[CharlesS]

Originally Posted by SirCastor 

-The Powerbook G4... Amazing. Absolutely amazing.

I actually don't like the design of the Titanium PowerBooks. The paint tends to peel off after they're a few years old, and then they start to look really junky.

I think the design of the aluminum PowerBooks (and the MBP, since it's the same design) is/was much better.

[TheoCryst]

No question about it. It's a gorgeous machine, and one of the first Macs that ever caught my attention. I would absolutely buy one if they released it with Intel Inside™, even if it was just a Mac Mini.

[Koralatov]

Originally Posted by Judge_Fire 

1) The full cube setup, which I'm happy to own. It was a great machine and one can always hope...

It is a truly beautiful machine, and I can't wait to get my hands on mine. If only there wasn't a postal strike on just now!

I never really liked that mod, though. It never looked quite right. The handles just looked weird on the casing—totally out of proportion with the rest of it. Also, I did worry about cooling; the stock Cube cools by convection, but that Cube is at a ninety-degree angle so, unless it has a fan, surely it would overheat?

Originally Posted by dcmacdaddy 

If Apple did this I would be on the Apple Store site ordering one within five minutes of hearing the news.

You know . . . you're right. A Mac mini could easily fit inside the semi-circular base of that model iMac. I wonder if it is possible to retro-fit a g4 iMac with a mini on the inside. Hmmm? (goes to Google to find out)

I'd be all over an Intel iMac G4 like a rash. I did think about trying to retrofit a mini into my iMac, but I really don't have the technical know-how. A mod of that complexity is beyond me. If you find anything, though, please do let me know!

Another idea I had along a similar line was a kit for the Mac mini that basically comprises of a base that the mini slots into with a VESA-compatible arm-mount attached, effectively emulating the iMac G4's basic form, if not its style exactly. I thought if it was all aluminium, and the base was weighted correctly, you could easily fit a Cinema Display (or any LCD) on the VESA mount. Also, if you were so inclined to manufacture such a thing, you could include a FireWire hard-disk in the base unit.

Originally Posted by Mastrap 

I must be the only person alive who really disliked the iMac G4. Love the 24" white iMac however - one of the best Macs ever built, IMO.

That's dangerous talk around these parts!

[JonoMarshall]

I'd be all over an Intel iMac G4 like a rash. I did think about trying to retrofit a mini into my iMac, but I really don't have the technical know-how. A mod of that complexity is beyond me. If you find anything, though, please do let me know!

The mod's not that feasible as you'd have to replace the screen and innerds (the logic board of the iMac G4 is required to run the display), so most people have been put off. I might try it one day though, you'd want all the ports and superdrive to work as per the original (of course, heh) which is where it gets tricky!

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Mac User #001 

2. Apple (Pro) Mouse

I never liked it at all. No feel or feedback.

3. Cinema Displays

Over-priced. You can get just as good of a LCD for cheaper.

[JonoMarshall]

Over-priced. You can get just as good of a LCD for cheaper.

Is price a factor in this? If so, I retract my likes and state that Apple are bad at design...

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by JonoMarshall 

Is price a factor in this? If so, I retract my likes and state that Apple are bad at design...

You are correct. I apologize. That didn't make a lot of sense did it.

[fhoubi]

FireWire Power Adapter
USB Power Adapter
G4 Cube
iBook G3 (Snow)
G5 iMac (iSight) / CD iMac (first one)

[0157988944]

1. iMac G4
2. iMac G5
3. Apple Studio Displays
4. Apple Pro Speakers
5. Mighty Mouse

[Sealobo]

OS X

(title didn't say hardware only!)

[Oisín]

Originally Posted by JonoMarshall 

My most hated would be the Apple remotes, tsk.

Why? I would have thought the remotes were some of the most design-neutral (and thus hard to hate) product they've ever done...

Originally Posted by Mastrap 

I must be the only person alive who really disliked the iMac G4. Love the 24" white iMac however - one of the best Macs ever built, IMO.

