount it to whatever virtual machine I happen to be using. The right place for a computer is in the utility closet, next to the fusebox and other stuff that under normal circumstances you don't have to even think about.

I want copious amounts of invisible, reliable, non-branded commodity computing and I want it now.
posted by George_Spiggott at 6:49 PM on August 31, 2004

what he said. : >
posted by amberglow at 6:55 PM on August 31, 2004

The G4 iMac screen has that neat quality of just sorta floating out there in space. This one... doesn't. It has the appearance of heaviness, and comes complete with the stench of one of Gateway's old design turds.
posted by Galvatron at 6:56 PM on August 31, 2004

ParisParamus thanks you.
posted by dash_slot- at 6:59 PM on August 31, 2004

elwoodwiles - "The iMac offers the smallest footprint ever, but you can make that zero with an optional VESA mount. Hang it from the wall or swing it around on your desk. (Coming soon to the Apple store.)"
posted by Guy Smiley at 7:00 PM on August 31, 2004

Still no black, dang it.

*Goes back to coloring iPod and assorted Apple hardware with a Sharpie*
posted by stet at 7:07 PM on August 31, 2004

It's basically an iBook on a stand, no? With that said, it looks nice.

And you people with your "Pepsi Blue" shout outs! It's like Metafilter's own version of tourettes. Sheesh.
posted by gwint at 7:10 PM on August 31, 2004

looks familiar
posted by specialk420 at 7:13 PM on August 31, 2004

4. profit!
Pancakes!
Pike!
posted by shoepal at 7:15 PM on August 31, 2004

I want George's computer. *WAH*
posted by Dick Paris at 7:16 PM on August 31, 2004

It was only a couple of months ago that Steve Jobs was saying that vertically mounting a DVD/CD/other optical drive would affect its performance, right?
posted by tapeguy at 7:16 PM on August 31, 2004

Yeh. This solution totally doesn't let the screen be the screen and the computer be the computer, yo.
posted by bonaldi at 7:19 PM on August 31, 2004

Apple has a new, overpriced, overdesigned, underpowered, difficult to upgrade, computer out.
So does Dell, so does, Alienware, so does Cappucino, so what.

This is FPP worthy?
posted by bashos_frog at 7:23 PM on August 31, 2004

What is Pepsi Blue?
posted by a3matrix at 7:30 PM on August 31, 2004

Not to mention that a similar form factor has been popular for desktops in Japan for a couple of years already, and I still dont like it.
posted by bashos_frog at 7:31 PM on August 31, 2004

Hey, George_Spiggott, got any links with info about how to set something like that up? Or just any buzzwords? I want one too.
posted by bitpart at 7:31 PM on August 31, 2004

I don't know why I feel like sharing this, but it gives me a chuckle every time I reflect on it....

When my stubborn grandfather first used a cordless mouse, the batteries ran out on him. He started yelling for me, and I came in to find him moving the mouse across the monitor screen in frustration.
posted by Mach3avelli at 7:34 PM on August 31, 2004

I want a (new) PC designed by the Woz. Or George's utility computing connections.
posted by bashos_frog at 7:37 PM on August 31, 2004

This is FPP worthy?

Of course not, but MeFi has a well-established track record of giving Apple a free pass once every couple of months. Sit back, relax, and let the pleasant waves of the reality distortion field wash over you. Or, alternatively, feel free to shit all over the overpriced, overhyped eye-candy. In an Apple Thread, It's All Good, Baby.
posted by Galvatron at 7:37 PM on August 31, 2004

what is pepsi blue?

*slap!*

I don't like Macs and I would never buy one, but I gots to say this looks pretty sweet. So, it's basically just a notebook on a stand, right? We're not breaking ground here, we're not reinventing anything here are we?

I think this is FPP worthy.
posted by graventy at 7:46 PM on August 31, 2004

I don't dig the styling, and I'm steadily giving up on nonportable machines over the years anyways, but seeing as how they managed to cram a G5 into such a small space, it's a fair bet they're a chip rev or two away from wedging one into a laptop, which might actually be interesting -- the G4 CPU is getting pretty long in the tooth. It'll only take up to 2G of memory, which is kind of paltry these days. Just make sure you don't buy the RAM from Apple; they want an additional $1100 for what amounts to $400 worth of memory on the open market.

