In a similar spirit to the translucent plastics thread, this article takes a closer look at an era that overlapped and followed directly after the translucent era of Apple. An era that we might call the 'snow' era (sometimes also known as 'ice').
I think most users here know what that era involves, but to help define it clearly, we are talking about the following features:
We might also say that it certainly doesn't include every Apple product from the era. For instance, the 'snow' concept doesn't really come to mind when I think of the G4 Quicksilver, nor the graphite+opaque iBook Clamshell. You may or may not include the acrylic Apple Studio Displays – up to you. On the other side, we might exclude the iBook G4 and iPod 4th Gen, which don't lean strongly enough into the concept, IMO - pure white polycarbonate is its own aesthetic, I think.
Apple eventually outgrew these design features, most notably in its shift to aluminium and glass, but also in subtle ways that diminished that particular look. There's a certain 'spirit' to the Snow aesthetic that was distinctive to 2000-2005 that I think we can agree on, peaking around 2001. However, this aesthetic cast a very long shadow, and there are still products on shelves today that borrow heavily from its design principles.
Here is a timeline of Apple 'Snow' products, with short descriptions (ignoring identical revisions of the same product):
3rd Party 'Snow' Products (please expand this list)
I think most users here know what that era involves, but to help define it clearly, we are talking about the following features:
- Translucent plastics in neutral tones – especially white
- Clear acrylic elements, especially used alongside white plastics.
- White plastics in general, lacking coloured elements.
- Simplicity of form and appearance.
- Extremely difficult to photograph correctly (lol)
We might also say that it certainly doesn't include every Apple product from the era. For instance, the 'snow' concept doesn't really come to mind when I think of the G4 Quicksilver, nor the graphite+opaque iBook Clamshell. You may or may not include the acrylic Apple Studio Displays – up to you. On the other side, we might exclude the iBook G4 and iPod 4th Gen, which don't lean strongly enough into the concept, IMO - pure white polycarbonate is its own aesthetic, I think.
Apple eventually outgrew these design features, most notably in its shift to aluminium and glass, but also in subtle ways that diminished that particular look. There's a certain 'spirit' to the Snow aesthetic that was distinctive to 2000-2005 that I think we can agree on, peaking around 2001. However, this aesthetic cast a very long shadow, and there are still products on shelves today that borrow heavily from its design principles.
Here is a timeline of Apple 'Snow' products, with short descriptions (ignoring identical revisions of the same product):
- 2000
- iMac G3 DV/SE 'Snow' – the original Snow iMac, released in summer alongside the jewel-tone iMacs. Only this model had green/orange power lights. Revised in 2001 to use a white power light.
- 2001
- iBook G3 'Snow', especially the early versions with the translucent white casing. The keyboard especially is very 'snowy'
- iPod 1st Gen (and 2nd Gen) – anyone who has seen one of these in person knows how it's the epitome of snow.
- Airport Base Station 2nd Gen ("Dual Ethernet" / "Snow", M8440) - an often-forgotten update from the 1999 'graphite' Airport base station,
- 2002
- iMac G4 (15" and 17"; 20" in 2003) - soft curves, acrylic bezels, this is pure snow to me.
- eMac G4 - a white case with features such as the acrylic vent, speaker cover and optional stand make this pass the test.
- Apple Pro Mouse (M5769) and Keyboard - acrylic casing with white.
- 2003
- iPod 3rd Gen - less snow than the 1st gen, but with its clear buttons and clean white look it should qualify.
- Apple Keyboard (A1048) - acrylic case, pure white keycaps.
- 2004
- iMac G5 (17", 20" and later iSight+Intel+24" models) – with clear acrylic still forming the bezels and the friendly white appearance, this is pure snow.
- 2005
- iPod Nano 1st Gen, white – a miniaturised iMac G5, enough said.
- Misc.
- The clear+white power plugs Apple shipped with the Snow iMac and G4 DA(?) models.
3rd Party 'Snow' Products (please expand this list)
- Macally: IceKey, IceCam 1 & 2, IceMouse, iPod IceCase, IceFM transmitter
- Griffin iTrip FM Transmitter
- The "iRobots" in the 2004 movie I, Robot
Last edited:
