Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Rumors, iMac
Rumor: Brushed metal iMacs
As we approach "Steve Keynote Time," the rumors about what he may discuss begin to fly, as you all know. The latest describes a "brushed metal iMac," that resembles the bastard child of the current iMac and an Apple Cinema display. Eh, I guess I can see this as a progression of the current design. That way, the Mac Pro, Macbook Pro and iMac would all have a metallic case. Plus, the current design has been around for some time now (in the tech world, at least). What do you all think? Could this mock up be the look of things to come?
[Via The Boy Genius Report]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
scott said 10:08PM on 6-04-2007
Thing is, the iMac isn't considered a pro-level machine, I thought that Apple made the division between it's pro and consumer lines by making pro metal and consumer plastic. This just doesn't seem likely to me, and right now with the exception of Santa Rosa there's not much i can see them actually adding to the iMac (with the exception of say, i dunno, an upgradeable graphics card).
Let's hear quad-core maybe... :)
Reply
Comrade Penguin said 10:09PM on 6-04-2007
Whilst possible I don't think your quite right about progression of design. The Mac Pro and the MacBook Pro are metal whilst the MacBook and the iMac are plastic identifying them into each level of product.
Reply
andrew harrison said 10:15PM on 6-04-2007
umm
that mock up is just the side of a Mac Pro/Powermac with a screen photoshopped onto it.
I think it's a possibility, however I'm guessing they'd do the same thing they did with the black macbook - only the top end model would get it.
iMacs are due for a redesign, and I personally can't wait to see what they've come up with.
Reply
Joe said 10:22PM on 6-04-2007
Ugly, ugly, ugly. Good think Steve Jobs doesn't get his design ideas from blogs. And, an iMac release at a dev conference, just before the iPhone release? I doubt it.
Reply
Brandon Martinez said 10:22PM on 6-04-2007
I hope that isn't what happens to the iMac; I love the way iMacs look right now (I love the one sitting on my desk for sure!). The pure white base with the gray accents, it's very classy and elegant yet simple, opposed to a big chunk of metal (exaggeration, I know) sitting on a desk. The iMac design is ideal (minimal desk space, beautiful, etc), and to change it would be a terrible idea.
Reply
Ben Kessler said 10:22PM on 6-04-2007
BGR picked this up off of 9to5Mac last night before their site crashed. I really wouldn't trust the validity of this report. However, Macrumors has mentioned iMac case design in the past few months. We'll just have to wait and see...
Reply
iJavaJoe said 10:25PM on 6-04-2007
First I agree with the plastic vs. metal that has distinguished the Consumer vs Pro machines. Second the stand on this mockup is a back-step in terms of ergonomics. The ability to adjust the screens tilt and even hight is important. Going to a fixed stand design, or one that you can't remove the stand and use a VESA arm is backstep.
Also, and this is essential to Apple consumer design, the product must say "Apple". This design isn't particularly distinguishing. Don't get me wrong it's not bad looking, but is it going to advertise "MACINTOSH" to the consumer. If you look at the current iMac there's not really anything that looks like it. It stands out in a crowd. The next iMac should stand out with a design that self "Advertises"! and says, "Hi I'm a Mac"!
Reply
jtbandes said 10:28PM on 6-04-2007
No, I don't think so. Apple seems to be slowly moving away from the brushed metal design, and I don't think they'd introduce a new model with it. Black iMac? Yes, I can see that happening. Although it might be ugly.
Reply
Alex said 10:30PM on 6-04-2007
Thats just a mac pro or powermac with some photoshop job done to it... The concept may be possible though...
Reply
c said 10:42PM on 6-04-2007
If there is a imac pro, I hope it looks identical to the current Apple Cinema HD Displays. There seems to be enough room to spare.
With Apples elegant, simplified, and an subtle upgrade pattern, I think this is the only approach that makes sense.
c.
Reply
John Hawley said 10:42PM on 6-04-2007
I expect a new iMac, because they have been reintroducing new iMacs every 3 years.
its been 3 years since the last redesign
but im not so sure about this look
Reply
Justin said 10:44PM on 6-04-2007
As much as I do want a new iMac, well...I'm about to buy one and don't want to wait, since there's a deal! This is what happened to my iPod too. Got a 5G right before the 5.5G
Reply
zerock said 10:51PM on 6-04-2007
It would be awesome if they had a touch screen interface like the iPhone.
Reply
Twist said 11:10PM on 6-04-2007
I wish they would give the iMac some personality again. Since the introduction of the current design the iMac has been sleek but lacking in the personality of the previous models especially the G4 ones.
Reply
Pete said 11:18PM on 6-04-2007
i have to agree w/ the other's comments that the imac will not go metal. the imac is still a consumer product along w/ the macbook.
however, i could see upgrades to the pro lines at wwdc. nothing spectacular but minor improvements like the santa rosa architecture or led backlighting for the monitors
Reply
bloodthirstyrobot said 11:35PM on 6-04-2007
Brushed metal is so 2005.
Reply
Staticoranges said 11:37PM on 6-04-2007
To add to the brushed metal cons..
I noticed in the new OS X 10.5 that they were getting rid of all of the brushed metal so maybe brushed metal is a thing of the past? Maybe Apple is trying to move away from it completely, which makes me very happy because I'm looking at the ugly brushed metal on my Safari browser right now and I'm really liking the idea of getting 10.5 as soon as it becomes available. I doubt this will be their design. I personally think it looks too much like the design of the old displays.
Reply
starwxrwx said 12:28AM on 6-05-2007
I was pretty sure SJ at one point mentioned the iMac design was essentially evolved to its final state - I can see it getting thinner, with less bevel around the screen (and possibly other colours?) but otherwise I think the current design is here to stay for the long haul.
Reply
Koelsh said 12:36AM on 6-05-2007
I don't think they would go with brushed metal, more than anything I would expect a reduced bezel, maybe a half inch on the sides and about an inch on the bottom. And like with the screenshots of Leopard, I have never been able to stand the horizonal lines in Tiger's interface, to me the menu looks like a tacky baseball player's uniform from the 30's or something.
Reply
Alex Mills said 12:53AM on 6-05-2007
Im hoping it will look just like the current cinema displays. A HD iMac, now that would be cool
Reply