Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

The Lampshade iMac

eVolcre

eVolcre

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jan 7, 2003
1,979
587
I was just looking through some of the old lampshade iMac commercials (hilarious) and was wondering why they got rid of it? The new iMac looks fine and all but there is one feature missing that I think would be really useful. The ability to swing the screen toward you, away from you, change the angles etc. In a home office environment that would be great so that you could keep the computer 'infront' of you and move the screen away as needed.

Was there a reason they did away with that design? And how is a static screen that really can't be adjusted better than a fully adjustable swivel screen. I would buy that design over the current one any day ...

eV
 
Cool pics. Thanks. But I was interested more in the reasons behind doing away with the design to the fixed position G5s.

I know there would be a market for a screen that swivels away, I'm just wondering why Apple, or for that matter ANY lcd maker, doesn't have a swivel/moveable screen option ...
 
The iMac was drastically redesigned from G4 to G5 to look more "iPoddy", IMO.

If you look, it does sort of look like a giant iPod.

That swively screen sure was useful, though. If I could cram the guts of a G5 into the G4 body, I totally would.
 
katie ta achoo said:
That swively screen sure was useful, though. If I could cram the guts of a G5 into the G4 body, I totally would.
Click to expand...
If the Intel mini is any indicator, you could definitely cram the Intel iMac HW into the G4 case with room to spare!
 
katie ta achoo said:
The iMac was drastically redesigned from G4 to G5 to look more "iPoddy", IMO.

If you look, it does sort of look like a giant iPod.

That swively screen sure was useful, though. If I could cram the guts of a G5 into the G4 body, I totally would.
Click to expand...

Seriously! Heck, I would pay money if someone could do that for me. You're right, it does look like a huge iPod. Never thought of it that way.

But, forget about Apple for a second, why don't other manufactureres make large LCDs that can swivel in and out, change angle depending on how you're sitting etc.

Laptops free you up from computing at a fixed position in a fixed spot. (the really powerful ones especially). I don't see why Apple started a nice trend, only to end it! Wonder what the business rationale was.

OK, even assuming the normal iMac user isn't sitting there for hours, how about the PowerMac or mini buyers? I bet they could use a nice Apple screen that moves the heck out of the way when not being used. Or that can be turned to show someone next to you the screen.

Maybe I'm being obtuse, but this seems like such a logical thing that I can't figure out a) why its not being done and b) why Apple did it and then left it! :confused:
 
jsw said:
If the Intel mini is any indicator, you could definitely cram the Intel iMac HW into the G4 case with room to spare!
Click to expand...


Looking to make some extra cash? :D
 
Phat_Pat said:
do i smell an awesome mod

someone... do this....
Click to expand...
Well, I do have an Intel mini core duo, and I do have a G4 iMac... but the G4 iMac is at my parents' house, 1200 miles away. Darn it! It would make an excellent mod....
 
katie ta achoo said:
I will if someone provides me with all the parts.. and allows me to keep it afterwards. :D
Click to expand...


No comment. :p

What was the screen like in the G4? 17" right? Or did they come out with a 20" model as well? And was the resolution considerably less than the current one?

I remember seeing it on the cover of TIME and it in fact got me back into the Apple fold. The thing was absolutely revolutionary and , cliched as it may sound, ahead of its time. I think THATS the computer that brought APPLE back and I just can't (ive said this about 10 times now :eek: :eek: ) understand the rationale behind getting rid of it.

I never owned one but you could literally move the screen with a finger. It was so smooth.

eV
 
jsw said:
Well, I do have an Intel mini core duo, and I do have a G4 iMac... but the G4 iMac is at my parents' house, 1200 miles away. Darn it! It would make an excellent mod....
Click to expand...


UPS is your friend ... ;)
 
eVolcre said:
No comment. :p

What was the screen like in the G4? 17" right? Or did they come out with a 20" model as well? And was the resolution considerably less than the current one?
Click to expand...