Nope. I'll risk the wrath of Koralatov and come out and say it, too. I liked it when it was brand new and all, 'cause it was so different from all other computers back then. But I think almost every single Mac produced since is more beautiful (even the new iMac, of which I am most definitely not a fan).

[Mac User #001]

Originally Posted by Sealobo 

OS X

(title didn't say hardware only!)

Nice

[Wiskedjak]

I like the one that's designed like a big, white rectangle

[slugslugslug]

When the G5 iMac came out, I thought it looked stupid. But within a few weeks, I thought it looked way better than the G4. Then the next revision came out and I got the 20". It's just a big white slab, but it looks so elegant, far more than the G4, I think. I like it a little better than the aluminum model, but I'm sure it'll get replaced with one of those eventually..

What else? I think the MacBooks are the best-looking laptops I've ever seen. There's a special place in my heart for the Apple IIGS. And while I think they compromised function for form too much in designing it, the Mac mini looks great.

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

I've always loved the colour Classic

What's with the smirk?

[Lateralus]

Nice.

[JonoMarshall]

Why? I would have thought the remotes were some of the most design-neutral (and thus hard to hate) product they've ever done...

Not sure really, I hate their size, the feel is cheap to me, I personally don't have a use for them (I use my mobile phone as a remote & more), I'm not sure how they could be improved, I just dislike them. It's subjective, but it's how I feel.

[- - e r i k - -]

I used my mobile phones as remotes since 2002. I had paid for Salling Clicker. I loved showing it off. I loved the iPodesque interface it gave me on the screen. Yet, as soon as I had an Apple Remote I gave all that up.

There is something to be said for simplicity, and Apple gets it.

[JonoMarshall]

Hmm, maybe, my phone is always on me and takes one extra click to activate, the remote may be useful for a film, but I'd have to carry it around with me when at home for iTunes control, etc, so it's not that useful.

My version of simplicity would be an iPhone with Mac remote features as standard.

[vexborg]

iGasm

[Koralatov]

Originally Posted by adamfishercox 

4. Apple Pro Speakers
5. Mighty Mouse

Damn. Forgot about the Pro Speakers. They are fantastic-looking, and the sound is surprisingly good. If I can get an iSub reasonably cheap to beef up the low-end, I'll be a happy man.

I agree with you about the MM too, though I prefered the one with the grey 'Exposé squeeze' buttons--the white doesn't quite work as well, especially considering that the scroll-ball is still grey...

I think we're probably developing a reputation on these boards as Might Mouse-loving cranks. Oh well.

Originally Posted by Oisín 

Nope. I'll risk the wrath of Koralatov and come out and say it, too. I liked it when it was brand new and all, 'cause it was so different from all other computers back then. But I think almost every single Mac produced since is more beautiful (even the new iMac, of which I am most definitely not a fan).

Everyone gets one warning, then I get the G4 fan-club together, we get our pitchforks and drive y'all haters out of here...

[ajprice]

Originally Posted by Koralatov 

I think we're probably developing a reputation on these boards as Might Mouse-loving cranks. Oh well.

Not me. I had one, I tried it, the ball kept going wonky, then scrolling up died. And as for looks, I'd take any black Pro Mouse over a Mighty Mouse. Just something special about seeing it glow red through the casing . Everything after that with the solid white plastic - white Pro Mouse and MM - lost something.

[Oisín]

I think the Mighty Mouse is a fairly good-looking product—but the functionality is not optimal. Obviously, I haven’t had time to adjust properly to using it yet (only received it yesterday morning), but it just doesn’t feel as ergonomically good as most other mice do. And what’s with giving me a mouse with a cord that’s less than 60 cm long? I keep the computer under the table, and the mouse cord was too short (that goes for the keyboard as well).

I’m very happy, though, that I got one of the old keyboards, despite ordering the Mac Pro only about a week ago online, because I hate the new Apple keyboards. So ugly. And like the MacBook keyboards, not very pleasant to type on, either. This one rawks (though I’m so used to the laptop layouts, I keep pressing the wrong buttons)!