Frankly, I'm kind of surprised the whole thing isn't made out of ugly-ass brushed-ish steel, since that's the direction Apple seems to be taking their software. Shape-wise, it just about fits the hideous Steel Look, but that's not a good thing.

It's an improvement over the toilet seat iBook design, though, which I'd argue was the ugliest thing Apple put out since the Apple //+.
posted by majick at 7:50 PM on August 31, 2004

What if I want to buy a new monitor?
posted by reklaw at 7:51 PM on August 31, 2004

It would have looked less weird if there wasn't all that white space below the monitor itself, i think...Why isn't the whole front the monitor?
posted by amberglow at 7:52 PM on August 31, 2004

difficult to upgrade

It appears appears to be more accesible. Images also on apple's site.

Of course, the joke on slashdot was that that means it can't be a real imac.
posted by weston at 7:52 PM on August 31, 2004

Modern living starts at $1299.

Pity all those third worlders living in the stone age.
posted by iamck at 7:56 PM on August 31, 2004

I'm stunned by the lack of visible, end-user-meaningful technical innovation. It looks more like a practice-run at a G5 Powerbook (or a wilfully crippled Power Mac) than something really new. If they had offered us an expandable Cube with a decent front-side bus speed and a companion 802.11g monitor/graphics pad, I'd be a happy camper.

BTW Apple, I'm still waiting for someone to break Wacom's monopoly on graphics tablets.... I'm fucked if I'm giving $$$ to the Moonies.
posted by stonerose at 8:02 PM on August 31, 2004

Yeah, yeah, sh*t on the thread. Or rather, offer something useful instead.

Here we are, crying about computing in the future. A terabyte is less than 1000 dollars, or to be precise 840 dollars. Continue with the article and they are talking 10 terabytes per person-soon.

How far have we come in computing? This far. I wish we had petaflops at the desktop, but look where we started, so to speak.

I don't get the comparison of Apple to Dell, or any of the other manufactures. Apple is a system - Dell is a box.

Anyways, for what it is worth I thank Apple for some of their technology introductions over the years, because otherwise we would not have seen them in the market. Need to be wowed by what 2 grand can buy, go see a demo of Final Cut Pro.

In final, I work on three PCs and a Unix (Sun, Mac and Linux) network. I hate all computers at this point. I drank your Pepsi Blue and burp it back at you. Stop your whining and skip the thread if don't like it. Matt designed the software for just that - I won't miss your moaning.
posted by fluffycreature at 8:05 PM on August 31, 2004

I don't want the computer tucked into the screen. I want ... and I want it now.

Well. I think you've got your wish just right this time George. I don't think even I can find a way to bedevil you this time.

Just don't forget your "Julie Aaaannddreeewwws..."
posted by mmahaffie at 8:09 PM on August 31, 2004

The segment of the population Apple is targeting with the iMac, for the most part, is people who don't necessarily worry about upgradeability. I mean look at PR video. Nobody in that is working with Maya or ProTools or some other high-end application.

Apart from adding more RAM to make things run more smoothly, no activity/hobby/work that Apple designs its iMacs around requires adding additional PCI cards and the like.

So if you're worrying about upgradeability get a Power Mac or build a Windows/Linux box yourself or something. If you're worrying about portability, don't buy a desktop machine. If you're worrying about not being able to get a new, bigger monitor, don't buy an all-in-one.
posted by emelenjr at 8:13 PM on August 31, 2004

Mac is targeting freshman going off to school. just like they did with the first IMAC back in 1998. maybe get a few of you hipsters as well. That's all. Not the nerds, not those that complain about teraflops, or anyone else that probably goes to this site as well.

the fact that the first Imac came out when i was a freshman in college makes me feel old.
posted by graventy at 8:19 PM on August 31, 2004

the G4 CPU is getting pretty long in the tooth. It'll only take up to 2G of memory, which is kind of paltry these days.

