POLL: Prefer old or new iMac design?

[bousozoku]

The good designs skip a generation.

I really liked the original iMac G3 series but the iMac G4 was ugly with the half a sphere as the base. If they'd used a rectangular box as the base and made the G4's display to fold down into a neat box, I would have seen the wisdom in the design.

The iMac G5/Intel iMac all white design was pure harmony. It looked like it belonged in an ideal environment.

The new iMac looks like cheap electronic equipment, including those throwaway mobile phones, just to hide that extra bit of chin that so many people saw as a terrible affront to their sensibilities. It's still there.

 

[anti-microsoft]

The good designs skip a generation.

Wrong! Apple is running out of ideas...

The G3 was... WOW!!! (Not vista wow, apple wow)

The G4 was... GASP (Not horrified gasp, amazed gasp)...WOW!!!

The G5 was meehh... Not bad...

The SR is WHAT??? APPLE YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR NOW!! WE WANT ORIGINALITY...NOW!!!

Although I like the SR and think its sleek and slim, I didn't get all excited and got crazy... I just sat on my bed with my MacBook on my lap and went: Oh...Cool..........

 

[1020]

The new design is nice, but I hate glossy screens. Not sure how I feel about the black border. I won't be selling my G5 iMac any time soon.

 

[Fender]

If you see them side by side, the old one (the one I have) looks like a cheap kid's toy.

 

[0007776]

Other than the glossy screen I like the looks of the new iMac, but I would not get one because of the glossy screen. If I get enough money for one before the old models dissapear from the refurb store I will definitally get the onld one over this one.

 

[cludgie]

The new iMacs do look nice, not seen one in person yet; will try and get in to the store here at the weekend to take a look.

 

[macenforcer]

You know I was worried about the kids scratching that glossy screen but now that I know its removable (replaceable) it sounds like a better deal to me.

We are thrown off by the black band around the screen though. Just looks stupid.

 

[erandall38]

I voted for preferring the new iMac.
I have been wanting an iMac for a long time. Having the opportunity to get one in the last few months has made want one really bad and I figured I would wait for the update.
I am very happy with the update, how much more are you expecting Apple to do right now hardware wise? Compare the iMac to any other desktop, nothing, absolutly nothing looks better. Apple is still ahead of the game.

To some on MR, this update may not be enough, design wise, but that is because I think some users expect way too much out of Apple, as do most Mac fans.

But to normal everyday people, which to me is the most important, this is something new and improved. When I was at the Apple store to get it, three people were buying the old iMacs, when they saw mine come out, all of them proclaimed "Wait, I want one of those." This might sound weird, but after my family saw it, they invited over neighbors and friends through out the day to come and see it. More than a few are now going to buy one. As a investor, this is what matters to me, that the new iMac SELLS!!

This is one thing Apple is good at. Selling itself and free PR. That is what they have been doing the last 10 years is making products sell itself. And that is what it is still doing with the new iMac.

Edit: I noticed a lot of people have stated they have not seen one in person, go see one in person. I am sure then, many of you will understand.

The last thing Apple is doing, is running out of ideas. People have been saying this for years, they have never been right, and they definitely are not right now. Apple is about to start a major growth period, and if you cant see that...

 

[sedarby]

Old

The old design, even with the chin, is still a cleaner design than this thing. I made a special trip to a local Apple Store to see the new iMac in person and experience the keyboard and mouse. The machine is fast enough but the look is all wrong. Will we really be seeing these things in ad agencies and graphic art studios? I will probably opt to pay more and get a Macbook Pro because they are easier on the eyes. The glossy screen wasn't that bad but that chicklet keyboard has to go...

 

[AEP]

Old Old & Old Again

Its so got to be the old design!

i can't stand the fact that nothing matches now. aluminum, black and white

Love the new keybord will look good next to a MMouse, but will the mouse go with your computer...NO!
would look fantastic with a white logo or a aluminum logo, as long as they ditch the black border.

im sure it wont be to long until Apple anounce "new iMac now avaiable in aluminum & white"

 

[Penryn]

I prefer the new design personally, though I feel that the lack of consistency between the mouse and keyboard looks a bit weird but I'd order one

 

[Dustman]

Mac mini, refurb Macbook, refurb iMac... hacked Apple TV



Are you saying there aren't any LCD monitors to be had for less than $600?

I live in canada. the mini is 679 here. once u get a keyboard, mouse and monitor its quite a bit more than the iMac, and i shouldnt have to buy something used to get a sub 1000 dollar computer. nor should i ahve to hack an apple tv? why did u even mention that, its illegal genius.

