iMac Touch Concept

[rainmanbk]

Here's my iMac Touch concept that I've had for a little while.. Thinking even back to the lamp iMac, I think this is a direction Apple has most likely thought of and is probably exploring in their super secret labs. I just figured I'd maybe draw up a rough image so I could get your opinions.

Basically it'd be an iMac, with a fancy stand. Nothing else hardware-wise would be changed.. Except for the multi-touch layer on the display of course!

Software is where the big changes would be. I personally believe that 10.6, among the rumored security, speed, stability improvements, will bring one major feature at least. Multi-touch throughout OS X is inevitable, and along with the update, the first hardware to take full advantage of the input method, will of course be the iMac. Obviously it is the easiest aside from a cinema display, to update and develop. As hopefully demonstrated in my sketch, everything is mostly there. The reason for the lowered position is to cut back on tired arms that have to remain raised as if on a normal display. It's much like a surface computer, but one that takes up 1/1000th of the space. At this semi-horizontal angle, I think multi-touch will be quite comfortable. There will always be tasks that could or might be better with a mouse and keyboard, so that is why the iMac Touch has two positions. A keyboard will still be needed for either position, but the mouse may slowly disappear if people find fingers friendlier.

 

[SRSound]

Like a Wacom tablet with OS X built in! I'd take one

 

[passingXstorm]

Nice drawing. I love my iPhone but I would personally not like to have to touch on my computer, thats my opinion though. (Who knows, maybe I'd like it *shrugs*)

 

[xUKHCx]

This is actually quite a nice take on the current design.


I think the iMac G4 desgin would make for a good multitouch mac with a locking device to keep the head in place.

Miles better than the fabled wedgemac

 

[rainmanbk]

This is actually quite a nice take on the current design.

I think the iMac G4 desgin would make for a good multitouch mac with a locking device to keep the head in place.

Miles better than the fabled wedgemac

You know, I think that they should bring the G4 styled iMac back for that purpose, but I feel like no one likes it as much as we do..hehe.

As for that wedge... I hope there's a Mac Pro tiered computer in there with all that space.. jeez.

I think the ability to keep it a normal computer is critical though, as mutli-touch is going to need some inbetween stages to get people on board.

 

[kkat69]

This is actually quite a nice take on the current design.


I think the iMac G4 desgin would make for a good multitouch mac with a locking device to keep the head in place.

Miles better than the fabled wedgemac

I had researched getting a g4 iMac converted to a touch screen for a iKitchen type utility.

Basically I wanted a g4 iMac for the kitched loaded with MacGourmet for the wife. The conversion wouldn't be that bad but it required drivers for aftermarket touch screens.

The touch screens can be bought off eBay real easy and are just overlays to your existing screen, but the problem I was left with was OS X drivers for those since they are USB driven. Simply remove the bezel, lay the screen, run the USB cable out the back of the iMac.

Again, I was left with drivers. If I can find an aftermarket touch screen for a 17" screen with compatible OS X Leo drivers (or even Tiger actually would be better) I would scarf up a g4 in a heartbeat. Avg price of the touch screen inserts for 17" was (last time I looked) less than 200 bucks.

 

[Epicurus]

Concept looks good; clean and simple. If Apple finally got rid of the iMac chin, I'd be all the more happy! First, however, to get the public ready for a computer that relies almost exclusively on touch, Apple will need to lay some groundwork. The iPhone got a good amount of buzz, and will be in tens of millions of hands very shortly (add to that the iPod touch and its sales and the upcoming Back to School giveaway). The MacBook Air has the upgraded "multi-touch" mouse, which lets Mac users play around a little bit. Expect the roll-out of these touchpads to continue across the line of portables. The next step would be a mouse for the desktop Macs; something along the lines of that patent mentioned earlier. That brings the multi-touch gestures to the complete line of Macs. Then Apple can push ever more complex gestures out via software updates (to both iPhone and Macs). Then comes the mythical tablet and the first "all touch" device. If priced aggressively and marketed properly, it could be the final step towards the touch iMac you envisioned.

Until then, my Air+iPhone combination only makes me yearn for more.

 

[BlakTornado]

I love this idea.

Seriously, I hope the Apple spies are reading this and sending you an email to hire you right now.

Very, Very good idea.

P.S. They should bring back the G4 iMac design.

 

[alam]

well i'm not surprised if they release the imac touch, because there is already a touch mac (MODBOOK)

so i hope that apple works faster on the imacs

 

[kkat69]

well i'm not surprised if they release the imac touch, because there is already a touch mac (MODBOOK)

so i hope that apple works faster on the imacs

Thing is though this is not 'touch' this is a stylus driven machine. It's a MB bottom with the LCD removed and a custom Wacom LCD installed and the stylus is needed. No technically not a touch.

Turn that machine into a true touch without the need for stylus and you have a "Tablet PC" which have been out for many years. Personally I like the tablets and would love to see/have one with OSX on it.

For my personal use, I'd actually rather have a modbook though, I would love the stylus for drawing ability.

I actually would love the iMac touch tough. Sorta like the HP touch desktop. I mean, imagine having grandma and grandpa over, all 3 of you standing over the iMac, and you flicking through iPhoto, resizing, etc. Or for that matter us biz folks, flicking through coverlow for documents, heck lets go way out on a limb here and play WoW and just by touching those nasty gnome rogues and attacking with a touch of a finger istead of trying to lead the mouse to them, and just touching the action buttons. OHHHH I'm getting giddy.

EDIT:

HAHAHA Found one here Only 75 bucks and it 'says' it's Mac compatible. Install this baby on a G4 iMac!!!!! OMG I am so there.