Jony Ive Was Involved in the New M1 iMac Design, Despite Leaving Apple in 2019

[Rashy]

It’s a stupid design. Defend it all you like, but it’s stupid.

Don't waste your breath on him. No matter where, he is stubbornly defending everything Apple releases, no matter of real-world usability. That absolutely dumb mouse charging is one example (next to the fact the magic mouse is an ergonomic disaster in general), same goes for the port selection. The recents MBPs with USB-C only were impractical for the majority of users and Apple thankfully changes it back with the upcoming 14/16" models. For this iMac, making it 1-2mm thicker and adding a SD-Reader + 2 USB-A ports for still perfectly working peripherals would had also been more practical. It's a desktop ffs. This Ive ultra-minimalism is annoying.

Btw, I don't mind the colors, some of them are really neat, but the silver version should have come with black bezels. Better for the eyes especially when working in dark mode.

 

[Stephen.R]

No matter where, he is stubbornly defending everything Apple releases, no matter of real-world usability.

Actually not at all. I just don't feel the need to make up ******** "ohnoes I can't use the mouse while it's charging" crap.

People always go on about how form should follow function. Ok well, the mouse in question charges for a full days use in 2 minutes, and several hours charge (i.e. overnight) will give you a months use uninterrupted. That's function.

Because of that functionality, the form can be as sleek as they wished - the charging port doesn't need to be on top or on the front, because there is simply no reason you need to leave it plugged in for an extended period of time while using it.


If you think I defend everything Apple does, that's your choice. I can't make you think other things. It's not reality but no one ever said your thoughts have to reflect reality.

 

[FoxMcCloud]

And many Apple fans screamed back.

It’s not a unique concept.

 

[FoxMcCloud]

Actually not at all. I just don't feel the need to make up ******** "ohnoes I can't use the mouse while it's charging" crap.

People always go on about how form should follow function. Ok well, the mouse in question charges for a full days use in 2 minutes, and several hours charge (i.e. overnight) will give you a months use uninterrupted. That's function.

Because of that functionality, the form can be as sleek as they wished - the charging port doesn't need to be on top or on the front, because there is simply no reason you need to leave it plugged in for an extended period of time while using it.


If you think I defend everything Apple does, that's your choice. I can't make you think other things. It's not reality but no one ever said your thoughts have to reflect reality.

If only the charging port for the keyboard was underneath too, then it could also not be used while charging.

 

[Stephen.R]

If only the charging port for the keyboard was underneath too, then it could also not be used while charging.

In case you weren't aware, the keyboard and the mouse... now sit down for this its shocking... they are different shapes.

Woah I got a head rush just typing that.


Now I know this is quite an extraordinary concept, because.. traditionally of course, mice and keyboards have been very similar shapes..

 

[Schraeds]

Yup, the thinness, headphone jack sticking out the end as a result. Got Ives all over it, said it before.

The colours are not him though.

You mean the colors that are reminiscent of the original iMac that Ives designed? Get off it mate lol, what a garbage take.

 

[Rashy]

People always go on about how form should follow function. Ok well, the mouse in question charges for a full days use in 2 minutes, and several hours charge (i.e. overnight) will give you a months use uninterrupted. That's function.

And guess what, with the port being located at a different location, it could charge just as fast. This is not even an argument.

Because of that functionality, the form can be as sleek as they wished - the charging port doesn't need to be on top or on the front, because there is simply no reason you need to leave it plugged in for an extended period of time while using it.

Sleek in what way? Such shallow to make it unhealthy for your back of the hand, as most neutral reviewers critically observed? Why not make it, let's say, 3mm higher, keep the gesture stuff the same and move the charging port to the lower front? Zero problem with my MX Master 3. No more need to turn it around like a silly turtle. This design is stupid enough, that it has triggered countless of memes out there. That's what I mean with defending or trying to relativize at flawed design. Maybe you should check your perception of reality first.

 

[Seanm87]

Exactly. A desktop all-in-one needs to have ports, internal power supply, and design that follows function. Thinness was on no one's wish list for iMac.

Apple doesnt sound like the right company for you then.

 

[stringParameter]

Boy does it show.

 

[stringParameter]

It’s beautiful, clean and simple. Screamed Ive from the beginning.

Emphasis on “simple”

 

[Stephen.R]

And guess what, with the port being located at a different location, it could charge just as fast. This is not even an argument.

You're missing the point.

Fast charging and long battery life is a function.

That function allows for different design choices.

Sleek in what way?

Sleek in the way the word sleek is defined in the dictionary, relating to objects?

• (of an object) having an elegant, streamlined shape or design

So when you said I "defend everything Apple releases":

No matter where, he is stubbornly defending everything Apple releases, no matter of real-world usability.