 

[Nick12945]

I live in canada. the mini is 679 here. once u get a keyboard, mouse and monitor its quite a bit more than the iMac, and i shouldnt have to buy something used to get a sub 1000 dollar computer. nor should i ahve to hack an apple tv? why did u even mention that, its illegal genius.

If you don't want to pay extra for a quality product, don't buy from apple. It's as simple as that.

 

[jones14]

My opinion in terms of design:

G4 > G5 > Intel > G3

The black in the new one is so... Dell-ish, and how sloppy Apple is in terms of the fact that there is absolutely no white on the iMac, yet it comes with white cables, keyboard keys, and mouse. It's so ugly.

 

[Soschil]

I prefer the "old", white iMac. The new one looks like a Dell would if they hired a designer.... And took a long, hard look at the white iMacs ;-).

The new one doesn't make the clear statement the old ones did - now it looks like any other recent piece of consumer electronics out there :-(

Too bad IMHO.

Edit: Looking at my (cheap) 32" Mirai LCD TV there's a striking resemblance. Not good. NOT good. On the other hand you could say I now posess what looks like a 32" iMac ;-)

 

[Gymnut]

I haven't seen the new iMac in person but upon first glance I prefer the old design. I don't lose too much sleep over these things and a design would not sway my decision to buy or not to buy as, in my opinion, the OS makes the computer.

 

[macenforcer]

I have been waiting for an easily removable hard drive on the imac and sure enough the new one is just as lame as the old one.


Apple, would it KILL YOU to add a user replaceable hard drive? Come on Steve, really man. I got to take the WHOLE damn imac apart to replace the hard drive? Not cool.

 

[siurpeeman]

at first, i thought this new imac was somewhat lacking. but after seeing one in person, it is one hawt machine. it made me wonder if i made the right decision to buy a macbook pro a month and a half ago.

 

[shecky]

i agree; i was in an apple store last night, and i have to say the new iMac is really strikingly good looking. i would still never buy one due to the glossy screen but other than that i really think it looks a lot more impressive than the white one. my only minor gripe is i wish the logo on the chin was something other than black.

the new keyboard is seriously gorgeous, REALLY impressive looking - the pics dont do it justice, its so thin it looks like its not even really there. i only spent 30 seconds typing on it and while i do think it would take an hour or two to get used to, i do think its a great product.

 

[Alloye]

New!

My vote is now squarely in the "new" camp. I played with a new 24" for a while yesterday and thought it was beautiful. And I seem to remember having a similar reaction to the iMac G5 when it came out. It also looked better to me in person than in pictures.

 

[Choctaw]

New iMac design?

If you see them side by side, the old one (the one I have) looks like a cheap kid's toy.

As a new user of Mac (still have a PC network, just added the iMac this week)I did not have any comparison a week ago when I got a new iMac. To me the design looks very modern and the black outline brings the screen shots more into focus. But since I have been reading about all the post that don't like it. The black boarder kind of starts to stick out in the visual parameter ..... did not notice it before. See it is true, "monkey see monkey do" I suppose a person could cut out a template to fit over the black and check out if it really is a bothersome issue.

 

[Italchef]

Forget looks, I liked the functionality of the iLamp iMac. Being able to raise, lower, and pivot the screen so easily was very nice. Ergonomically speaking, the iMacs since then have been a mistake. The Leno Chin raises the actual monitor part of the computer much higher than it should be for healthy viewing habits.

Owning both of these models, this is actually very true. My new iMac has taken some gettting used to, especially for my neck. The first couple of weeks I was really in pain from my neck being strained. I have the new iMac sitting on the same desk that the G4 was sitting on. I had no problem with my neck with that one. Having said all that, I love the new iMac, the design, screen etc. My neck is no longer bothering me either.

Mick

 

[clyde2801]

Couldn't agree more! What could possibly spawn the idea that people do not want the num pad? Who has ever been thinking: "Ahh, I love my computer ... but if only it didn't have the num pad"??? It doesn't make any sense!!!

I am at a loss! Anyone, please explain to me why you don't want a full keyboard on a desktop computer?

I bought the new keyboard for just this reason. I've got a limited amount of space on my keyboard/mouse drawer pull out thingie, and I don't need the mousepad. I've pretty much gotten used to how the alum keyboard types, so it's not a big deal to me at all...

 

[Choctaw]

My new iMac has taken some gettting used to, especially for my neck. The first couple of weeks I was really in pain from my neck being strained.Mick

I would think the tilting function of your new iMac would take away any straining to your neck from viewing angles. It does offer quite a range up & down.

 

[airjuggernaut]

I have an Alu iMac, and it honestly looks really amazing compared to the old white models.

At my school we have an iMac lab with a bunch of white iMacs and ONE alu iMac. EVERYONE at my school thinks the alu one looks sexy, and it honestly does. The old one looks fat and plasticky.