er, it's a G5. Also, 2G of RAM is 2-4 times enough for a consumer-level (not pro) PC. Christ, even Doom 3 is more than playable with only 1G.
posted by clevershark at 8:23 PM on August 31, 2004

this is more expensive tho--it should be under a thou, especially since you still have get more ram.
posted by amberglow at 8:23 PM on August 31, 2004

bitpart: The buzzword is the "network PC", and it was one of those things that was right around the corner about ten years ago. It's perfectly achievable if all you want is a UNIX; it works that way out of the box. You can build a silent, no-moving-parts X workstation client rather easily out of something like the VIA Epia board, and stick the real computing horsepower somewhere where you don't have to look at it. Windows is much harder to virtualize (partly by design, but let's not go there) and you probably would have to leave Mac out of it: robust, enterprise-grade Mac emulation doesn't exist as far as I know. Anyway, if you have lots of time and money, things like VMware, Citrix and user-mode Linux get you part of the way. In their own ways they allow you to have multiple virtual PCs with distributed display clients, but you still need some kind of networked device to plug your screen, keyboard, mouse, speakers, pen-tablet, etc. into... so you end up having what is technically a computer on or near your desk anyway. However, you can build a tiny, low-wattage machine with no moving parts to do that using something like the VIA Epia board. Then you wire up your house for ethernet and spend lots of time and money building the server, and while you could eventually get it to the point where you could run most Windows and all Linux productivity apps on it, you'd be out of luck when it came to graphics-intensive PC games -- they have to talk to the hardware, no virtualizing possible there.

In short, it's a nice dream; any aspect of which is roughly two-thirds achievable but you'll go mad and/or broke, not necessarily in that order, trying to accomplish that other third.
posted by George_Spiggott at 8:25 PM on August 31, 2004

Tablet PCs aren't not too much more - and some are around the same price - and seem to offer everything that this Apple form factor does while also enabling touch screen operating or (for some of them) flip-around-pivot notebook operation.

I expect Apple's new form factor to enjoy similar success. Seriously, sales wise on the low end it's all been downhill since the all-in-one iMac. The iLamp sales were definitely uninspiring.

You can't run a company the size of Apple with narrow margins from licensing music downloads and rapidly-commoditizing portable audio players. Good luck.
posted by meehawl at 8:26 PM on August 31, 2004

graventy: The fact that the first Mac came out when I was a senior in college makes me feel really old.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 8:27 PM on August 31, 2004

Some of these guesses about what the new G5 would look like were pretty close to the mark.
posted by Alison at 8:36 PM on August 31, 2004

i second the motion for real competition for Wacom... Ive heard the new Flash won't support *any* tablets but Wacom
posted by Satapher at 8:38 PM on August 31, 2004

I'm totally getting a Logan's Run/2001/Fahrenheit 451 vibe off of the new design. It feels sort of like the future, thirty years ago, when all technology would be encased in featureless white squares and recessed panels. Not that there's anything wrong with that. So I guess what I'm saying is that the art direction in those movies totally nailed the future, at least as far as Apple is concerned.

Now if only I could get this damned life jewel to stop blinking.
posted by mmcg at 8:42 PM on August 31, 2004

I think it looks a lot like a 20th anniversary mac. Like a lot.
posted by Space Coyote at 8:54 PM on August 31, 2004

Comes with only 256 MB RAM standard? Eeesh.
posted by falconred at 9:03 PM on August 31, 2004

Mac is targeting freshman going off to school. just like they did with the first IMAC back in 1998.

This model is infinitely more, ahh, stealable, or something. Easier to steal. It can be stolen with greater ease in college/university residences.

You can tell that when the first iMac came out, I'd been out of University for about ten years. We had Amigas, Macs, NeXT, and Windows 3.1! And no email.
posted by juiceCake at 9:19 PM on August 31, 2004

Now if only I could get this damned life jewel to stop blinking.

*hands mmcg an ankh and whispers "sanctuary"*
posted by amberglow at 9:25 PM on August 31, 2004

The design doesn't excite because, essentially, it's a screen.

Wonder if iPod-like color and texture are next?
posted by ParisParamus at 9:30 PM on August 31, 2004

I think what's next is an iMac mini, one that also functions as a tablet. Hmm.
posted by josephtate at 9:39 PM on August 31, 2004

Argh. Don't you people get it? It looks like a giant iPod. Consistant branding. (Heh.)
posted by Tlogmer at 9:48 PM on August 31, 2004

I wonder how much crossover/canibalization there will be between the new iMac and ibooks/powerbooks. Or, for example, not buying a second mac for a weekend house, or home (v. office)? Will there be ibook carrying cases to make this new mac more portable (if 18, or 25 lbs can be)?
posted by ParisParamus at 9:50 PM on August 31, 2004

Sorry for the trollishness before, the wankfest that follows every Apple product launch just grates after a while.
Does anyone remember the last iMac launch?

