Apple 4G iMac: first unboxing, impressions
By Ryan Block 
posted August 8th 2007 2:54PM
posted August 8th 2007 2:54PM
- The friendly, white packaging betrays the slick sense of style of the machine inside. (MacBook Pros and Mac Pros have much more appealing matte black boxes.)
- Its 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo and full-size drive is way snappy -- the machine boots from cold to desktop in 26 seconds (granted, it's a clean install without any third party software installed).
- Upon closer inspection we weren't too stoked about the screen. The colors are rich, but compared to our Dell 24-incher (at 400 cd/m2, 1000:1 contrast ratio), the iMac was still dissatisfying. Despite its very decent 380cd/m2, 750:1 CR display, contrast was still very low, and working with objects and icons white window space was even at times strenuous on our eyes.
- The Apple Remote no longer magnetically clips on to the side! Pssh!
- We love -- really love -- thin keyboards, and the new Apple keyboard is as thin and aesthetically pleasing as they come. Unfortunately, it's just not too usable since, like the MacBook keyboard, the keys aren't shaped with ridges to help your fingers find their way. (And what can we say? We really dislike the Mighty Mouse, always have.)
- We also suspect Mac laptop and Apple Pro Keyboard users will be irritated by the function-key shortcuts having been moved around; or example, laptop volume keys went from F3-5 to F10-12, Exposé went from F7 to F3, etc. Also, what's up with F16-19?
- The RAM bay is super easy to get to with the machine on its face. As usual, you get two slots. We really wish the hard drive was this easy to get at.
- Despite our niggles, it's straight up the thinnest, sexiest Mac desktop machine Apple's produced to date; Cupertino really needed to drop the white, plastic overgrown iPod look, and we're grateful Jobs & co did.
You see, one thing that makes Apple so successful is to innovate their products, making them LOOK futuristic and appealing to the mainstream. When the 1G iPod came out, other MP3 players were reeking of metal. Now, most players are coated with colourful plastic/aluminium. The original 'fruity' iMacs were a breath of fresh air, and the next one (with the CPU as a hemisphere) was futuristic. Even now, only some PCs look as dazzling as the EARLIER iMacs. So the inclusion of metal in the 4G iMac... yew... And can't the screen be in the center of the combi-monitor/CPU? (Maybe soccer moms and financially-pressured citizens may buy Macs if they include a 15"/17" screen, and exclude those iMovie and iLife stuff.)
Speaking as a soccer mom, baseball mom and a financially strapped citizen, I have seriously been looking into buying a 24" iMac since I don't want to upgrade to Vista. A main reason I want one is for iLife. It's actually a BONUS to me that it's on it. My kids are really excited about it. If it was excluded, I'd be peeved I'd have to pay for it. Besides, who wants a 15" screen? I DO think they should keep the 17"-ers though, I don't quite understand why they got rid of those.
At the same time, I may not get an iMac right away, because if I'm spending $3 grand on it, I want it to look really good and don't want to see my reflection. Until I see this new version up close and personal, the mac-mini is in the lead, with iLife and Leopard (in October).
As you've already added 'Engadget Flame' to the list, I think that's plenty at this point John. If you disagree with my opinions or actions then that's fair enough, but launching a personal attack against a complete stranger makes you looks like a passive-aggressive little 5 year old. As for wasting your time, you chose to read my posts, no one forced you son. You then decided to waste more of your time flaming me, so it's not exactly reasonable to expect me to feel any sort of pity for you. Less time in front of the keyboard and more time in the real world might do you a bit of good, as I highly doubt you throw that sort of attitude at people you diagree with face to face.
As you've already added 'Engadget Flame' to the list, I think that's plenty at this point John. If you disagree with my opinions or actions then that's fair enough, but launching a personal attack against a complete stranger makes you looks like a passive-aggressive little 5 year old. As for wasting your time, you chose to read my posts, no one forced you son. You then decided to waste more of your time flaming me, so it's not exactly reasonable to expect me to feel any sort of pity for you. Less time in front of the keyboard and more time in the real world might do you a bit of good, as I highly doubt you throw that sort of attitude at people you diagree with face to face.
