Redesigned iMac?

[Corpus_Callosum]

Headless iMac for Switchers

I think that a $699 (£500?) headless Mac would be the best thing Apple has ever done, for 'switchers'.

This is not only a good idea, it is a great idea.

If Apple could manage a $600-$900 headless G5 iMac, switching would definitely hit high-gear.

Although, I believe we need QEMU to get ported to OS-X before switching hits for real. QEMU is a dynamic translation project that allows PPC to run x86 programs. Combined with WINE, it currently allows PPC linux to run Windows programs at near-native speed. Once ported, we will be able to run a large variety of Windows software on our Macs. The only weirdness? They will run through X11 Check out QEMU here.

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Please sign the petition requesting sony support MicroMV camcorders on the Mac Petition here

 

[iMeowbot]

Yep, UFO fixes the keyboard clearance and port positioning, but the Superdrive tray still gets blocked on the 17" if you keep the screen low. The blue light thingy is pointless but kind of cool, only wish that it had a dimmer.

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

all you dreamers who think mac will have a 400-500-600 dollar machine are crazy or just ignorant or yet stupid on things apple, if apple releases a g5 imac first of all they aint going to give it away, 2nd of all they are going to charge an arm & leg and even more this is apple not dell,compaq,hp or joes computer, look for about $1500 bucks starting and if you think not then you arent thinking! all you dreamers of a 400 dollar mac might as well take yourself to walmart and settle down in the pc weenie world. Apple is the cadillac of the computer world and they dont give those away and they wont be giving apple away. look for a emac if you want cheap! not Imac you crazy clowns and if you think the brand new G5 is going into a 600 dollar machine then its time to get off the crack!

 

[yamabushi]

I don't think anybody really expects a G5 in an inexpensive Mac anytime soon. I do think a G5 Mac has the potential to be very inexpensive in the long run because of lower unit costs as the G5 becomes more mature and the die process shrinks and wafers grow. It's up to Apple to transfer those lower costs unto consumers or not.

Better low end Mac options could translate into more switchers since they have to invest less money in what they might perceive as a risky move to a less popular platform. The eMac isn't terrible for power but it certainly isn't cute like the early iMacs were. That cuteness translated into huge growth in sales and increased market share for a short time.

More recently consumers have been more interested in value but Apple has only been a good value in terms of hardware in some of their high end products. Motorola certainly is to blame for much of this weakness, but Apple needs to take some responsibility as well. Since the G4 is no longer very competitive, why cripple the low end systems further with too little RAM in their standard configurations? The answer might be to encourage the current user base to upgrade to a G5. But this is stupid because a G5 is only available in the big expensive tower right now. I believe that every Mac should come with at least 512MB of RAM in their standard configuration.

 

[AppleManEric]

iMac features

Maybe they will have like an organic LCD or something, that'd be cool.
(whoa that was a shorter post than I expected, i had this whole list of things, then I forgot everything)
eric

 

[DeepIn2U]

I expect to see with the same form-factor:
1) landscape/portrait mode LCD
2)OLED display or at least DLP LCD (if they can keep the later thin).
3) Back to ATi video cards that give great performance!

Optional 4) The ability for using a stylus on the display for pen input and document signatures say a $40 US option.

In a new form factor....
I still want OLED yet only if colours are fully supported in 32-bit mode at high resolutions.

 

[DeepIn2U]

oops

got cut off using this stupid PC Arrgh.

Now also in the new form factor
I'd like to see the G4 maybe pumped up with 2MB of L3 cache to improve performance.

A new design maybe reminisent of the 20 Anniversary Mac; maybe a swivel base so that the whole HD/CD/DVD/LCD panel can be swiveled to a new user opposite of the "round" table.

ok maybe im off beat with new design ideas -> reason I'm not an artist, hehe.

BUt something stunningly Marvelous with implementation of technology, yet Magnificent in terms of design.

Arguements of Apples design.
I think that either in an office, medical lab, photo lab, or in your home: decor is part of functionality. They go hand in hand! Steel fridges are more durable and 'industrial' but also build quality is better than one's you find in a low cost apartment. Now some of us may want to buy a cheap house and put nice furnishings inside to get that "Value" for our dollar but I'm not moving outta my Apartment to live in a "Leaning" house just to save $100 per month. One family did right near my daughters school and none of kids at school will visit that familys house! They even insult its appearance except on Hallowe'en. They got great furniture but the house is Harrible.

IN retrospect sounds like what Gateway tried to do with their consumer market PCs along with Dell's great technology or better yet OK technology inside but looks cheap and is cheap on the outside -> I know I'm on a Dell right now; God save me!!

 

[gooddog]

Here it is ...

Originally posted by bousozoku
They simply need to redesign the base so that they can fit a G5 in there and keep it from melting everything on the desk.
*********************************

Here it is ...

They add the missing Southern hemisphere to double the volume without changing the footprint nor the ergonomics.

The sphere stands on four blended cylindrical legs , like the moon lander in "2001".

They put in a G5, fans, and twin slot-loading Super or empty second bay.

The 19" ORGANIC LED monitor moves like
the current model PLUS it swivels to portrait.

The entire case is translucent and can be had
in an opalescent carbon fiber / glass with
deep purple throbbing Apple logo that doubles as a touch-sensitive power switch.

The pale "Silver Ghost" version can be colored with LED's from within.

All wireless modalities standard.

Printer, key, mouse, speakers, ALL bluetoothed.

From the bottom of the sphere -----

piping hot café is dispensed :

now you know how they cool the G5

---gooddog

 

[iMeowbot]

Re: Here it is ...

Originally posted by gooddog
The 19" ORGANIC LED monitor moves like the current model PLUS it swivels to portrait.

OLEDs for desktop computers are a little way off yet. The better processes stil result in a lifetime of about 10,000 hours. That would be about 5 years assuming a 40-hour work week and that people turn off their monitors at night, quite a bit less (under 2 years) if a screensaver is left running, or ther display used for long hours in a shared space. They're also still iffy for professional work, because the LEDs decay over the display's lifetime.

If the longevity problem doesn't improve by leaps and bounds really soon, I think these displays will be limited to being used in things like portable devices for a while yet.

One bit of encouragement: OLEDs can be printed on film (but they have an even shorter lifetime). If the sheets can be produced inexpensively, displays with replaceable elements wouldn't be too far-fetched. I know I have a small collection of notebooks and PDAs with cracked screens where such a feature would have been neat, and I'm guessing that the owners of spotty 15" PowerBooks wouldn't hate such a feature either.