"Rather than glom all these things together and ruin them all, why not let each thing be true to itself?" said Jobs, explaining the rationale behind the iMac's new design.

heh.

To throw a compliment their way, I really like the skin they put on unix, although terminal is the app I wind up using the most, when using my wife's computer.
posted by bashos_frog at 9:53 PM on August 31, 2004

I'm afraid of terminal myself--is there a terminal for Dummies or anything online? what's so good about it? is it like dos used to be?
posted by amberglow at 9:59 PM on August 31, 2004

$50 says there'll be a next generation that's a tablet.
posted by abcde at 9:59 PM on August 31, 2004

I think George Might be looking for something like this.
Here is an article on the system as well.
The new iMac just doesn't do it for me either.
posted by Restlessavenger at 10:00 PM on August 31, 2004

Perhaps they needed to spread the parts out a little further apart than could be done inside the little dome thing to keep the processor away from the hard drive. The flat arrangement is sort of like an XServe with a screen glued to it and the whole works propped up on a stand. I'm guessing they aren't sinking too much cash into custom parts for the iMacs anymore and are letting the portable and tower models take up the sales numbers.

Again, though, this is all from not having seen one in person. The desk lamp looked pretty awkward in its first pics, but after seeing one and touching it, etc., I was in love. The G5 inside this machine will go a long way towards making up for lack of cuteness for me.
posted by Space Coyote at 10:21 PM on August 31, 2004

graventy, turtles - the fact that I still have my PowerComputing Mac clone in the closet, ready to roll, makes me feel both old and confused.

Amberglow: start here. Or maybe here (TOC).

All y'all: doubts expressed herein sound just like me on the topic of iPod at intro and up through today (cf. cassette v. iPod). Buy Apple stock while you can, because I was soooooo wrong. Apparently I still am.
posted by mwhybark at 10:23 PM on August 31, 2004

amberglow: I'm afraid of terminal myself--is there a terminal for Dummies or anything online? what's so good about it? is it like dos used to be?

Terminal for dummies - I don't know...that might be along the lines of "Chainsaws for Klutzes", but I'm sure there are a few resources online to learn the basics.

what's so good about it? - Read this. (It's long but interesting)

is it like dos used to be? Visually, yes. Functionality-wise, hell no.
posted by bashos_frog at 10:31 PM on August 31, 2004

"er, it's a G5"

Yeah, that's kind of why I was making the point that this thing's a dry run for getting the G5 into a portable -- the G4, which is used in the portables -- is getting long in the tooth.
posted by majick at 10:32 PM on August 31, 2004

I'm not crazy about it either, I like my G4 laptop just fine. It runs UT'04 nice and quick and runs everything else just fine too.

As always, there is an awful lot of bitching and moaning from folks who aren't the target demographic.

And meehawl, congratulations on dragging out that tired old crap about the imminent demise of Apple. It just wouldn't be an Apple thread without it.
posted by fenriq at 10:45 PM on August 31, 2004

Comes with only 256 MB RAM standard? Eeesh.

good lord ! *hugs her 2 gigs ram, pets it, and loves it, and names it george*

it's pretty, but i'll never need a mac.
posted by t r a c y at 10:53 PM on August 31, 2004

Now this is a sleek machine.
posted by inksyndicate at 10:59 PM on August 31, 2004

I'm more partial to something like this.
posted by bashos_frog at 11:02 PM on August 31, 2004

...whispers "sanctuary"

Fish, and plankton, and sea greens, and protein from the sea!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 1:13 AM on September 1, 2004

Just recently upgraded to 1 GB of RAM from 608 MB. Still not enough to keep my 2.4 GHZ P4 from periodically coughing and sputtering.

