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Next imac design
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MattJeff
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Oct 14, 2006, 07:29 PM
 
What do yall think the next design for the imac will look like?
     
indigoimac
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Oct 14, 2006, 08:29 PM
 
I think it'll be pretty hard to beat what they have now, but I would guess thinner and bigger displays, and maybe some way to raise and lower the height the screen.
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iREZ
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Oct 14, 2006, 09:06 PM
 
id like them to keep the look of it now...and instead of making it thinnier, they should start attacking the chin and removing it all together. a white cinema display all in one sounds mighty sweet to me.
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Oct 14, 2006, 09:23 PM
 
Dump the chin, reduce bezel all around

Add 1-2 more degrees of freedom to the stand (a la Dell FPW LCDs)
     
dbranham
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Oct 14, 2006, 10:13 PM
 
Originally Posted by iREZ
id like them to keep the look of it now...and instead of making it thinnier, they should start attacking the chin and removing it all together. a white cinema display all in one sounds mighty sweet to me.

Yep, that's it. A white cinema display. I am currently the very satisfied owner of a 17" Intel iMac. Although I love the current styling, I can't help but appreciate the allure of the cinema display. If Apple were to make an iMac that mimmicked the ACDs, with the same screen size, then I'd be onboard like a starving termite. Gosh, that 30" is so beautiful.
     
dbranham
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Oct 17, 2006, 11:32 AM
 
I've seen threads in the past in which people have gone on and on and on and on about this topic. Perhaps people didn't like the old design, so they wanted a change. Now, I guess they're satisfied b/c no one is talking about it.
     
houltmac
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Oct 17, 2006, 01:35 PM
 
I personally like the design they have now, although I would also like to see the chin gone. Something which opens from the back or the front would be nice also and would speed up the repair process and reduce technician stress when LCDs won't screw down and the front bezel clips are bend out of shape.

Overall the iMac needs tidying up inside again I think; it's becoming too messy. Getting it more built-in or getting the architecture of the MLB serving the machine better would be a big bonus.
     
quiklee
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Oct 17, 2006, 02:00 PM
 
I'd like to see more color
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Oct 17, 2006, 02:10 PM
 
Yeah, I'd like to see a freedom thingy like the dells, I'd even be bought be something that adjusts in hight. I would also go for something blackish, Dell displays appeal to me because of this. One last thing, on any machine, I could really go for a nicer keyboard, full usb 2.0 ports, and a much softer feel than the model now.

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kmkkid
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Oct 17, 2006, 02:29 PM
 
Originally Posted by houltmac View Post
Overall the iMac needs tidying up inside again I think; it's becoming too messy. Getting it more built-in or getting the architecture of the MLB serving the machine better would be a big bonus.

Who cares what the internals look like?, as Apple will never allow the average user to access them anyways.
     
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Oct 17, 2006, 04:01 PM
 
I say to either remove the chin or make some sort of feature out of it. You could dump most of it by moving the powersupply out of the box, and the rest is mostly the speakers. You could hide the speakers around the side, but that would give a bigger frame rather than a smaller one.

The iMac does in practise have two degrees of freedom, because it turns very easily and without scratching anything. The third would be to have the entire iMac slide along the axis of the stand. That would include some sort of hatch that you can lock the height with - those just based on friction don't work in the real world, and the iMac is heavier than a regular display. I just think that that is too lousy a feeling for the Steve to bear.

To be honest, I doubt the design will change much. It's pretty much a homerun as it is, and it's been selling much better than G4 iMac from day one. Squeeze a low-end Conroe into it - the cheaper models at least - and you can drop the price as well. Intel's latest motherboards make the Conroe run cool in general conditions, and when you game the GPU will heat it anyway.
     
iMacfan
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Oct 17, 2006, 04:02 PM
 
Originally Posted by kmkkid View Post
Who cares what the internals look like?, as Apple will never allow the average user to access them anyways.
Never again, that is.
     
