There will always be people who think that Apple's current designs, whatever they are, are perfect and there is no need for improvement. Luckily Apple does not agree and keeps pushing things forward. 
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
What can Apple possibly do with the next iMac?
- Thread starter kevin.rivers
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Thats not sony's competition, sony's competition looks much better compared to that!
Here is a pic...i like it...
Batman.
Here is a pic...i like it...
Batman.
When the G5 came out I thought it was a serious step backwards for the iMac design.
The G4 was supreme.
But its grown on me, even the 'chin' doesn't bother me. The design reminds me of a huuuge iPod.
The G4 was supreme.
But its grown on me, even the 'chin' doesn't bother me. The design reminds me of a huuuge iPod.
hob said:Same! Did you see Sony's fugly solution for this??
I think Sony missed the boat on this one. They could of put wing mirrors and a toaster on it too.
Smiley06 said:you could put them on the bottom that would be cool so you could mount it on the wall and then have a bluetooth keyboard and mighty mouse
Yeah, I'd like them to bring back the VESA mounting possibility.
Also, wall-mounting doesn't necessarily require flush mounting. One could have a bracket that holds it out from the wall 2-3" to allow the cables to run. Probably look better too. Ideally they would create an affordable VESA arm and a mounting kit, so one could do it without the foot.
Of course, I don't think there's much more they can do to it other than design tweaks. I mean, it's a screen with a computer integrated into it. What else can they do? Make it round? Sure, shrink the chin, change the mounting options. Make it thinner, etc. But unless they go back to hte G4 styles, with a separate screen and CPU ,it seems like it's going to look fairly similar for a while.
iMac
In general, I like the iMac design. WWooden got it right, no cables to look at. I have mine in my kitchen (for now) and all you see is the power cable. The keyboard and mouse cables are not really in the way.
I do hate that the USB/Firewire ports are in the back. Evertime I have to plug in a cable or memory stick, I have to pretty much pull the iMac out of place and turn it around to see it. Given that, I don't really know where you could relocate it to that wouldn't mess up the clean design. Maybe leave them where they are for cables and put 1 or 2 USB/Firewire ports on the side by the DVD drive for plugging stuff in temporarily.
In general, I like the iMac design. WWooden got it right, no cables to look at. I have mine in my kitchen (for now) and all you see is the power cable. The keyboard and mouse cables are not really in the way.
I do hate that the USB/Firewire ports are in the back. Evertime I have to plug in a cable or memory stick, I have to pretty much pull the iMac out of place and turn it around to see it. Given that, I don't really know where you could relocate it to that wouldn't mess up the clean design. Maybe leave them where they are for cables and put 1 or 2 USB/Firewire ports on the side by the DVD drive for plugging stuff in temporarily.
Perhaps iMac's "chin" can be eliminated, since it houses power supply, speakers, and not much more (I realize RAM is also there, but it can be moved above). I think the main reason for the "chin" is to achieve iPod-like appearance.
Anyway, I have one of the new 20" iMacs and although it did look a bit weird in photos and brief look at the Apple Store, the "chin" just disappears more you use it. And it gives you something to grab when adjusting the angle. I am not saying I love the "chin," but I really don't mind it, either. What I would love to see are more functional and less to do with the design: side mounted ports (at least USB), digital audio input, ExpressCard slot, eSATA port, better holder for the remote, higher resolution LCD (1920x1200, either on 20" or 23" LCD), Bluetooth Mighty Mouse, easy-to-replace hard disk (similar to MacBook), additional RAM slots, faster GPU, and faster CPU.
Anyway, I have one of the new 20" iMacs and although it did look a bit weird in photos and brief look at the Apple Store, the "chin" just disappears more you use it. And it gives you something to grab when adjusting the angle. I am not saying I love the "chin," but I really don't mind it, either. What I would love to see are more functional and less to do with the design: side mounted ports (at least USB), digital audio input, ExpressCard slot, eSATA port, better holder for the remote, higher resolution LCD (1920x1200, either on 20" or 23" LCD), Bluetooth Mighty Mouse, easy-to-replace hard disk (similar to MacBook), additional RAM slots, faster GPU, and faster CPU.
celebrian23 said:
I love the looks of my 20" iMac. The 17" model is a little harder to take, because of the relative size of the "chin", but the 20" is much nicer.