Of course, I'm usually running two browsers, Illustrator and Fireworks and maybe Photoshop and probably acrobat and Excel and Access and Word and GAIM and an FTP client and maybe 2-3 other apps at once.But still... I can easily see where the desire for more RAM comes from.
posted by weston at 1:51 AM on September 1, 2004

I like the design, but Apples are hidiously overpriced in the UK. Somebody needs to tell them that 1GBP buys more than $1.
posted by salmacis at 2:51 AM on September 1, 2004

It's the first important piece of Apple kit that I haven't immediately loved the apperance of in a long long time.
posted by nthdegx at 4:48 AM on September 1, 2004

I can't imagine needing to buy one of those huge G5 towers now - these will do anything I need to do. The only reason to even consider something more would be for a dedicated video work station.

I don't quite get all this talk about upgrading. I bought a G4 tower a few years ago and haven't had to change a thing. It works what could I possibly need to add?

What I always chuckle about is their product photos. They always look so great until you start hooking up keyboards, printers, and hard drives to them. You kind of lose those clean lines with a mess of cords sticking out the back.
posted by cmacleod at 5:01 AM on September 1, 2004

It's the first important piece of Apple kit that I haven't immediately loved the apperance of in a long long time.

Yeah, me too, and I'm kind of surprised. It's powerful, has a nice big screen (for $500 less than I paid for my iMac with a 17" monitor last year), and all that, but it's just... visually uninspiring to me.

Plus, to my mind, it's less functionality than I have become used to with my iLamp. I love the way I can move the monitor around and have it float right over the keyboard. I'm near-sighted and so having the adjustable monitor has been a godsend. Not being able to do that anymore would drive me nuts.

But on the other hand, I had to see my iMac in person to really decide I had to have one, so maybe this one is more impressive in person. Time to visit the Apple Store...
posted by litlnemo at 5:21 AM on September 1, 2004

The thing to note is that this is a CONSUMER level computer. It's not meant for pros... video, design, etc. So, for the price, it is an amazing accomplishment. Don't discount the fact that it runs OS X... very powerful & modern. PLUS comes with all the great iLife applications.
posted by scalz at 5:22 AM on September 1, 2004

cmacleod: the cable problem is going away, though- with bluetooth keyboard/mouse/printer, and Airport Express for audio-out, you're basically down to the power cord for most people.
posted by louie at 5:34 AM on September 1, 2004

does anyone know how difficult/expensive it is to hook up, in a effect, a "television tuner" to a computer; a Mac. I'm thinking of getting the larger iMac, and having it double as my only television.
posted by ParisParamus at 5:35 AM on September 1, 2004

I knew I had seen this before....
posted by glenwood at 5:42 AM on September 1, 2004

well... wow. it looks pretty. then again macs always look pretty. but how is it different from a tablet pc on a stand, with a keyboard atached? i mean, isn't it pretty much a mac laptop with the screen on the outside?

sure it has nice guts and all, but i still prefer a system i can open up and easily modify (replace expansion cards, etc.) which is harder and more expensive to do on a laptop-ish machine.

sheepishly admitting i skipped reading most of the thread to avoid having to wade through a mac vs. pc flamewar, just in case there was one. so if someone else already said what i said, then hey i agree with so-and-so.
posted by caution live frogs at 5:47 AM on September 1, 2004

Modern living starts at $1299.

Or at $1649 (£919) if you live in the UK. Or $1725 if you live in Ireland. This is exactly what apple did with itunes in Europe. Grasping bunch of fucks.
posted by biffa at 5:48 AM on September 1, 2004

I really dig this new iMac, but I've not merely sipped of the Apple koolaid, I've drunk deep and heartily, then bathed in it for good measure, so I admit that my perception may be slightly skewed.

Scalz is entirely right, this is a consumer level computer. Remember that the i in iMac stands for internet. These machines are meant for the folks whose primary purpose for a home computer is web surfing and eMail, who may also use Office and maybe do some hobbyist level webkeeping. If they're inclined, they may do digital photography or digital video and these machines make managing those photos and making DVDs of those videos outrageously easy. They are technologically well-appointed for such tasks, and are increasingly stylish so that someone can do those things without having a home office that looks like, well, this.

Comes with only 256 MB RAM standard? Eeesh.