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Oct 17, 2006, 04:05 PM
 
It will be drop-dead gorgeous of course! If it isn't, then it's not a Mac
     
houltmac
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Oct 17, 2006, 04:13 PM
 
Originally Posted by kmkkid View Post
Who cares what the internals look like?, as Apple will never allow the average user to access them anyways.
That's a rash statement judging from the recent changes in the MacBook Pro's and MacBook's isn't it? Apple are trying to balance how long it takes to service (time is money) making sure they service it. Tough really, but they are getting there.

I think it's important for a lot of reasons. Firstly the Apple creed, secondly a well designed interior is the only way to get a well designed exterior, it keeps things from breaking, snapping, loosening over-heating and so on. It's all round good if the inside is as well designed as the outside, in fact it's more important in nearly every way.
     
iMacfan
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Oct 17, 2006, 05:04 PM
 
That's exactly why I don't like the current iMac design that much - it is a mess of stuff inside. In comparison, the Mac Pro looks like Shaker furniture.

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quiklee
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Oct 17, 2006, 05:40 PM
 
then get a mac pro . . . . iMacs can't be everything to everyone . . . the average person who buys this computer cares more about the outside than inside, so if I were apple, I'd care more about the outside than the inside too
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Oct 17, 2006, 09:02 PM
 
I'd like Apple to go completely aluminum. The iMac and MacBook based on the iPod nano(2G)/mini design would be really cool! Bring colors back to the iMac! (and the MacBooks! )
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dbranham
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Oct 17, 2006, 09:41 PM
 
In my PC days, I understood aluminum cases to be more effective heat dissipators. Therefore, one could build a more high-end PC in an aluminum case then a plastic case without worrying about heat issues. Perhaps Apple could take the same idea and apply it to its computers. If that's correct, then we might be able to enjoy a Conroe iMac if it were cased in aluminum.
     
fk51785
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Oct 17, 2006, 10:29 PM
 
i love the way it is right now.
maybe better if it was thinner.
     
CreepDogg
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Oct 17, 2006, 11:56 PM
 
I don't really care what it looks like on the inside - I'll probably never see it! ...and if I do, it will only be briefly to upgrade something.

I've had my first iMac with the new design for a couple weeks now, and in a way, the chin has grown on me (so to speak...). It helps raise the screen higher off the desk and creates less need for height adjustment. A Cinema Display would sit lower - and maybe need to be boosted up.

I'd be OK if they kept the chin and just continued to improve the aesthetic somehow. Wish I had a good suggestion, but that's what they pay Jonathan Ive for.
     
dbranham
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Oct 18, 2006, 11:49 AM
 
I think the iMac would be drastically improved if the monitor was separated from the computer. This way, one could place the non-monitor section in the floor beside his or her desk. Perhaps Apple could create some sort of tower case for this portion of the computer. It would look nice if the tower case was beige. Obviously, I jest.
     
iMacfan
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Oct 18, 2006, 12:38 PM
 
Originally Posted by quiklee View Post
then get a mac pro . . . . iMacs can't be everything to everyone . . . the average person who buys this computer cares more about the outside than inside, so if I were apple, I'd care more about the outside than the inside too

I will do, as soon as Apple get round to actually giving me my refund on the 24" iMac! Seriously, how can something so simple take any more than a day?

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teknopimp
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Oct 18, 2006, 01:56 PM
 
Originally Posted by MattJeff View Post
What do yall think the next design for the imac will look like?
it will have a maglev stand.

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monarch
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Oct 18, 2006, 07:38 PM
 
I agree with having more options for colors - kind of like the nano?

But, more than anything, I'd like the Apple keyboard and mouse to be redesigned. The parts of the computer we touch with our hands are important. Apple used to make great keyboards (remember the Apple Extended Keyboard II?) but now they are mushy and cheap. Also, they can do better than the mighty mouse. The scroll wheel needs to be replaced and the "invisible" right-click button doesn't really work for me that well. I don't like having to take my index finger off of the mouse to right-click.

