Best Apple design of the last 2 decades.

[ivoruest]

What is the best design Apple has made in the past 2 decades and why? Comments and any product that is left out is welcome to be posted.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Personally, I loved the first gen iPod with the jog wheel, and the clear exterior of the cube, and the powerbook 12". You'll notice they all come from about the same timeframe, I truly think that was the golden era of Apple design.

That was design without regard to cost. By the time they transitioned to Intel, they were still about design, but it was a much more cost-efficient and machined design.

 

[Big-TDI-Guy]

iPod, eMac, iMac brought them back from the brink.

Original iPhone gave the huge kick into today, and begun iOS (for better or worse)

 

[mykelala01]

I phone 4 because anywhere I go I see people waking with their Iphone 4S. Young or Old.

 

[Aodhan]

In my opinion, the MacBook Pro unibody. My 2009 MacBook Pro is exactly the same size and shape as my 2012, yet it has a pop-off panel and removable battery. It was simple to upgrade or replace all the important components as well. To me, the MacBook Pro unibody with the removable battery was their best design. Aesthetically, even today it is thinner and more stylish than most any other notebook out there.

 

[greytmom]

Too many choices

A case could be made for almost all of them, but I had to go with iPod classic.

 

[ixodes]

Personally, I loved the first gen iPod with the jog wheel, and the clear exterior of the cube, and the powerbook 12". You'll notice they all come from about the same timeframe, I truly think that was the golden era of Apple design.

That was design without regard to cost. By the time they transitioned to Intel, they were still about design, but it was a much more cost-efficient and machined design.

I agree with your opinion, those were very good times for Apple.
.

 

[leman]

I think, MacBook Air and the unibody MBP (actually, every unibody computer) are excellent designs which combine beauty and functionality in a very minimalistic package.

Everyone and their grandma copy this design nowadays

 

[psykick5]

I'm sort of young and was a kid when most of these came out, but I think the rMBP can be one of the best. It's just amazing how it can have as much power as a cMBP while being as thin as a MBA. It also is freakin sexy.

 

[Slivortal]

Can't believe all the votes for iP4. Sure, it looks pretty, but it breaks to just about anything - and a phone sees the MOST wear.

The switch to a unibody laptop was BY FAR the best design change that Apple has made. By not constructing it out of separate pieces of plastic, you ensure all the pieces fit. I honestly think it's the reason why Macbook Pros are as good as they are.

MBPR was kind of cool because of the fact they managed to make their computers amazing while decreasing the chassy size. But nothing life-changing.

EDIT: Also, I have to give props to the iPod, for popularizing MP3 players.

 

[Big-TDI-Guy]

After further thought, it's down to the iPod and original iPhone. These "i" devices launched the direction Apple is flying in today. These bore the (shoot me for using this term) "post pc era" iPod woke the masses to this, iPhone showed genesis, iPad broke the dam.

While I feel PowerBook G4, MacPro and Tiger were the best Apple experience, end to end, the masses didn't.

 

[ivoruest]

A case could be made for almost all of them, but I had to go with iPod classic.

I thought of this too, but thats why I let vote for several options if you like. I think this thread will bring some interesting results.

 

[greytmom]

I didn't notice I could vote for more than one. Back to the polls!

For the individual that is surprised about the iPhone 4, it is by far my favorite phone design, and mine looks as beautiful as it did on launch day... Not even a scratch.

 

[Slivortal]

I didn't notice I could vote for more than one. Back to the polls!

For the individual that is surprised about the iPhone 4, it is by far my favorite phone design, and mine looks as beautiful as it did on launch day... Not even a scratch.

I've had mine for a while, always cased, and the back has quite a few scratches on it (just from the case meeting the glass). With the number of times I've dropped it (I'm not clumsy, but between having to hand it over at any security booth, picking it up with a bunch of stuff, pulling it out of my pocket wrong), I'm lucky I got a STRONG case, or it would be long gone by now.

 

[musicofmelkor]

macbook pro followed by the mac pro
retina is 3rd
air 4th
retina will probably be surpassing the pro in a generation of two

 

[gokart mozart]

iPhone 4/4S.

It has elegant lines, and the all glass and aluminum exterior is so sumptuous. Easily the most attractive cell phone. Not a fan on the latest Nokias.

Then retina MBP, current iPod Nano, and the Air shortly after.

All the MBPs and iMacs are gorgeous.

 

[aziatiklover]

No original iphone?

 

[recharge23]

No original iphone?

i second that. my vote would go towards the original iphone.

 

[oLNutjob]

The plastic body MacBook.

(1st gen, core duo not quite included because of heat.) They're low cost, easily upgraded and almost as indestructible as the clamshell, G3 iBook.

 

[Aksta]

Bit biased asking this in the MacBook pro forum

 

[NiCk-]

Second to none ..

 

[Pressure]

I still love The Cube.

The OP may be too young to know about it looking at the poll though ...

A lot of old Apple products are great looking. Even the original Cinema Display looked amazing for its time and the iMac!

 

[AlexBass]

rMBP no doubt. It was an engineering marvel in my opinion.

 

[boy-better-know]

iMac G3. Why is it not on the list.

 

[SDub90]

Second to none ..

Image

agreed, immediately followed by the cube.