03-10-2009, 07:56 AM

I was a toddler when the first mac made its appearance; too busy chewing on the bars in my crib to wonder how did Apple manage to create something that would forever change the way we use the computer today.
Ok... lets face it, some of the innovations were taken from Xerox PARC, but who cares. Apples managed to put a entire computer into a package that (at the time) was so user friendly and miles ahead of what anyone else had at the time.

Then came the dark ages of Apple. Thanks to a brilliant mind in Bill Gates, Microsoft managed to take it all away from them. And it wasn't until Jobs' return that Apple decided to go back in time and bring back an icon.
Just like the way the mini cooper was brought back to life... Apple brought back a iconic "all-in-one" and called it the "iMac". A Mac for a whole new generation of user who also needed the internet.

The iconic unveiling:
iMac G3 unveiling

It was the computer that turned Apples fortunes around and after that, Apple was on a role.... creating marvels just as they had in the beginning....
the iBook (clam-shell), etc.... all owed their success to the success of the iMac.

With each passing model, we saw different version come out right down to the latest one.....

I like the iMac G3. It brought a feeling like you were using old Mac. I love the G4, for its flat screen and looks. To me that has to be the best looking of all the models. Up to date, no one can replicate that, and it has turned into an iconic computer of its own.
I'm not too fond of the new ones though. I like them for their power housed in a small thin light-weight package, but as far as iconic looks, the G4 has it and still remains the best ever.

If apple would recreate the looks of the G4 and couple it with features of the new Intel ones (integrated isight cam, etc), they would have an iMac that we all would love to buy.

The question is....
which is your most favourite iMac???

03-10-2009, 10:41 AM

G4, by far. That was just a very secksy Mac.

03-10-2009, 11:39 AM

I have to agree, and I have owned just about every incarnation of the iMac since the original. I have a new aluminum model, which is great, but whenever I see my G4 (which I will never part with) I just can't help but smile. It's an amazing design, and a timeless design as well. People who are unfamiliar with Macs who come into my home are astonished by it and several would have sworn it was actually a newer model then my aluminum intel iMac. I just wish I could get some modern components in there without ruining the design, so it could live on functionally.

03-10-2009, 12:08 PM

The Intel iMacs have a very sleek aluminium design. They look like normal LCD screens. But the G4, had the most unique shape ever. Some straight out of a sci-fi movie. That shape is more futuristic than the new Intel ones.

03-10-2009, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by ADKhikerVW

I have to agree, and I have owned just about every incarnation of the iMac since the original. I have a new aluminum model, which is great, but whenever I see my G4 (which I will never part with) I just can't help but smile. It's an amazing design, and a timeless design as well. People who are unfamiliar with Macs who come into my home are astonished by it and several would have sworn it was actually a newer model then my aluminum intel iMac. I just wish I could get some modern components in there without ruining the design, so it could live on functionally.

There has to be some way to shoehorn a new Mac Mini into that base.

I know there has to be.

03-10-2009, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Derek McNelly

There has to be some way to shoehorn a new Mac Mini into that base.

I know there has to be.

I recall seeing a video on youtube on someone actually attempting to do that. I guess with the right skills, probably could.

Let me see if I can locate that vid.

03-11-2009, 01:12 PM

The mini will fit easily, it's just a matter of having all the ports line up with the case, which can be achieved partly with extensions and hubs. The other major problem is the screen, since the G4 uses custom wiring to fit through the arm supporting the LCD panel, and it isn't compatible with any standard wiring. New wiring could be run through the arm, if it was thin enough, but the arm is virtually impossible to disassemble and then reassemble correctly, it's pretty much a sealed unit. Now if someone could work out a way to adapt the factory wiring to accept a standard DVI or VGA plug, then that would be great, but no one seems to be serious enough about it to try. I personally don't have the knowledge to do this, although I have tried.

Please, someone out there with the know how to work out the wiring for the screen, do it! I have worked out pretty much everything except for that.

03-11-2009, 01:30 PM

The white intel imacs.
I just think they were the best imacs ever.

03-14-2009, 02:36 PM

The intel macs are great. Just wish the package could have looked as good as the G4

03-14-2009, 03:54 PM

Aluminium all the way!

03-15-2009, 01:34 AM

G4 had the style and my fav of the bunch.

G5 was original as well, intels are all just modified G5 cases.

03-15-2009, 03:04 AM

Originally Posted by Strimkind

G4 had the style and my fav of the bunch.

G5 was original as well, intels are all just modified G5 cases.

G4 had style. And in its day, no one could accuse of it being "Just style over substance". This machine rocked.

03-15-2009, 01:35 PM

Although we have a white Intel iMac which looks great, I definitely go with the G4.
It's even got me looking on ebay for one !

Cheers

Hugh