Does anyone here actually even use the mighty mouse? (that was rhetorical)
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dbranham
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Oct 18, 2006, 08:14 PM
 
I once tried the mighty mouse in the Raleigh Apple Store and found the right-click function to be disfunctional. It only seemed to detect my intention to right-click about 1/2 of the time. However, I only used it for about 20 seconds, admittedly.
     
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Oct 18, 2006, 08:17 PM
 
Originally Posted by monarch View Post
Does anyone here actually even use the mighty mouse? (that was rhetorical)
I own one and it fits me just fine. I can't understand why you say that you can't reach the right click button (I use my middle finger). The scroll wheel gives me problems rarely. Use alcohol-based eyeglass cleaner to clean the scroll wheel.
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trevc
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Oct 18, 2006, 09:13 PM
 
There's 'ALWAYS' room for improvement.
Ergonomically, it's got a lot of flaws (no vertical up down) .... and then .... when you have it adjusted to how you like it, you have to change it so that the guys on iChat/Skype can see you properly.

They need to at least make the isight a ball or sumthin so it swivels horizontally and vertically

and of course, they'd do wonders allowing a user to do graphics card upgrades ... even if it was an apple propietary card ... I mean, they say I should upgade to a tower because I want better graphics.

If I look at the PC World, the X1600 graphics card is kindof middle of the pack and most I see have 512MB, that's not even an option with Apple. It'll never become a major gaming devlopment machine because the 'consumer' models aren't allowed to pony up their graphics cards.
     
McDave
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Oct 18, 2006, 09:13 PM
 
After nearly 10 years of going for the all-in-one iMac I think they'll go the other way. Rather than a white box of beauty in one place they'll create a network of specialised devices for personal/family media creation & management. The iPod will break free!
     
Autumn
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Oct 18, 2006, 09:23 PM
 
I found this on another site. The guy called it MacPro but it should be iMac Pro.


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Oct 18, 2006, 09:57 PM
 
Originally Posted by Autumn View Post
I found this on another site. The guy called it MacPro but it should be iMac Pro.


Now if Apple could make it in colors. And make it smaller.....
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brassplayersrock²
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Oct 19, 2006, 02:22 AM
 
"the entire screen is one"

i dont see a built in camera
     
dbranham
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Oct 19, 2006, 12:14 PM
 
I think it means a camera is somehow integrated into the screen, so we wouldn't be able to see it. Admittedly, that's very vague.
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trevc
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Oct 19, 2006, 02:17 PM
 
I think the "screen is the camera" thing comes from the Apple? patent that integrates camera lenses between the pixels in a screen.
     
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Oct 19, 2006, 02:28 PM
 
I mean.... (screaming) I WANT ONE!!!!!!!!
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Tuoder
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Oct 19, 2006, 04:00 PM
 
I think that a black 24" iMac (a la Macbook) would be swwweeeeeet. The chin doesn't bother me very much. This is not to say that it would be cool to be able to hid the entire computer in the screen but still. Also, I wouldn't move the power supply out of the case. I'd rather have a chin on it than have an external powersupply under the desk. I do prefer external speakers, though. That is a personal thing, however. Most people would probable prefer little internal speakers. I love having a little 2.1 set up.

Also, it would be cool if it had a VESA mount out of the box, instead of having to buy and adapter.
( Last edited by Tuoder; Oct 19, 2006 at 04:05 PM. Reason: spelling)
     
dbranham
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Oct 19, 2006, 05:29 PM
 
Originally Posted by Tuoder View Post
I think that a black 24" iMac (a la Macbook) would be swwweeeeeet. The chin doesn't bother me very much. This is not to say that it would be cool to be able to hid the entire computer in the screen but still. Also, I wouldn't move the power supply out of the case. I'd rather have a chin on it than have an external powersupply under the desk. I do prefer external speakers, though. That is a personal thing, however. Most people would probable prefer little internal speakers. I love having a little 2.1 set up.

