I agree
This release was planned. Probably by Steve himself, and just discreetly enough (CANADA for God's sake, why THERE) so it would look like they got insider information. Think about it, what is the liklyhood (sp?) that Jobs and that other guy, across from him, would be standing around that thing in front of of a photo screen BEFORE Macworld. It's deliberate disinformation, done just subtly and clandestinely enough that it wouldn't look like disinformation. edit: added: Also, there is no way a G4 with heatsink as well as everything else could fit in that dome. Next, the monitor is 12.1 in that photo, not 15" and Apple wouldn't dare release anything smaller than that, and not prepare to deal with enraged Keynote viewers. I can see it now...
"and now folks, the moment you've been waiting for for three years has arrived. Bring out the new iMac" [iMac LCD is wheeled out on stage. Gasps from the audience, but they realize they just must be sitting too far back to see the screen size clearly] "Yes ladies and gentlemen, it's an iMac... with an LCD screen, and at 12.1 inches--"
"Get off the stage, ya coot!"
"You SUCK!!"
"Charge the stage!!! Get the traitor!!! YAAA!!!" [fans start charging Steve Jobs, ripping him limb from limb until his body is a broken mass on the floor. Keynote ends early.]
Now if Apple doesn't want a reaction similar to this, and while I realize they probably wouldn't KILL him, I think you get the idea of what will happen if the screen is that small, they WILL release a 15" LCD iMac.
[Edited by GeeYouEye on 01-07-2002 at 01:54 AM]