[paul w]

Originally Posted by rickey939 

In no particular order...

1.) Apple Titanium PowerBook G4
2.) Apple Titanium PowerBook G4
3.) Apple Titanium PowerBook G4
4.) Apple Titanium PowerBook G4
5.) Apple Titanium PowerBook G4

YES. I can't seem to part with mine.

[Macfreak7]

Originally Posted by Dork. 

No love here for the Pismo?



(I see Mindwaves remembers it....)

Totally agree with this.
Other than that, I have to say the new Airport Extreme base station looks mighty nice. So my five..

Pismo
Airport Extreme
Macbook Pro
iPod Nano
Apple Cinema Display

[Patrick]

They're known for products that look good… I'll try to pick 5.


•the new iMac G5
•the iPhone
•the 20th Anniversary Macintosh
•the 2nd generation Powerbook G3
•the iPod

[Art Vandelay]

Originally Posted by Oisín 

I think the Mighty Mouse is a fairly good-looking product—but the functionality is not optimal. Obviously, I haven’t had time to adjust properly to using it yet (only received it yesterday morning), but it just doesn’t feel as ergonomically good as most other mice do. And what’s with giving me a mouse with a cord that’s less than 60 cm long? I keep the computer under the table, and the mouse cord was too short (that goes for the keyboard as well).

The mouse is designed to be plugged into the keyboard and the keyboard is designed to be plugged into a display/iMac, hence the short cords. That's something I've always liked about Apple keyboards and mice. I hate the overly long cords supplied with PCs.

I can understand the complaint with the keyboard if you don't have USB in your display, but why aren't you plugging the mouse into your keyboard?

[iREZ]

Originally Posted by Patrick 

They're known for products that look good… I'll try to pick 5.


•the new iMac core duo
•the iPhone
•the 20th Anniversary Macintosh
•the 2nd generation Powerbook G3
•the iPod

fixenated

[Art Vandelay]

Originally Posted by Patrick 

•the new iMac Core 2 Duo

Fixenated²

[Oisín]

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay 

The mouse is designed to be plugged into the keyboard and the keyboard is designed to be plugged into a display/iMac, hence the short cords. That's something I've always liked about Apple keyboards and mice. I hate the overly long cords supplied with PCs.

I can understand the complaint with the keyboard if you don't have USB in your display, but why aren't you plugging the mouse into your keyboard?

*smacks forehead*

Because I’d completely forgotten to consider the fact that there are in fact no less than two USB ports on the keyboard...

There’s no USB port in the screen, but the Mac Pro did come with one USB extension that I’m using.

Still, though, for those who are just buying a Mighty Mouse alone and might not have a USB port in their keyboard, there should be an extension for the mouse, as well. Perhaps there is one in the standalone MM boxes?

[analogika]

Originally Posted by Oisín 

I think the Mighty Mouse is a fairly good-looking product—but the functionality is not optimal. Obviously, I haven’t had time to adjust properly to using it yet (only received it yesterday morning), but it just doesn’t feel as ergonomically good as most other mice do. And what’s with giving me a mouse with a cord that’s less than 60 cm long? I keep the computer under the table, and the mouse cord was too short (that goes for the keyboard as well).

A mouse with a cord longer than 60 cm would be a complete mess if you plugged it into the keyboard on your desk, the way you're supposed to.

And the keyboard no longer comes with an extension cable?

Edit: ^

(and no, no extension cord in the MM boxed version. But every USB Apple keyboard ever made has two USB ports on it, and the Mighty Mouse only has limited appeal to Windows users, seeing as it's not configurable under Windows.)

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by ajprice 

Not me. I had one, I tried it, the ball kept going wonky, then scrolling up died. And as for looks, I'd take any black Pro Mouse over a Mighty Mouse. Just something special about seeing it glow red through the casing . Everything after that with the solid white plastic - white Pro Mouse and MM - lost something.

Agreed.

The scrolling ball was the worst mechanical failure ever. There was a reason Apple quickly shunned the mechanical scroll wheel from the iPod.