I'm running OSX.2.8 on 256 MB of RAM and at the moment I've got two browsers, BBEdit, iTunes, Mail.app, Palm Desktop, Adium (IM client), Appleworks, Fugu (SFTP client) and Photoshop running. When I'm editing massive media files I have less running simultaneously but in general, it's been my experience that 256 MB can go a long, long way on OSX.
posted by Dreama at 5:49 AM on September 1, 2004

I get the impression that the things that make this particular model a "beautiful" Mac aren't immediately obvious from the photos on Apple's site. For instance, the power supply is contained within the box itself--that means there'll be no ungainly power brick lying on your desk or floor. And the hole that's cut in the stand that holds the display seems to be meant to gather cables together. There'll be no snarl of wires coming out of the back of the system--just a nice neat bundle.
posted by Prospero at 6:13 AM on September 1, 2004

Modern living starts at $1299.

Or at $1649 (£919) if you live in the UK. Or $1725 if you live in Ireland. This is exactly what apple did with itunes in Europe. Grasping bunch of fucks.

Yeah but i think the US store doesn't include the sales tax (i might be wrong) ... the £919 includes the 17.5% flash gordon takes off.

I think that's more than reasonable, especially when you can get a G4 eMac for under £400
posted by derbs at 6:50 AM on September 1, 2004

The thing to note is that this is a CONSUMER level computer. It's not meant for pros... video, design, etc. So, for the price, it is an amazing accomplishment. Don't discount the fact that it runs OS X... very powerful & modern. PLUS comes with all the great iLife applications.

But the G5 towers aren't workstations according to Apple. They are the fastest personal computers...
posted by juiceCake at 6:53 AM on September 1, 2004

derbs: Well the mark up is 27% on the US price, not 17.5%, though you are likely right as to VAT making up a big chunk of the disparity (The mark up for Ireland is ~32% on the US price, with VAT in the RoI at 21%).
posted by biffa at 7:04 AM on September 1, 2004

thanks for the terminal info, all.

Why get this if you can get an emac for so much less? ($799 basic) If you're a general user, it's more than good enough, even though it's G4. Are they discontinuing those?
posted by amberglow at 7:22 AM on September 1, 2004

A terabyte is less than 1000 dollars, or to be precise 840 dollars

I added a terabyte of disk storage (RAID-5) to my media server in January of 2003. My target budget was $1000 and I came in under it - thanks to rebates.

I'd imagine that a similar strategy today would yield a 2 TB array - and it's even easier because you can use cheap external boxes with SATA or 1394. Stick them in the closet (behind the vacuum cleaner) and you are good to go.

And fenriq, I had a Mac in the early 1980s and worked on them professionally for years. Some of my friends worked for Apple and Claris back in the day. If I am not the "target demographic" then I don't know who is. My opinion stands - recent Mac sales trends have been abysmal and declining since 2000. There are brief upswings during product launches but the long-term trend is not good.

I do not put most of the blame on the designs, but rather on the typical idiot-savant Apple execution. That's where competitors like Dell and Acer slay them - whatever about their blend of innovation and commodity product lines, their execution is simply leagues beyond Apple's. Bad execution is what has lost Apple markets, retail space, and distribution channels.
posted by meehawl at 7:30 AM on September 1, 2004

Amber, try sitting in front of an eMac for more than an hour or two... I'm pretty sure after you recover from the eyestrain and migraine headache, you'll consider a flat panel Mac a pretty damned good bargain. I honestly don't remember now if all CRT monitors were as unpleasant as the eMac or whether it just suffers in comparison, but you'd be seriously crazy to buy one if there were even an ice cube's chance in Hell you could avoid it...

(If no one's recommended it previously, I've given Learning Unix for Mac OS X Panther to a couple of Mac people and the response has been very positive...)
posted by JollyWanker at 7:41 AM on September 1, 2004

I honestly don't remember now if all CRT monitors were as unpleasant

I think it's the eMac. My two 21" ViewSonic P815 CRTs are to die for. Amazing colour definition.

Of course, each one weighs around 27 Kg...
posted by meehawl at 8:31 AM on September 1, 2004

It's the first important piece of Apple kit that I haven't immediately loved the apperance of in a long long time.

OTOH, the guys I work with (PC heads) are drooling over them. One guy said "Finally, a Mac I can see myself buying." Another, who had recently been asked by a buddy to provide a recommendation for a home computer, called said buddy minutes after the announcement to tell him to get the new iMac.

Those who follow Apple closely are not as impressed. But from my experience, those who follow the company only casually seem to really like it. Sort of like the faithful didn't "get" the iPod Mini that Apple now can't keep in stock... I think Apple has another home run here.

