Speculated iMac Multi-Touch Design (Pictures Included)

[GodBless]

This is what I was thinking, too. My God, he takes things in his stride. I liked it when he asked someone to be more specific about what they didn't like. That's about as constructive as you can get.

I am actually impressed. Not with the design. But, the fact that GodBless is taking all the bashing rather well. Most people come in, ask for opinions, and then get really pissy when no one likes their idea.

Kudos to you GodBless, you have a great attitude and drive. I would suggest scrapping this idea, but don't stop thinking of new ones!

You guys are being too kind (at least in comparison to almost everyone else who has responded. )

Well...All that I'm after is a good design and I'm looking for suggestions. I like the design as a touch screen wedge. I personally wouldn't need a computer that has a monitor that stands up (but I wouldn't mind having the option occasionally). Apparently the majority of people like the traditional computer but I like things that are out of the box. I think that I developed one of the best of possible solid-state (with no moving parts) wedge designs.

I won't probably post any time soon again--but if I do, I won't post a wedge design because I know people on MacRumors wouldn't like it.

Also I won't be surprised if a company designs a multi-touch wedge design computer in the future that is worse than mine (because I made a lot of designs that were worse before I came up with the one that I posted). I struggled trying to make the wedge design have the best visual appearance and I exceeded my own expectations. I wonder if people would have responded more positively if I asked them the question "Is this good for a wedge design?"

I'm not concerned that I got a negative response on the poll--I'm happy that people couldn't find anything to say besides "I don't like the wedge". I know that I made a good wedge and I know that most people want something different than a wedge. That's my conclusion.

And as always I give credit to God for my achievements (and in this case I give God credit for my attitude). I would probably be mean if I didn't respect God's guidance to be kind and considerate of others and to love my enemies (Matthew 5:43-48).

 

[annk]

You guys are being too kind (at least in comparison to almost everyone else who has responded. )

Well...All that I'm after is a good design and I'm looking for suggestions. I like the design as a touch screen wedge. I personally wouldn't need a computer that has a monitor that stands up (but I wouldn't mind having the option occasionally). Apparently the majority of people like the traditional computer but I like things that are out of the box. I think that I developed one of the best of possible solid-state (with no moving parts) wedge designs.

I won't probably post any time soon again--but if I do, I won't post a wedge design because I know people on MacRumors wouldn't like it.

Also I won't be surprised if a company designs a multi-touch wedge design computer in the future that is worse than mine (because I made a lot of designs that were worse before I came up with the one that I posted). I struggled trying to make the wedge design have the best visual appearance and I exceeded my own expectations. I wonder if people would have responded more positively if I asked them the question "Is this good for a wedge design?"

I'm not concerned that I got a negative response on the poll--I'm happy that people couldn't find anything to say besides "I don't like the wedge". I know that I made a good wedge and I know that most people want something different than a wedge. That's my conclusion.

And as always I give credit to God for my achievements (and in this case I give God credit for my attitude). I would probably be mean if I didn't respect God's guidance to be kind and considerate of others and to love my enemies (Matthew 5:43-48).

I think you're right that people didn't like the wedge. They were pretty vocal about it. I didn't like it myself. And it was odd that you kept posting small variations on it in a thread where people were telling you that they didn't like the basic premiss. But I am amazed at your ability to stay serene. At first, I thought you just weren't hearing them, but you obviously were.

 

[Mgkwho]

U-G-L-Y

You ain't got no alibi you UGLY yeah yeah you UGLY

Sorry, I had to say it.

Um, no offense, but I'm betting the iMac is going to get slimmer, not chunky.

-=|Mgkwho

 

[skinnylegs]

Go with it, GodBless. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but at least you have something you are passionate about.

 

[Queso]

I'm a little concerned about the ergonomics of it, although I am assuming that you mean the largest plane of the wedge to contain the touch screen which may not be the case. Ergonomics has as its ideal that all computer users think in terms of horizontals and verticals, ie to keep your back and lower legs vertical whilst your line of vision and lower arms are horizontal. This apparently lessens the strain on the neck and back whilst sitting at a workstation.

