Why don't iMac have front ports?
Not everyone wants to hand-feel the back of the iMac so she can plug in a flash drive.
Not everyone wants to hand-feel the back of the iMac so she can plug in a flash drive.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Why don't iMac have front ports?
- Thread starter tubeexperience
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
To look prettier I suppose. Personally I don't mind the ports being on the back its better aistheticaly although it is a bit of a hassle.
As frustrating as it is to turn the iMac around and reach back there, I wouldn't want all the ports on the front either. I had been thinking about setting up a USB extension cable as a single front-facing port, I should find it and do that.
I never said I want all the ports in the front, but rather, in addition to the back.
My Late 2012 iMac has two front accessible ports. I got them for free by changing my order from a wireless keyboard to a wired keyboard. I get a number pad too!
Heck, id be happy with a few on the sides. The SD card slot in particular -- having that on the back is just idiotic.
Wired keyboards solved this problem, but not as elegant a solution. I think Apple would prefer you to connect your temporary peripherals wirelessly and not use the ports at all.
The only way to solve this is to add a hub, running the wires so it sits on your foot.
Wired keyboards solved this problem, but not as elegant a solution. I think Apple would prefer you to connect your temporary peripherals wirelessly and not use the ports at all.
The only way to solve this is to add a hub, running the wires so it sits on your foot.
The Apple logo should be the power button as well.
I think it's just to look nicer. If the iMac had ports cluttered below the screen, it would just look ugly. Which is the same reason they did back-only ports on the Mac Mini and Mac Pro. Even if it is inconvenient, it looks better. Except the SD card, which should be on the side of the iMac, like it was when we had optical drives.
You should know by now, for Apple its the aesthetics, simple as that. People have been buying Macs (iMacs, MBPs, etc etc) because they are wonderfully designed and look awesome. Putting ports on the front is just plain ugly
Last edited:
What other OEMs (Dell, HP, etc.) do with their all-in-ones is to put the ports on the side, but the iMac have wield curve design on the back.
You don't really buy Macs for the design aesthetic, do you? ;-)
Because Apple values form over function.
2011 has the SD RAM slot on the side just below the CD ROM drive. Maybe there isn't physical space internally on 2012+ imacs.
That won't ever happen because Apple opted to make the iMac thin a few years ago, which still baffles me.
Agreed. As an DSLR shooter I use that slot a lot.I use a gray 4" extension cable that hangs down the back for UBS drives.
![usbext.jpg]()
The SD slot on the back is dumb.
Here's the one I actually use.
By Anker.
It would be ergonomically unsound and even dangerous. If you hold up one of these perpendicular to the front of our iMac you'll see what I mean: https://amzn.com/B00HR7FWUC
It would stick out right above the mouse or track pad making it difficult to use and putting the thumb drive at risk of getting sheared off. Similarly the short cables from bus-powered USB portable drives would have to be looped back behind the case anyway otherwise the drives would lay on your mouse pad or track pad.
The fact that rear USB ports are aesthetically pleasing is just extra. They simply wouldn't work well on the front given the current case design and distance from the work surface.
Spend a few minutes feeling out the back of the computer with one hand whilst not looking. I soon got the hang of plugging drives etc.. in this way without looking. You just need to feel the slot carefully so you don't scratch the case with the plug.
I don't buy Macs for the looks, but their hardware design is something to behold. Considering what they contain, both the iMac and Mac Pro are works of art (compare the basic components to that found in a similar spec PC and then look at how much space the PC components require to do the same job!).
I don't buy Macs for the looks, but their hardware design is something to behold. Considering what they contain, both the iMac and Mac Pro are works of art (compare the basic components to that found in a similar spec PC and then look at how much space the PC components require to do the same job!).
Yeah, my iMac is MUCH more aesthetically pleasing with a cable running from the back of it into a USB hub that sits under it on my desk so I can actually plug things in and use it. Simply brilliant!
Why not use a powered USB hub so that it sits under the iMac and gives you he ports in the front you need?