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Happy 20th Launch Anniversary, iMac

Expect better from Mac Rumors!

“Today, the iMac is available in 21.5 and 27-inch size options, with 4K and 5K Retina displays, respectively. Kaby Lake chips, AMD graphics, and super fast SSDs are included.”

“super fast SSDs are included”???

No, they are not. They are an option — $400 for a 512gb SSD and that's not even available for the lowest end model!
 
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This article is inaccurate. It is not correct that "[a]t launch, and in the years following its release, Apple released the iMac G3 in a slew of shades . . ." Rather, at launch, the iMac came in exactly one color: Bondi Blue. Bright colors (and later some designs) arrived much later.

Also, the original iMac was called simply "iMac," not "iMac G3," although it did have a G3 processor.
 
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Apple Stock price in August 1998 was around $1.25 per share. Yeah, I bought a bunch of stock around that time. Hindsight doesn't always have to be 20/20.
 
MacRumors said:
Apple's first iMac, which sold for $1,299 at launch, came equipped with a 233 - 700MHz PowerPC 750 G3 processor, 128GB of storage, a 15-inch CRT, a CD-ROM drive, and an ATI graphics card, components that don't sound impressive today but made for a powerful, well-rounded machine, that, in combination with the design, made the iMac a best seller.
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Cool. My 2017 macbook PRO about 20 years later also came with 128GB of storage. Way to keep it consistent, Apple.

At least the iMac storage was upgradable, unlike the modern stuff Apple is pushing.
 
I know plastic really isn't in vogue these days, but it would be nice to see Apple have some fun with their products.

Maybe some colorized, anodized aluminum iMacs as homage? They definitely need to put out some more colors for the iPhone lines.
 
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I still hold fond memories of the tangerine iMac DV I bought for college in 1999, it was no speed demon but hell was this thing cool and sweet.

I think we're overdue for a little wow, the current form factor is no doubt elegant and smooth, but the design is close to 15 years old at this point (despite several improvements over the years) and a new paradigm would be welcome.

Apple's first iMac, which sold for $1,299 at launch, came equipped with a 233 - 700MHz PowerPC 750 G3 processor, 128GB of storage, a 15-inch CRT, a CD-ROM drive, and an ATI graphics card, components that don't sound impressive today but made for a powerful, well-rounded machine, that, in combination with the design, made the iMac a best seller.
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Getting mixed up - the first iMac had a 233 MHz G3 chip (the 700 MHz G3 iMac didn't ship until 2001), I believe it had 32 MB of base RAM (up to 512) and a 4 GB hard drive.
 
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From 2004 to date, you can see how the exterior design barely changed.
That would be about 14 years. It is a lifetime in computer time.

Still has the same fixed base that you can not even change the height.

That is how much Apple cares about innovation...
 
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Whoa that’s weird. I got my first iMac 8 years ago on August 15th Lol.

It’s running perfectly, but I really hope we get a redesign this year. I’m ready to upgrade.
 
Veinticinco said:
Don Draper had it right when he recounted the literal (Greek) meaning of nostalgia...pain from an old wound, more powerful than memory alone.

That's how I think about the original iMac (with a nod to its impressive successor the Luxo). Ever since they've been steadily regressing in design, personality and relevance. Functional but not loved.
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crsh1976 said:
I still hold fond memories of the tangerine iMac DV I bought for college in 1999, it was no speed demon but hell was this thing cool and sweet.

I think we're overdue for a little wow, the current form factor is no doubt elegant and smooth, but the design is close to 15 years old at this point (despite several improvements over the years) and a new paradigm would be welcome.
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The iMac in Colour has some personality, I remember the DV line rather well. Loved the translucent graphite mode plus I was a fan of the Ruby and Sage, Purple was also growing on me. Some great memories. The Luxo design was my favourite of them all.
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newyorksole said:
Whoa that’s weird. I got my first iMac 8 years ago on August 15th Lol.

It’s running perfectly, but I really hope we get a redesign this year. I’m ready to upgrade.
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The redesign will be chinless, however will sport a forehead. :p:D
 
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A graphite iMac G3 SE was the first mac I owned myself (rather than a family computer). I’ve also had a 2008 core 2 duo and a 2011 i7. All served very well, and I will probably return to an iMac when they update it again.
 
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MistrSynistr said:
I'm going to say you're wrong. The simple reason being the iMac Pro has the same 'old' design and it would be obnoxious to change the cheaper model and make it more sleek and modern. Unless they're just going to do both.
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Why would it be obnoxious? Unless some how Apple sprinkles magical fairy dust and invents a slimmer iMac that is as powerful and has the same I/O capability(which they won't) then it will not be obnoxious.

Why would anyone who needs a workstation grade Apple computer care that there is a new slimmer version out that has much worse thermal capabilities and less I/O(and we all know this is the path Apple would take for a redesign because they have historically done this with every computer across the board.
 
one of my favorite pics from a long time ago. . .
 

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iGeek2014 said:
... Apple talk extensively about recycling etc but what’s “green” about computers that have a limited shelf life if everything is glued/soldered down?
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Simple equivalence.

Glued/Soldered Down ::= "Green" to Apple's Treasury

My View: A consequence of a hardware company, morphing to "services" just recently, but remaining highly dependent on shortened lifecycles. [And, helped by creative financing.]
 
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