- fix the chin
- make it thinner
- release a 23" verison
- increase mobility/viewing range (like the G4 iMac's display)
- give it the ability to change color
Or, just incorporate Apple's multi-touch screen technology into it.
- make it thinner
- release a 23" verison
- increase mobility/viewing range (like the G4 iMac's display)
- give it the ability to change color
Or, just incorporate Apple's multi-touch screen technology into it.
The chin doesn't bother me. Thinner seems reasonable and nice. Some probability that it might bow with a glossy screen at some point (although hopefully not, as it really doesn't need one, and most desktop displays are not XBrite). Although... what I really liked was the flat glass/plastic across the front of the LCD, so it wasn't exposed on the iMac G4 (this is how it was, wasn't it?). I would love it if the LCD were covered by a hard surface like that on the iMac again, with the current form factor.
I wonder if Apple will eventually get in on the higher resolution cameras cropping up in Windows PCs. TV-in does seem logical, if it can be done in a way that's Apple simple ... the solution should be as easy / easier to use than TiVo... otherwise I personally would rather see Apple not do it at all.
I wonder if Apple will eventually get in on the higher resolution cameras cropping up in Windows PCs. TV-in does seem logical, if it can be done in a way that's Apple simple ... the solution should be as easy / easier to use than TiVo... otherwise I personally would rather see Apple not do it at all.
I'd love an iMac without the chin. As it stands, the display is too high for my liking, it's quite a bit above my eye line meaning I'm always looking up. Fine if you have height adjustable chairs, but as I'm a wheelchair user that isn't gonna happen! Even so, I can't be the only one who finds the height a little uncomfortable?
Andy.
Andy.
I looked in vain for the word "humor" (or "humour") anywhere on that site, so I guess Sony's serious about it.hob said:Same! Did you see Sony's fugly solution for this??
dpaanlka said:
Oh, the humanity!! My eyes, my poor eyes... /sobs
Cloudgazer said:
that's not an accident. apple knows what they're doing here.
QCassidy352 said:that's not an accident. apple knows what they're doing here.
Shock and dismay!
I'm not sure where that photo comes from, but here's one from Sony itself:batman123 said:Thats not sony's competition, sony's competition looks much better compared to that!
Here is a pic...i like it...
Batman.
http://news.sel.sony.com/en/image_l...r_peripheral/desktops/detail?archive=0&page=2
It's just dpaanlka's from a more flattering angle. I don't think they make them anymore though, I couldn't find them on Sony's site. And seeing them in person they were ugly. Really ugly. Uglier than Dell's gray boxes. Uglier than a PowerMac from the 90's.
Andy C said:
Andy,
I agree completely. My music studio is set up with a monitor shelf at head height for both computer and audio monitors. This was great with my G4 and 17" monitor, but when I upgraded to the 20" imac, my eyes no longer look straight across to the top of the screen (as the ergos say it should) but line up about 2/3 of the way down the screen. This has caused some neck fatigue, and I am only looking at the monitor a small part of the time.
Regardless, the imac is a phenomenally beautiful computer, both in function and style. I would regret Apple putting any ports on the side or front of the case, it would ruin it. Perhaps some method of including a more extensive USB hub on the keyboard, WITH FIREWIRE. Maybe 4 ports of each.
Also, one minor change would be very cool to me: Take the blinking soft white 'sleep' light and enlarge it behind a solid mask around the apple logo on the chin. The apple would glow and fade as the sleep indicator.
kevin.rivers said:
They need to address the iMac's biggest problem. You pay for that big LCD screen but when the computer become obsolite you have to throw the LCD screen away long with the computer. This makes the iMac expensive to replace.
Wouldn't it be great if the imac used some kind of munular design or at least if the iMac have a "video in" port so the iMac could be used as a monitor
ChrisA said:
I guess the video in port might be useful occasionally, but otherwise I have to no-thanks this personally.... I really wanted an all-in-one when I bought my iMac. And I have a hard time imagining a non-kludgey modular design. ANd I *really* wanted non-kludgey when I was shopping....