@John
I bought it because it's a good computer with a few minor flaws, but nothing that couldn't be solved with a third party mouse/keyboard combo and ten bucks worth of 3M privacy film. If you actually read the rest of my posts, you would have noticed me bragging about the specs, included app's etc. Are you implying everyone has to view these things as perfection incarnate before they can buy them? That's a little unrealistic, don't you think?
As for being proud of my 'stunt,' it was neither a stunt, nor was I pleased with how it went down. I was shocked more then anything. When I worked for Gateway Country years ago, customers used to give us back packed in items all the time, which we accepted with a smile and a thank you, as we found a way to reuse 99 percent of it. We certainly didn't take it as a personal insult like the two Apple employees did. Why any of you would take personal insult simply by hearing the story second hand is just as puzzling. As the manager confirmed when we spoke, nothing I did was against store policy. I've been annoyed many times by customers, but employees are paid to deal with personal annoyance. That's life. Think we can get back to discussing the new iMac now?
@ Cash
I did read your whole post, the one where you were more interested in writing about what a cool uncle you are. I read it because I thought logged onto "How To Write a Screen Play for Dummies" by mistake. I acually visit this site get updates on current tech...not for a day in the life of "Cash". Your whole story (or "adventure" as you call it) was more about you than anything to do with the iMac. Oh, now it's a good computer...your orignal review was convincing..." Cash: "It looks cheap, you weren't impressed, didn't like the glossy screen, keyboard was a joke, the absence of ridges & curves ruins it, the mighty mouse is ridiculous, & you didn't want the cheap & crappy parts."
?????
Well, that's swell to hear that Apple has attracted a bit of your demographic. But I thought that iLife was to Macs as Windows Media Player/Windows Video Player/Windows Picture Gallery/Windows Calendar (yes, that's a lot of branding) was to PCs. Unfortunately, the latter programs are sub-par, which led to European lawsuits and "N" editions of Windows... without those extra programs. Still don't like the 4G iMac with its Jay Leno 'chin' and its metal conversion.
I'm not very familiar with the iMacs--so just looking at it, the one question I had has to do with where the "on" button is...?
behind, didn't you see it?
Power button is on the bottom right if you look at the back - if you're looking at the front, place your hand on the bottom left of the "chin", and your fingers wrap around to instantly find the button -- concave and made from a very different-feeling material.
And the chin is reminiscent not of Jay Leno, but of the old stereotypical 80's Macintosh, the all-in-one case & the screen at the top:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh
Where's the Sleep mode light now?
Pictures, please!
I really like the white over grown ipod look :(
Now the design is more like a iPhone over grown look.
4G?
Ok... if this is based on exterior design:
1: tray-loading G3 iMac
2: slot-loading G3 fanless iMac
3: G4 iMac
4: G5 iMac
5: G5 iMac with iSight (different case design, relocated optical drive, slimmer)
6: Intel iMac Core & Core 2 Dup
7: Alu/black intel iMac
Clarify 4GB of RAM...
Let me get this straight: The new iMac has 2 x SO-DIMM slots. Is it possible to access both SO-DIMM slots to upgrade or only one? Regardless, why doesn't Apple offer a 2GB SO-DIMM module option so I wouldn't need to "throw away" my 1GB module when upgrading to 4GB? I guess I can sell it on eBay.
The Apple cost to upgrade from 2GB RAM to 4GB is $700 USD. Ouch! Earlier posts mentioned I can buy a 2GB SO-DIMM module from OWC for $115 USD!
Is 4GB of RAM really going to add value over 2GB in system performance? At what point will I notice? I'm planning on installing Paralells to run XP.
1. the keyboard looks like lego pieces
2. if the remote doesnt stick anymore, use prestik :)
Some of you will never be happy with anything, and no matter what comes you'll always find something to hate about it. it's just sad
I had a chance to interact with it yesterday, and one of the things I noticed that when the brightnes switch goes to zero, the screen is still displaying some luminence. My question is, is there a quick way to turn the monitor off. My Mac mostly resides in my bedroom, and not being able to turn off the display at the flick of a switch would be a very good argument against buying this new iMac.