Inside Apple's Industrial Design

[oscuh]

Thanks!

Don't just spread FUD. Check this out,
http://www.gadgets.si/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/ux_2.jpg

Thanks for making our point that SONY design sucks ... this is brand new? Looks like it's 5 or 6 years old already ... Poor, poor Sony ... overpriced and overhyped ...

 

[MikeTheC]

Beyond the realm of Computers, the PS3 looks kind of cool, but that's about it ... I certainly wouldn't have designed it to look the way it does ... or the XBOX360 for that matter, and we all know who that belongs to ...

In a fight between the XBox 360 and the PS3, I'd have to abstain because I don't think it's allowed to root against both sides.

 

[MikeTheC]

Don't just spread FUD. Check this out,
http://www.gadgets.si/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/ux_2.jpg

Ok, so it looks like a rip-off of a "smart" cell phone. What's your point?

 

[Fiveos22]

There is a great little story in the first reader comment to complement the article.

Link to Last Page

Some years ago, when Apple was selling CRTs, the company I was working for was making them, and there are a ton of stories from those days of the astonishing demands that Apple put on its OEMs, all in the interest of getting rock solid products). You talk about the problems of zero-draft molding (and we were all too familiar with that). I would add the fact that Apple demanded absolutely minimum clearance between the glass of the CRT and the inner edge of the bezel, and engineers from Cupertino would wander around with insanely thin feeler gauges, making sure the gap was within spec. Funny thing... I could never look at a CRT after that without checking that gap, and prior to flat screen CRTs, no company ever came close to Apple.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Funny thing... I could never look at a CRT after that without checking that gap, and prior to flat screen CRTs, no company ever came close to Apple.

That's why I can't understand what is going on with all the various MacBook/Pro problems. What's happened to the quality Apple is known for? Nevermind, what I think is wrong with the x86 architecture (I've never had a kenel panic on PPC ... rock solid).

 

[lazyrighteye]

It's almost becoming cliche with how many people are dissing the iPhone. So sick of seeing this response to the iPhone. It's amazing how many people out there have completely closed minds...

Well said.
It is one thing to share strong opinions (one way or the other) about a product that is out, that people have actually used. That is welcome, helpful and healthy.
It is a whole different ball of wax to do so having never so much as touched (in this case) an iPhone. That's lame.

 

[Chris Bangle]

That's why I can't understand what is going on with all the various MacBook/Pro problems. What's happened to the quality Apple is known for? Nevermind, what I think is wrong with the x86 architecture (I've never had a kenel panic on PPC ... rock solid).

my imac g5 logic board is apparently dead as a rewsult im using 10.1.5 on a g4 powermac... come on new imacs

 

[notjustjay]

My point was that Apple leads and everyone else follows. Remember the original iMac and how many companies jumped on the Bondi bandwagon?

If a company is going approach design the way Apple does, they need to be innovative at the end of the day, not just plagarize.

We don't disagree on this count.

Again, it seems to me that Apple is far less cost-conscious than most companies, making things look good even if it has a premium cost. Other companies say "Make it look good (or make it look like Apple) -- except at half the price so we can still outsell our competition." And, obviously, for half the price you can't replicate the look and quality, hence crappy looking knock-offs.

The real problem is that there is a market for this sort of garbage, and really always has been ($20 Rolex knock-off, anyone?)

 

[dartzorichalcos]

Apple has always made high quality products and will continue to do so.

 

[pizzacake]

[*]MacBook: greasy fingerprints all over the black version.

I don't think it's fair to blame Apple for some spotty teenager's lack of hygiene

[*]iPod Mini: Microdives that simply never lasted.

Mine's still going strong.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

That was a great article.

Yeah I totally agree, that was an interesting and well written article.

 

[MrCrowbar]

Thanks for making our point that SONY design sucks ... this is brand new? Looks like it's 5 or 6 years old already ... Poor, poor Sony ... overpriced and overhyped ...

I still think the PSP looks cool and the DS doesn't.
On the other hand, the xBox360 looks ok where the PS3 looks terrible. I still think the Dreamcast was one of the best consoles ever made design wise.

Macs are pretty much the only computers that look interesting even when they're off. Even a Vaio gets boring after a minute and looks worse the longer you look at it. I enjoy cleaning my Macbook, it's even pretty on the bottom side. It's one of the first batch and after cleaning (microfiber cloth and soft window cleaner) it looks like new. Except for the keys and trackpad, which have been replaced less than a year ago and look worn out bad.

I wish Apple would have good design on the inside of their Macs. Changing an iMac's hard drive is tough...