My scroll ball died too, as well as countless others. Stupid stupid stupid. Great idea in theory - failure in practice.

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by Koralatov 

Damn. Forgot about the Pro Speakers. They are fantastic-looking, and the sound is surprisingly good. If I can get an iSub reasonably cheap to beef up the low-end, I'll be a happy man.

You'd be hard pressed to find the standalone iSub anymore. Besides, the Pro Speaker + iSub combo was always inferior and sometimes problem-ridden compared to the SoundSticks. Just pick up a pair of SoundSticks II. They're reasonably cheap, have great sound and completely floors anyone who sees them for the first time STILL.

Down here they are pretty much available from the all the biggest electronics outlets even.

[analogika]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

There was a reason Apple quickly shunned the mechanical scroll wheel from the iPod.

What reason was that?

I don't think I've ever seen a 1st-generation iPod where the scroll wheel failed.

I've just had to re-grease it because it ran too freely after a few years, but the scroll wheel has never given me the slightest trouble in five-and-a-half years. (The hard drive's starting to show the odd glitch, however.)

[Stogieman]

What?!! No love for the hockey puck mouse?

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by Stogieman 

What?!! No love for the hockey puck mouse?

I think the design from an artistic standpoint is nice, but they are horrid to use.

[brassplayersrock²]

i dunno why, but the power bricks that come with the new mbps i really enjoy looking at. the new smaller ones. probably because it's the same size as the ones that came with the TIbooks. anywho

1) power brick
2) cinema
3) external isight
4) 2nd gen nanos
5) pro speakers

alex

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by Stogieman 

What?!! No love for the hockey puck mouse?

Once they added the notch on the button, I actually liked the mouse.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Sealobo 

OS X

(title didn't say hardware only!)

As usable yes. As far as GUI design goes.. Platinum was more elegant.

Originally Posted by Laminar 

Once they added the notch on the button, I actually liked the mouse.

I could not STAND it. Or the small keyboards they came with. I love the keyboards that came out RIGHT AFTER that. The clear ones with the black keys...

I'd love to get my hands on about 5 of those...

[nikstar101]

In no order

Pro Mouse (Black)
G5 PowerMac
Original iMac (just because it set a trend)
G4 Cube
Titanium PowerBook

Of which i owned to of these items, the PowerMac and Pro Mouse

Nik

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by analogika 

What reason was that?

The reason was that they feared that it would fail, just as mechanical parts tend to do. Doesn't matter if they did or not (as a matter of fact, they did turn out to be incredibly resistant to failure), mechanical parts tend to break down. The ball of the mighty mouse just turned out to have a significant ratio of failure. A ball that gets covered in grease every single day? Surely they couldn't anticipate that causing trouble?

[loki74]

Originally Posted by Sealobo 

OS X

(title didn't say hardware only!)

Agreed, especially if you use the "Graphite" scheme.

The ProKit scheme seen in Motion, Soundtrack, and DVDSP is also very gorgeous (FCP itself is similar, but not as pretty imho).

[driven]

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay 

No, they were always ADC.

That's why I sold mine. It was otherwise a beautiful monitor. (Probably the best CRT I've ever owned!) But: I saw the writing on the wall with regards to ADC.

[Koralatov]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

You'd be hard pressed to find the standalone iSub anymore. Besides, the Pro Speaker + iSub combo was always inferior and sometimes problem-ridden compared to the SoundSticks. Just pick up a pair of SoundSticks II. They're reasonably cheap, have great sound and completely floors anyone who sees them for the first time STILL.

Down here they are pretty much available from the all the biggest electronics outlets even.

I actually saw a set in PC World just the other day. I suspect the Soundsticks would make a better purchase than a single iSub, especially if it’s going to cause problems when used in tandem with the Pro Speakers. And yourre right, they do look stunning. They’re not so cheap though—they seem to go for about £80, which is many things, but sadly not cheap in my book. I think I will get around to buying them at some point, though. Thanks for pointing them out to me!