What you meant was... "oh but there are memes about the mouse upside down it must be bad"?:

This design is stupid enough, that it has triggered countless of memes out there. That's what I mean with defending or trying to relativize at flawed design.

Well, all I can say is:

 

[Taipan]

i honestly don't understand the thought process here. they had a choice between slightly thicker screen with no chin or a thinner screen with a chin. when using the computer, you will always see the chin while the only time you will notice the thickness if you are walking from the side.

I‘m pretty sure if it had double the thickness with only a tenth of the additional space taken up by the mainboard, people would complain as well. They are already complaining that there‘s too much air in it.

 

[Taipan]

Yup, the thinness, headphone jack sticking out the end as a result. Got Ives all over it, said it before.

The colours are not him though.

What do you mean „sticking out“? I think it‘s a good decision that a has an opening towards the outside.

 

[Craigwilliam]

At the end of the day the "chin" is a part of the iMac's identity, much like the notch has become for the iPhone. Without it the computer loses its personality. Little more than a cinema display with a Mac Mini built in.
If you don't like it then the iMac isn't for you.

 

[Taipan]

Really, with WiFi 6 who needs an ethernet port anymore?

I have never seen WiFi working flawlessly, no matter what iteration. Restarting the access point or turning WiFi off and on on the device to make it work again has become very common.

 

[Taipan]

I’m okay with the chin and white bezels, but that headphone jack is akin to the first gen Apple Pencil charging solution where the pencil sticks right out of the iPad.
It means you’ll always need room to the side of the iMac, and the cable has to stretch further to you. Why wouldn’t they just move it to the underside/bottom of the chin instead?
Also, Apple mouse charging solution.

My personal guess would be that at least 98% of people have at least 3 cm of free space to the side of the Mac. Not a problem at all, in my opinion. Unlike the Apple Pencil that‘s bound to break as you move the iPad around.

 

[Steve Adams]

Apple is far from ruined.

Nope. just their products. This thin above all else design mentality has created garbage products.

 

[allan.nyholm]

My first reaction "Of course he was involved"

However, I wouldn't have guessed it right off the bat just sitting here. He ought to design/create coffee mugs or glasses. Or even straight jackets for when I go insane. That'll suit him too.

I think the new 24" M1 iMac's are great though and I wouldn't mind having the top tier model donated to me.

 

[Abazigal]

Exactly. A desktop all-in-one needs to have ports, internal power supply, and design that follows function. Thinness was on no one's wish list for iMac.

Once upon a time, the iPhone was derided for not having a hardware keyboard and the MacBook Air laughed at for lacking just about every other port.

I applaud Apple for daring to challenge the status quo and getting people to rethink just what it is they value in a product. Are features like ports and an internal power supply really non-negotiable in a desktop, or are they too subject to changing whims and values?

Can Apple make people indifferent to having just 2 usb c ports in a desktop, and care more about thinness than they do about the Ethernet cable going into the power brick as opposed to the back of the computer?

Maybe. Maybe not. But it’s fascinating watching this cognitive dissonance play out in front of me.

 

[Sinfonist]

Really, with WiFi 6 who needs an ethernet port anymore?

I'm getting reliable gigabit transfer rates (measured end-to-end) with wired Ethernet. My Wifi 6 router gives good performance nearby (up to about 850Mbps on the 5GHz band) but drops off quickly with distance (I'm getting about 300Mbps right now in the next room). So for fixed devices with high bandwidth needs, the wired port is definitely better.

This is an old house with solid walls (I don't get a reliable signal outdoors). I've connected up my annexe with Cat6a and some access points - it's basically impossible to get Wifi there otherwise.

So, Wifi 6 is OK for typical home use, but definitely not as good as a wired connection. If you run Cat6a, you should be good for 10Gbps.

 

[ColdShadow]

This new design doesn’t have the quality and features of his previous works.
I really don’t like the design of new iMacs and will never buy them despite being an iMac user for 15+ years.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Really, with WiFi 6 who needs an ethernet port anymore?

The speed is "good enough" for most people on Wifi 6 but the consistency of the connection is still not as good as hard wiring.

 

[richinaus]

The speed is "good enough" for most people on Wifi 6 but the consistency of the connection is still not as good as hard wiring.

Run my business on wifi 6 with large up and downloads. No problems so far, but hard wiring always wins.

 

[Count Blah]

Now the stupid big chin while being razor thin, makes a TON of sense. Can’t forget the white border, power brick on a desktop and no Ethernet(too thin).

Form over function Jony! It’s a train wreck for a desktop.

 

[citysnaps]

ALL IN ONE - Doesn't work if it's not all in one does it.

It's not a difficult concept to grasp surely.

Eh... Someone's made-up "definition" is certainly not keeping me up at night. I suspect it's the same with Apple computer designers.

Nothing to get the shakes about. Life goes on.