Curved iMac concept bends beyond the realm of plausibility

You don't have to venture very far to dig up unofficial concepts for Apple products of all sorts, but this one from designer Nuno Teixeira is certainly more attention grabbing than most, even if it isn't any more realistic. Dubbed the "iMac iView," the main distinguishing feature here is obviously the curved screen, which isn't actually all that far out there, but still a ways from becoming anywhere near commonplace. As if that wasn't enough, the concept also boasts a second screen on the rear (pictured after the break), and webcams on both the front and back, which would finally let you have impersonal conversations with the person sitting right across from you. Hit up the read link below for a couple more pics.

[Alex Haas @ Feb 29th 2008 12:26PM]

Digg it!
http://digg.com/apple/Curved_iMac_concept_bends_beyond_the_realm_of_plausibility

[CraigJ @ Feb 29th 2008 12:55PM]

No.

[Curtis the Claw Game Master V2 @ Feb 29th 2008 1:09PM]

Alex why are you back? No one is going to Digg it, go away. Does anyone know if there is a way to report him to digg or something for stealing other peoples articles or something?

[Joey Geraci @ Feb 29th 2008 2:01PM]

Uhm, do you know what digg is? The whole point of it is to post links to articles you find interesting. You can't "steal" articles by posting a link on digg.

[pkilla @ Mar 1st 2008 2:56PM]

He is trying to make money by asking ppl to digg it. more hits = more money

[Chris D @ Mar 1st 2008 5:01PM]

@Curtis and pkilla: please learn what digg is before accusing Alex of 'stealing' articles to 'make money.' Joey is absolutely right; both of your accusations are completely false. the only thing that digging this article will do is get it more views from people that don't necessarily check engadget.com daily.

dugg.

[Eric @ Feb 29th 2008 12:27PM]

But does it have Blu-ray?

[hawks5999 @ Feb 29th 2008 12:59PM]

and does it blend?

[maxharlan @ Feb 29th 2008 2:41PM]

no, but it bends =)

[riggs @ Feb 29th 2008 2:54PM]

knowing apple and its pricing, the bending will be done by the consumer :)

[Andrew Ries @ Feb 29th 2008 4:33PM]

I see what you did there.

[Ghen @ Feb 29th 2008 8:15PM]

It plays Crysis too, but only if you rewire the video connector to work on a real computer.

[yui @ Feb 29th 2008 12:29PM]

Well. I don't see the point for having such a curve display, and the 2nd display seems not useful to all ppl.
Bring us LED Cinema Display first!!! Apple!!

[CraigJ @ Feb 29th 2008 12:59PM]

I'd have to see it in person. I have dual 22" wide-screen, and a single curved screen that is, say 3360 X 1890, might be a lot more ergonomic. The screen on that back is, as you say, pretty much completely useless...

[Adam Pflug @ Feb 29th 2008 1:19PM]

I think the display on the back could actually be useful if you were (for example) going over photos with a client and wanted them to be able to see them without looking over your shoulder. They could view the large screen and you could control the images from the display in the back. You'd have to have it set up so that the display wasn't directly between you, but it could be nice...

[john @ Feb 29th 2008 1:45PM]

The screen on the back could be similarly useful in video-conferencing. If you're having a meeting that's partially remote, and partially you and the other guy in your office, that other guy doesn't have to crowd around behind you now. They can use the other camera and screen.

The second screen and camera might be a lot of resources put into a rather narrow scope of application though.

[Phil @ Feb 29th 2008 1:58PM]

The problem with having the screen on the back is you would have the computer directly in between you and the person you're taking to. That would get in the way a lot

[Alex R @ Feb 29th 2008 1:55PM]

Same here. I can't see the point in curved scrrens unless they are more than 32".( To get better viewing angles) But I doubt that this will be as big as that.

[Buis @ Feb 29th 2008 2:18PM]

I have the 30" and I sometimes wish it was curved. I find myself moving closer when I want to see details on the outer left and right edges...

[rob @ Feb 29th 2008 5:20PM]

this might be cool in a professional dance club/dj setting more for the "wow that's a cool set up". the small screen on the other side could simply show in real time the DJs software screen running serato, traktor, or whatever.

[shaun @ Feb 29th 2008 12:31PM]

That's like having a screen on the back of your TV

[bob e @ Feb 29th 2008 12:34PM]

Looks like a Vista SideShow display on back!

[Generic @ Feb 29th 2008 12:57PM]

I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC

[JD @ Feb 29th 2008 1:35PM]

OMG M$ stole that idea from Apple!! They had teh idea 15 years ago!!!

/Apple fanboy sarcasm

[blackfeather @ Feb 29th 2008 12:35PM]

It's sexy - I'll give it that... but I'm having trouble understanding the rear screen. It is for some kind of kiosk? Or just for overpaid execs with enough floor space in their office to have their desk in the middle of the room rather than against a cubicle wall?

