Next Apple iMacs with "Striking New Industrial Design"?

[JGowan]

I cry "BS". The next iMac is under the same tight wraps as the iPhone was and only those who don't talk have seen it. Sure it's probably in the design-phase but I feel this was just way for Apple Insider to generate some decent web traffic. That's it.

 

[Zwhaler]

I cry "BS". The next iMac is under the same tight wraps as the iPhone was and only those who don't talk have seen it. Sure it's probably in the design-phase but I feel this was just way for Apple Insider to generate some decent web traffic. That's it.

Well, it sure worked here on MacRumors

 

[Chef Medeski]

Please stop with the "Bring back the G4 iMac design".

It will not happen. Apple will never take a step back. There may be elements that get incorporated into the new design...like adjustable screen height and tilt, but the old design will never come back. It was too expensive to produce...period.

Don't get me wrong, I had no problem with the G4 iMac, but I have no problem with the current design either.

Why do people want to go back? I am excited to see what NEW things Apple has to offer.

iPod Nanos anyone?

 

[Zwhaler]

iPod Nanos anyone?

Very true. But the iPod Mini was a lot more poopular than the iMac G4 in terms of design... people bought the iMac G4 because it was the only iMac available in terms of design. People in the market for an iPod had more to choose from, and obviously loved the Mini's design. I personally don't think they will go back to the G4... but I know the new design will be amazing at the least.

 

[richard4339]

Despite the fact that this mockup is for the Mac Pro, I would kill for the new iMacs to look like this.

 

[badcrumble]

this is what I think it will look like:

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=428415015&size=o

Though the edge is kinda thick-looking and the base doesn't match, I would buy something like this SO quickly.

 

[badcrumble]

Hey, here's a thought, and sorry for the double post - a while ago some site mentioned that Apple patented the possibility of touch-sensitive metal around the border of a device - so, for instance, you could slide your finger along the edge of an ipod to scroll. It looks like that got discarded in favor of multitouch in the iPhone. However, what if they put that tech to use in the iMac? You could control brightness or volume with the sides and top of a screen, or program them to respond to Spaces automatically (slide your finger in a particular direction to move to that Space), or any number of things. It'd probably be a lot cheaper to implement than multitouch hardware, but might still be quite useful.

 

[aswitcher]

Despite the fact that this mockup is for the Mac Pro, I would kill for the new iMacs to look like this.

Why?

Brushed metal wears better; Looks nice;

Whats not to like?

 

[aswitcher]

this is what I think it will look like:

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=428415015&size=o

Nice. I would be happy with a squarer look. I would also really like to see a return to the older arm and a potrait swivel option.

 

[LoganT]

Why?

Brushed metal wears better; Looks nice;

Whats not to like?

I don't think you are reading the quote right.

 

[Slumbercub]

http://www.kromekat.nildram.co.uk/imac.html

If it looks like this, I'll be wanting royalties Steve!

Adam

You are the actual Adam that created that work of art - WOW? Stunning!

If Apple did come up with a beauty like that you would deserve royalties and I would sell my wife, mother, car and children to get one.

 

[aswitcher]

I don't think you are reading the quote right.

Ah yeah.

 

[Multimedia]

I Hope iMac Industrial Design Will Look Like This

This mockup was floated last pre-refresh last year and I was looking all over for it this time because I still think this is how the next iMac should look, especially if it's an "Industrial Design". I love this design a lot. Thank you Mac Fly for finding this.

 

[Elrond39]

Hey, here's a thought, and sorry for the double post - a while ago some site mentioned that Apple patented the possibility of touch-sensitive metal around the border of a device - so, for instance, you could slide your finger along the edge of an ipod to scroll. It looks like that got discarded in favor of multitouch in the iPhone. However, what if they put that tech to use in the iMac? You could control brightness or volume with the sides and top of a screen, or program them to respond to Spaces automatically (slide your finger in a particular direction to move to that Space), or any number of things. It'd probably be a lot cheaper to implement than multitouch hardware, but might still be quite useful.

Now there's an interesting thought...

Only, what if this were an ACD feature, and the "computer-in-a-keyboard" with multitouch came along (as the iMac)... Oh my. That would be awesome.

 

[a456]

this is what I think it will look like:

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=428415015&size=o

This looks like an HP in sheeps clothing to me. Too much fuss over a pair of speakers.