If I have interpreted your design correctly, the user's line of sight cannot be kept at a horizontal which would lead to the user having to lower their head to view the screen and is thereby likely to induce discomfort after quite a short period of use. It therefore would not pass EU Health and Safety regulations for the workplace for one and would probably open up any company making it to the possibility of lawsuits.

However, if you were to include a separate screen to get around this problem, the wedge is more valid as a possible successor to the Mac mini.

 

[Vidd]

I'd like to see you design an iMac more like this.

 

[Luis]

I'd like to see you design an iMac more like this.

Maybe not...

 

[QuarterSwede]

Wow--I like Isaiah but I haven't come across that passage yet. That's a neat find but I certainly wouldn't want a golden wedge idol of another religion.

Just be sure not to make your speculation of the next iMac an idol. And I do agree, you really do have a great attitude, keep it up!

Personally, I'd scrap the design but it already sounds like you have something else in mind. Take some advice, make it as thin or thinner than the current iMac. Apple won't move backwards.

 

[RRK]

I think that when Apple make a touchscreen desktop it will be a bit like the iMac G4 as the screen was so adjustable...I would hate to crane my neck downwards towards my desk for a wedge...

If we are just brainstorming...
What about a beefed up G4 iMac arm in the form of a wall mount like the ones for TVs?
These iMacs are starting to get pretty big after all.
Make it adjustable so you can use it when sitting in a chair or standing.
It could just hang there with no desk TV style or you could pull up a chair and adjust it to keyboard angle. Maybe 30"?

 

[rockthecasbah]

If you were going for a touch screen thing i'm not sure why the "wedge" is necessary. Look at tablet PCs. They are thin, often the same size as a regular notebook and have that type of power. So why would you bother with the whole wedge thing which most people think looks ugly, out-dated, and wastes space? Just throw a very sleek tablet PC type design (maybe ACD-esk) on a swiveling stand that lets the screen be positioned differently and bam you have a touch screen iMac.

The wedge is boring and ugly. It has all of the bad qualities of the old iMacs and eMacs without any of their benefits.

 

[QuarterSwede]

If we are just brainstorming...
What about a beefed up G4 iMac arm in the form of a wall mount like the ones for TVs?
These iMacs are starting to get pretty big after all.
Make it adjustable so you can use it when sitting in a chair or standing.
It could just hang there with no desk TV style or you could pull up a chair and adjust it to keyboard angle. Maybe 30"?

So you're saying that Apple should just add multi-touch because the current iMac design is wall mountable (it's VESA compliant).

 

[RRK]

So you're saying that Apple should just add multi-touch because the current iMac design is wall mountable (it's VESA compliant).

I'm saying its more likely IMO then this lap wedge idea. They had patents on the arm on the G4 iMac and I believe it won design awards. It is in keeping with the design path so far, as you have pointed out. I don't think they should add multi-touch because it is "VESA compliant". I think it is more the other way around.

 

[BilltheCat]

I'm sure people would love your wedge if it were carved from a giant potato, deep fried until golden and served with sour cream and salsa.

oh gawd people you are killing me! lol hahahahaha heheheheh guffaaaww!

This one guy who will *not* take NO for a freakin answer!

More! more! no wait NO more NO more! I cannot take it!

Cheese! Potato wedge! Green bay ?

 

[Aldyn]

haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

 

[Scarlet Fever]

And as always I give credit to God for my achievements (and in this case I give God credit for my attitude). I would probably be mean if I didn't respect God's guidance to be kind and considerate of others and to love my enemies (Matthew 5:43-48).

i'm going to say it. i haven't held out because i thought it was immoral to say it, but i have to.

God isn't the cause of your strength. If I was a believer, i would say that God gave you a situation, and you had the strength to deal with it.

Maybe God made you with a creative mind, and your life choices lead you to enjoy using Macs and you decided you wanted to create a sketch of the next Mac. People said it was shoddy, but you have developed the strength to deal with it.