Also, it would be cool if it had a VESA mount out of the box, instead of having to buy and adapter.
Agree with everything he said, except I don't know what a VESA mount is.

If apple produced all of its consumer models in black/white, then they would still be differentiated from the pro models by color (black or white vs. silver).
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Oct 19, 2006, 05:58 PM
 
Originally Posted by dbranham View Post
I don't know what a VESA mount is.
It a way to mount a iMac or Cinema Display to a wall / arm.
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Tuoder
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Oct 19, 2006, 06:00 PM
 
A VESA mount is a stadard way of joining an LCD to a stand. There are alot of stands out the that one can buy for LCDs if they don't like the one that came with it. If iMacs had VESA mounts you could do cool things like this:



without getting an adapter. Also, one could get a stand with the movement requirements that they need, instead of being irritated that it doesn't.

Imagine having a 24" imac on the same stand as a 23" ACD, right next to each other, with less cable clutter and a footprint that is only slightly larger than that of the iMac.
     
Atheist
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Oct 19, 2006, 07:20 PM
 
I'd settle for this:

     
MattJeff  (op)
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Oct 19, 2006, 07:27 PM
 
Originally Posted by Atheist View Post
I'd settle for this:

ummm im thinking thats too much. i like having a border around the screen and i agree with external speakers, a 5.1 is my love.
     
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Oct 19, 2006, 08:31 PM
 
Originally Posted by Atheist View Post
I'd settle for this:

That thing is fugly!! Like loping off every thing on your head but your eyes, nose, and mouth.
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Tuoder
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Oct 19, 2006, 08:41 PM
 
I really don't think that Apple would go with aluminum on an iMac. It is a consumer model.
     
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Oct 19, 2006, 08:44 PM
 
Originally Posted by Tuoder View Post
I really don't think that Apple would go with aluminum on an iMac. It is a consumer model.
But it would look nice. They could copy the iPod nano/mini design and make it come in colors too. (Blue, green, pink, silver, and black)
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Tuoder
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Oct 19, 2006, 08:50 PM
 
Originally Posted by C.A.T.S. CEO View Post
But it would look nice. They could copy the iPod nano/mini design and make it come in colors too. (Blue, green, pink, silver, and black)
That much is true.

What if they went with clear plastic on it as a throwback to the G3? I think it would be awesome to have a graphite iMac C2D. I always like the way my iMac DV SE looked.
     
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Oct 19, 2006, 09:00 PM
 
Originally Posted by Tuoder View Post
That much is true.

What if they went with clear plastic on it as a throwback to the G3? I think it would be awesome to have a graphite iMac C2D. I always like the way my iMac DV SE looked.
I want a iMac C2D that comes in tangerine. (I came to Apple in mid-2004 so I missed the tangerine iBook clamshell [1st Mac: iBook G4 mid-2004])
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imitchellg5
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Oct 19, 2006, 09:28 PM
 
Originally Posted by Autumn View Post
I found this on another site. The guy called it MacPro but it should be iMac Pro.


What is the optical drive, mini-disc? He needs to change the font to Myriad.
     
MattJeff  (op)
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Oct 19, 2006, 09:45 PM
 
ya what is that on the side? its too....ummm short and fat to be a disk slot.
they could still do it in white and colors
     
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Oct 19, 2006, 10:02 PM
 
Originally Posted by imitchellg5 View Post
What is the optical drive, mini-disc? He needs to change the font to Myriad.
It said it was a 30" screen, it would seem small...
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imitchellg5
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Oct 19, 2006, 10:21 PM
 
I could see Apple doing an iMac and iMac Pro line... with iMac Pro in aluminum. I would think that it would have 1 dual core Xeon at 2.66GHz though, not 2 dualie Xeons.
     
MattJeff  (op)
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Oct 19, 2006, 10:30 PM
 
they wont, the imac isnt a Pro line.they wont have a imac pro just like they wont have a macbook thats "pro"... thats what the macbook pro is for. you have the base, the mini, then the imac, and then the mac pro for hard core ppl.
     
 
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