[sepirioth @ Feb 29th 2008 12:35PM]

I'm not playing game online?!

[Flashpoint @ Feb 29th 2008 12:36PM]

I was in MAc's Executive Briefing center at Lexington/53rd St yesterday. They had a huge (mustabeen 32") imac. That thing was incredible. This one is really nice and I bet it would sell well if nothing more than a showoff display.

[JD @ Feb 29th 2008 3:17PM]

I'm no apple fan, but 32" is way bigger than the biggest iMac they make if I'm not mistaken. Thought 24" was the biggest, which is a LONG ways off from 32". That's the size of apple's biggest display, which, i might add, has gone unchanged for far too long. It makes the Mac Mini look like it's loved by Apple.

[Derek @ Feb 29th 2008 5:46PM]

You're an idiot.

[Erik @ Mar 1st 2008 4:00PM]

I've been there. No they don't. Shut up.

[Tallest Skil @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:35PM]

The largest Apple display is a 30". The largest iMac is a 24". This guy is a moron.

[jbulava @ Feb 29th 2008 12:37PM]

And if the screen was actually that wide, there would be no reason for so much extra space on the sides...although it is just a concept. Quite interesting though.

[Dave @ Feb 29th 2008 12:38PM]

Conceptually, I can see a use for both.

Curved screen: depending on how big it is, it would allow enough real estate to be like having multiple monitors. The curve would help the users' eyes from having to refocus as they moved from side to side. Too much time from screen to screen kills my eyes if they have to refocus.

Dual screens/cams: would allow for multiple people to be involved in desktop VTCs. This would be *awesome* in the environment I work in.

Bring it on, I say.

[teej @ Feb 29th 2008 3:49PM]

actually, the rear screen would be great for my boss; when she walks in my office, then they could see me on Engadget multiple times a day.

[collide007 @ Feb 29th 2008 12:39PM]

The screen on the back would make this a great for genius bar demonstrations and the coolest till ever. I would imagine there were a lot of uses this in business, but would be probably useless in a domestic setting, although would bring a game of battleships into the new century.

[Chebwa @ Feb 29th 2008 12:39PM]

"Who are the ad wizards that came up with that one?"

[Travis @ Feb 29th 2008 12:43PM]

*drool*

[Jim @ Feb 29th 2008 12:44PM]

Forget impersonal conversations, I'm thinking Battleship.

[holycow @ Feb 29th 2008 12:47PM]

it is quite sexy! I'd tap that...

[Darkroom @ Feb 29th 2008 12:58PM]

haha... dude, you need a girlfriend/boyfriend... that's funny...

[Don @ Feb 29th 2008 12:48PM]

Apple has always talked about how accurate in color and aspect ratio their screens are... This would significantly skew the aspect ratios.

[aeo @ Feb 29th 2008 12:54PM]

I could see this to be useful for a receptionist kind of environment where they might want to display map/contact/etc info to a client but still want their phone system software and/or computer desktop private from prying client eyes like this:

Client: Where might I find Mr. Dongle's office?

Receptionist: *displays map and contact info on external display* Second elevator on the left, 45th floor. He's expecting you.

Client: Thank you.

Receptionist: You're welcome. *Continues Solitaire game*

[Iain @ Feb 29th 2008 7:12PM]

Actually, that is a good idea.

A few people (both here an on Gizmodo) have been tossing around the idea that it would be good for a till-point but the possible usefulness of the rear screen would be massively out-weighed by the unnecessary amount of room this would take up on a counter and the fact that it would get in the way of the sales person and customer talking to each other.

However, it probably would work for a receptionist - the sheer flashiness of it would make a good first impression when clients arrive.

[James @ Feb 29th 2008 12:56PM]

After all the effort to eliminate curvature and make a display flat, why would someone want one that was intentionally curved? It makes my eyes hurt just thinking about trying to focus on that.

[Ed @ Feb 29th 2008 3:48PM]

Because it curves the RIGHT direction, and your eyes can focus better on large screens.

[roach @ Feb 29th 2008 12:59PM]

Alienware is releasing a curved monitor.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://dvice.com/pics/Alienware-curve2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://dvice.com/archives/2008/01/ces_best_alienw.php&h=347&w=399&sz=56&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=0bZGNptMAFYNiM:&tbnh=&tbnw=&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dalienware%2Bcurved%2Bmonitor%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4GFRC_enCA202CA210

[Bob @ Feb 29th 2008 2:47PM]

Yeah, I read about that a couple weeks ago. That's why I'm trying to figure out why Engadget is saying this is "beyond the realm of plausibility" because, as far as the screen goes, it's already been done, it's just putting the guts in it that will be the challenge.

[meh @ Feb 29th 2008 1:03PM]

Has no power connector. :o

[Michael @ Feb 29th 2008 2:43PM]

It's self powered by the reality distortion field.

[farfisa @ Feb 29th 2008 1:04PM]

Maybe nicer to sit on than the current iMac...