If God determines everything that happens to you, you are just a weak, worthless little puppet. You, everyone around you, and everything that lives is worth more than that. Maybe God makes us, and lets us live out our lives, and our fate in the afterlife (heaven or hell) is determined by our actions on this mortal Earth.

i don't like your wedge design, because i believe it doesn't offer the flexibility which the iMacs have in the past, and it is too bulky. Apple will want to continue the small footprint idea, and this design breaks away from that idea. But i congratulate you on having a go.

 

[TheAnswer]

I don't like this design...it too closely resembles the head of the Golden Calf as depicted here:

 

[Eidorian]

I like the door stop you have going there.​

 

[synth3tik]

I like the door stop you have going there.​

WOW that is one ugly monstrosity!

 

[Eidorian]

WOW that is one ugly monstrosity!

Surprisingly HP's latest design change only involved changing their silver desktops to solid black. The HP TouchSmart IQ770 is a surprising change from HP's towers. I'd still take an iMac over it though.

Just how is it ugly? They paid a lot of attention to making the exterior clean and sleek.

 

[mrthieme]

Regarding multitouch, the iPhone seems to be their new baby, and has demonstrated that Apple is open to taking a device that historicly has had a physical keyboard and replacing it with a touchpad and slick software. I doubt we will see a wedge iMac, but I can envision a G4 redux, so that the screen swings down to a drafting table angle and position. It may be a long way off, so I would expect a tablet first, somewhere between the iPhone and Macbook.

 

[Scarlet Fever]

sad but true...

Regarding multitouch, the iPhone seems to be their new baby, and has demonstrated that Apple is open to taking a device that historicly has had a physical keyboard and replacing it with a touchpad and slick software. I doubt we will see a wedge iMac, but I can envision a G4 redux, so that the screen swings down to a drafting table angle and position. It may be a long way off, so I would expect a tablet first, somewhere between the iPhone and Macbook.

thats a pretty good mockup, actually.

 

[mrthieme]

sad but true...



thats a pretty good mockup, actually.

Thanks, I'm trying to teach myself 3d modeling, I'm using Cinema 4d, and I'm completely in over my head.

 

[Queso]

OK, having seen the fleshed out latest images we've now got a much better idea of what you're proposing. Unfortunately you've hit upon something that would definitely turn Apple off the idea, that of having the ports, power lead etc. on the side. The design looks aesthetic enough as you draw it, but imagine it with all the usual clutter of USB cables hanging out the side and it's not so tidy. I think some form of groove down the centre of the back/base sides so that the cable ports are recessed would be an improvement, so that most of the ports are hidden when you look at the unit from the front. A single USB port on either side would then suffice for most people's on-the-fly connectivity requirements.

I do think my comment about laying the design horizontal still stands though. A better way of getting around that is to have something split screen so that the lower screen becomes a virtual keyboard/gesture interface when you work whilst you look up at the upper screen. Something along the lines of a larger Nintendo DS, but with the two screens borderless at the hinge, so by turning the unit on it's side and flattening it out, they become one large panel you can use to watch a film.

 

[dcv]

...but I can envision a G4 redux, so that the screen swings down to a drafting table angle and position. It may be a long way off, so I would expect a tablet first, somewhere between the iPhone and Macbook.

That's much more feasible and user-friendly... something with a tiltable display and small footprint. It'd have to be a pretty "tight" hinge (or somehow lockable in certain positions) though to avoid the display moving around too much when touching it.

 

[k2k koos]

Surprisingly HP's latest design change only involved changing their silver desktops to solid black. The HP TouchSmart IQ770 is a surprising change from HP's towers. I'd still take an iMac over it though.

Just how is it ugly? They paid a lot of attention to making the exterior clean and sleek.

but it doesn't flow..... There are weird edges and corners, the base seems detached from the screen in an odd way, and I hate to think what it looks like from the back, not important if it faces a wall, but imagine it on a desk....

oh , it has a cheap plastic shine to it too....
Not my cup of tea.