 

[matticus008]

Well, actually, the post on MR front page talks about "major iMac design revision", which does not discuss generations of the product. Further, the word revision means to have "reconsidered and made changes to", so the first model is not the first revision. There have been three (significantly) different iMac designs: the original, the first revision, and the second revision. So, yes, the front page article should say '3rd', not '4th'.

So does 'third review' actually mean there have been four critiques? It's so prescriptivist to insist on outdated and overliteral notions of words. Common usage is that when someone refers to the first revision, they're referring to the first generation. The "vision" of the product, you could say, is the prototype phase.

Yes, it's confusing semantically because not everyone does it identically, and no, it's not really right to say "first revision" when referring to the original design. But that's language for you. Revision has become synonymous with iteration, generation, and edition when it comes to electronic/mechanical products.

This looks like an HP in sheeps clothing to me. Too much fuss over a pair of speakers.

I think it's a terrifying design. The imbalanced black in the four corners, the odd curves that are too soft for a device of its size, the mismatched speaker grilles, and Frankenstein stand are all arbitrary elements. I get that it's supposed to evoke 'iPhone' but it's possible to do that in a sensible and artful way.

 

[LoganT]

I really don't understand the appeal of a touchscreen display. I mean yeah on a laptop it would be great, but as a desktop? And yeah we've all seen those videos on Youtube, but it seems kinda pointless. Besides, I really don't want the iMac to get more expensive.

 

[FleurDuMal]

My friend who works at Apple HQ took this pic of the new iMac on his mobile phone"

Apparently the graphics card is replacable.

 

[povman]

My friend who works at Apple HQ took this pic of the new iMac on his mobile phone"

...

Apparently the graphics card is replacable.

lol!

that's a bit bigger than my ibook.

 

[johnmcboston]

I would also really like to see a return to the older arm and a potrait swivel option.

aaaaahhhhh!!!! Please, not another ilamp. They were terrible!

 

[Lepton]

For all you fools expecting the imac to suddenly become a half-price widescreen wacom cintiq with a computer thrown in for free, i suggest you take pause.

That's just about exactly what I do think will happen. But I think of it as a computer with multitouch thrown in for (almost) free. I think that the new line of displays will have multitouch as well - that's why they've been delayed so long!

I think you will be able to use a finger, and also a conductive stylus for finer drawing. I think the iMac and displays will be virtually all screen on the front, with a completely smooth glasslike surface. I think the stand will be removable to allow a stand as usual, a wall mount without fuss, and sitting it flat or at a low angle on a desk. The Mac easel...

I think the entire line of computers will go multitouch eventually. Mike from myallo.com

 

[iReilly]

Multi-touch

Maybe they are going to redesign the keyboard to have a large multi-touch pad on it. Similar to the touch pads on the laptops...

 

[®îçhå®?]

Personally, i would love to see it happen but i cannot see it. I think that they are just guessing by the fact that it has had that design since September 2005?? and that it needs an update

 

[fixyourthinking]

4th redesign?

"This would represent the 4th major iMac design revision since its introduction. (Original, iMac G4, Current)"

I consider the move from tray load to slot load a major design change too for several reasons:

* well ... the tray load optical drive went to a slot load optical drive - giving a MUCH more clean look and offering the option of CDRW

* the plastics changed with a much more translucent - fluid design

* no side door hiding the connection panel - just an integrated side connection panel

* the colors were dramatically updated (made more vibrant) and Apple even went overboard with the Dalmation and Flower Power designs

* the keyboards and mouse changed to the pro design and no longer matched in color

* the motherboard finally dropped legacy support/got a HUGE 50% or more VRAM Upgrade/and had firewire

I consider:

Rev A & B to be the same = 1st design (tray load)
Rev C = 2nd design (slot load)
Rev D = 3rd design (dome)
Rev E = 4th design (slab)
Rev F = 5th design = which does actually equal #5

 

[zen]

I consider:

Rev A & B to be the same = 1st design (tray load)
Rev C = 2nd design (slot load)
Rev D = 3rd design (dome)
Rev E = 4th design (slab)
Rev F = 5th design = which does actually equal #5

That's not quite right - Revs A - D were all tray loading. I had a lime Rev D, which was a tray-loading 333Mhz G3. Slot-loading began with Rev E, and then there were the DV, DV+, DV/SE versions before the iMac G4 (lamp) was introduced.

Looking at images of the last G3 iMacs, the design was actually really pretty good. Plus the colours sage, graphite and snow were absolutely beautiful. I hope they introduce some colour variation with the upcoming revised iMac.