Originally Posted by Laminar 

Once they added the notch on the button, I actually liked the mouse.

I actually quite like it too; I use a graphite one with my Clamshell iBook. The only problem is that the cable is too short because the Clamshell has its USB port on the left-hand side. That irritates me somewhat. I get round it by using one of Apple’s keyboard extension cables I had lying around.

To be honest, I think I might be pretty much the ideal Apple mouse user—I’ve never had any problems with any of their mice, from the teardrop ADB mouse right up to the Mighty Mouse. I think I must naturally use a mouse in the way Our Lord Steve intended. That said, I can see why people would hate the ‘puck’ mouse, and also the Mighty Mouse.

[driven]

I've got the original Soundsticks (USB version). I love them ... and yes, they do work very nicely on any PC I've ever plugged them into also.

Originally Posted by Kevin 

Over-priced. You can get just as good of a LCD for cheaper.

Not much cheaper. You can get an LCD with the same specs for a lot cheaper, but for some reason they seem to omit color-shift across the viewable angles when quoting the specs.

Apple has consistent color across the viewing angle, the cheapy LCDs do not. I agree once in a while you can find a good Dell or Samsung on sale, but for the most part they aren't cheaper.

[exca1ibur]

Originally Posted by hayesk 

Not much cheaper. You can get an LCD with the same specs for a lot cheaper, but for some reason they seem to omit color-shift across the viewable angles when quoting the specs.

Apple has consistent color across the viewing angle, the cheapy LCDs do not. I agree once in a while you can find a good Dell or Samsung on sale, but for the most part they aren't cheaper.

I got two 24" Dells for less than a 23" ACD, and I had a 3 year warranty on both. I'd call that a LOT cheaper.

[Kenneth]

Good that no one mentioned the iPod mini.

My list:
1) PowerBook G4 Titanium (original models) .... Apple shipped it out a month after I placed my order.
2) G4 Cube ...... I was so close to getting it, but I ended up with a TiBook.
3) iPod nano (1st gen) ...... I told myself while watching the Stevenote™, I gotta have one. At that time, I was still using the 10GB iPod (touch-wheel).
4) Cinema Displays (pinstripe) ...... They still look good IMHO.
5) Apple Keyboard (aluminum) ...... Who would have thought? Lusting on a computer keyboard.

[MacosNerd]

Originally Posted by Kenneth 

5) Apple Keyboard (aluminum) ...... Who would have thought? Lusting on a computer keyboard.

You know its funny, I would have agreed with you except I was using the alu keyboard since it came out and found that I preferred using the white keyboard.

The key spacing is off just enough to continually mess me up. Lack of tactile feedback and finally the $#%^ caps lock. Apple put a delay in the caps lock so your typing away it won't engage. You need to hold it down a fraction of a second longer then what most touch typists are
used to.

[Koralatov]

Originally Posted by MacosNerd 

You know its funny, I would have agreed with you except I was using the alu keyboard since it came out and found that I preferred using the white keyboard.

I'm unsure whether or not I'd prefer the new keyboard. I haven't used one, but I type reasonably fast (about 50wpm), but I'm not sure I'd get up to that on the new MacBook-styled keyboard without some heavy practise. Also, the white Pro Keyboard matches my G4 iMac much better than the new aluminium one would. Petty and shallow, I know, but it would bother me to have a keyboard sticking out like a sore-thumb...

The key spacing is off just enough to continually mess me up. Lack of tactile feedback and finally the $#%^ caps lock. Apple put a delay in the caps lock so your typing away it won't engage. You need to hold it down a fraction of a second longer then what most touch typists are used to.

I think you'll probably get over your first issue with continued use, but the caps lock won't be resolved so easily. I personally like the idea, especially seeing as it would be all to easy to hit the key accidentally and activate it, given that the new keyboards have much lower travel. I should, however, be an option that you can turn on and off, like selecting whether your Mighty Mouse has a secondary button or not. Perhaps Apple may give you the option in a future software update?