I hear very few people saying it's too expensive, which is also an interesting sign.
posted by kindall at 8:52 AM on September 1, 2004

The thing that struck me was the bit in the PR video about how the new iMac is from the creators of the iPod. Seems like that's a direct appeal to the people who might have stayed away from Apple for years and years but were finally lured by the iPods. Just like they market the iPod as something that can hold X number of songs, they're marketing the new iMac as something that can hold X number of songs, X hours of video, X number of pictures. The iPod defines Apple's identity now.
posted by emelenjr at 9:01 AM on September 1, 2004

If you turn it upside down and shake it, does it clear the screen?
posted by JackFlash at 9:11 AM on September 1, 2004

but how is it different from a tablet pc on a stand, with a keyboard atached? i mean, isn't it pretty much a mac laptop with the screen on the outside?

I think the question is, why isn't it a laptop with the screen on the outside?

Imagine this computer with a handle and a flip-out keyboard. Now that would have been thinking different.
posted by _sirmissalot_ at 10:01 AM on September 1, 2004

It's interesting (at least for me) how Apple has no hesitation to COMPLETELY break from "last year's model." I agree with one of the comments above that the actual look of the materials used in the new iMac will determine how much I like it.

Also, in an urban environment, never underestimate the allure of SMALLER FOOTPRINT.
posted by ParisParamus at 11:31 AM on September 1, 2004

Apple makes some nice stuff. Those Cinema displays are very tasty. I had access to a 20" (?) one at my last job. Super nice. And if memory serves, there was a bigger one.

I have never been much of a Mac supporter. I hated their OS. But, with the advent of OSX, they have finally made it imo. An OS that finally makes sense. OS9 just confounded me. With Panther it finally all made sense.
Bottom line for me, is how do they game? Because in the home environment, that is what I do with computers.

And what was Pepsi's point with the blue soda? Different flavor?
posted by a3matrix at 12:36 PM on September 1, 2004

No seriously. Isn't this basically the same damn thing? Only less sexy?
posted by glenwood at 12:59 PM on September 1, 2004

it is, glenwood--this is perhaps the least original thing they've ever done, i think.
posted by amberglow at 1:02 PM on September 1, 2004

MetaTalk, just to bring everything full circle.
posted by mkultra at 1:33 PM on September 1, 2004

Interesting. Apple really is stealing ideas from the PC world. For your comparison, this is the exact same as the original Monorail PC (circa 1997 IIRC), except less modular.

Sorry, I don't have pictures. Perhaps I can find the old PC Computing they advertised in.

I must find that magazine. So very alike, from my (fuzzy) memory, are these two, even the media drive seems to be in the same place.
posted by shepd at 2:35 PM on September 1, 2004

"Bottom line for me, is how do they game?"

Pretty well as far as the hardware goes -- Macs have low-middle range video hardware and reasonably fast CPUs -- but the selection of titles is somewhat paltry. A handful of big-name titles, some fairly interesting indie development, a great fucking swarm of craptacular shareware games, and, oh yeah, reasonably decent (but not flawless) compatibility with Macintosh titles going as far back as 1985. So you can go retro on a Mac without a whole lot of trouble.

For the most part, there aren't many modern game titles, although there are some.
posted by majick at 3:26 PM on September 1, 2004

Pretty nifty hardware... but... you have to deal with OSX so... no.
posted by LoopSouth at 7:41 PM on September 1, 2004

Not exactly on topic, but are the new G5s (iMac included) upgradeable, processor-wise? I'm still using my G3 from '97 and I don't plan on buying a new Mac unless I can upgrade the processor down the line.
posted by DakotaPaul at 7:53 PM on September 1, 2004

It's a laptop on a stick. I'd rather have one of these SEXY sony pcs. NICE.
posted by tomplus2 at 7:54 PM on September 1, 2004

No seriously. Isn't this basically the same damn thing? Only less sexy?

Well, yes, but design is the whole point. Isn't a Ford Expedition a Lincoln Navigator, only less sexy?
posted by me3dia at 10:39 AM on September 2, 2004

"Isn't a Ford Expedition a Lincoln Navigator, only less sexy?"

No. Both of them are lumbering, ungainly, and equally monstrously unsexy.
posted by meehawl at 1:38 PM on September 2, 2004