It came in 15, 17, and 20 inches on the USB 2.0 model, according to apple-history.comlink
 
katie ta achoo said:
It came in 15, 17, and 20 inches on the USB 2.0 model, according to apple-history.comlink
Click to expand...


And the screen resolution and quality? Are the newer screens much better ? I know the MBP screen is un frigging believable. I haven't seen a screen like this at all
 
eVolcre said:
And the screen resolution and quality?
Click to expand...
Resolutions are listed at KT's link. Quality was decent, comparable to today's 17", but not exceptional (the 20" was the best of the bunch and was actually pretty decent).
 
eVolcre said:
And the screen resolution and quality? Are the newer screens much better ? I know the MBP screen is un frigging believable. I haven't seen a screen like this at all
Click to expand...

Apple-history.com (iMac Page) said:
Max Resolution: 24 bit 1024x768/1440x900/1680x1050
Click to expand...

apple history dot com (MBP page) said:
Max Resolution: 24 bit 1440x900
Click to expand...

On my friend's 17" iMac G4, the screen is BEAUTIFUL. it's gorgeous. Fantastic, in a word.

It's real perdy. :)
 
I wish I were Steve Jobs. Imagine being able to choose any innard of any style.

I'd put a Core Duo into an old Classic for ***** and giggles ... :D
 
katie ta achoo said:
On my friend's 17" iMac G4, the screen is BEAUTIFUL. it's gorgeous. Fantastic, in a word.

It's real perdy. :)
Click to expand...

Me want :(

I don't know how to link to it directly but click over to this page and check out the commercial on the top right. It's AWESOME. The iMac is imitiating this guy walking by a store. I had never seen it before ...


http://web.mac.com/sboben/iWeb/11Mystics/Movies/Movies.html
 
Yeah, I remember that commercial. Very funny!

I still have a 17" iMac G4 and love it. Unfortunately I use my IBook more as it is newer and has Tiger on it, but for screen realestate and the ease of showing my son cool things on the Internet I like the lapshade screen 110% better. I always thought they bailed way too fast on that fantastic design! It would be cool to sell a monitor that plopped down on the top of a mini and did what the lampshade did.
 
I had a G4 17" lampshade mac and I loved it. It is my favorite modern computer design. I really wish Apple brought back that design.

I never thought about putting a mini in there, it would be an expensive project for me but if I had the parts i would do it. It's not really that hard now that I think about it.
 
katie ta achoo said:
The iMac was drastically redesigned from G4 to G5 to look more "iPoddy", IMO.

If you look, it does sort of look like a giant iPod..
Click to expand...

I for one look forward to see an iCar.

You know your life was not in vain when you see a car that looks just like an iPod!
 
Functionally, the iMac G4 was really great. But I heard somewhere that it cost Apple like $100 to add that special metal "neck" to each computer, that is one of the reasons why the new iMac's, with far better specs and technology, could keep the same price range. Not too many companies would put form ahead of function, but Apple always finds a way to do it.

My girlfriends mom has the old iMac G4, it is nice, but I don't like the round base, something never looked right about it to me. I love my new iMac G5, I really feel like the computer is just floating in air because I can't see where the base curves up to meet the computer back. At first I didn't like the new look, i reminded me of a pizza box. But now I think they have a very clean look, I forget that I am looking at the entire computer the whole time.
 
wwooden said:
Functionally, the iMac G4 was really great. But I heard somewhere that it cost Apple like $100 to add that special metal "neck" to each computer, that is one of the reasons why the new iMac's, with far better specs and technology, could keep the same price range. Not too many companies would put form ahead of function, but Apple always finds a way to do it.
Click to expand...
Additionally, the price of LCD's kept the iMac G4's price higher compared to the models we see today.
 
Not to detract from the wondrous form-meets-function of the iMac G4, but of you have an older rev iMac G5 (rev a or b), since they are vesa mount compatible, with a little work and cash, you could probably recreate or even improve upon the original iMac G4s functionality (in terms of adjustability).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back