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Apple Introduces “Bodyless” iMac Computer
TechNY ^ | 11/30/2004 | Steve Rea

Posted on 11/30/2004 2:02:20 AM PST by Swordmaker

Apple Introduces “Bodyless” iMac Computer

by Staff Reports

The iMac G5 sets a new standard for compact desktops

When the original iMac was introduced in 1998, it was praised for it’s compact design and is often credited with saving Apple. There is no doubt that it revolutionized the computer industry, as witnessed by the copycat PCs that came out. It also spurred the USB industry, and influenced many new industries utilizing translucent cases, like the George Forman Grill.

In 2002, Apple reinvented the iMac, basing it on an impressive flat panel LCD, lifted over a domed base by an inventive articulating neck. Nicknamed the Lamp Shade iMac, it was physically smaller than the previous iMac, and used the faster G4 processor.

Now as 2005 draws near, and with over 10 million iMacs sold, Apple has again reinvented the iMac. This time, the entire computer is built into the LCD display, removing the base and in effect creating a body-less computer, the thinnest desktop computer ever. A common question that gets asked is “Where’d the computer go?”

Even smaller and lighter than it’s predecessor, and based on the even faster PowerPC 970 processor from IBM, this new model promises to be just as remarkable as the original. The new iMac is also much quieter than the previous models, at 25 dB during normal operation. And, Apple’s typical showmanship marks that it is quieter than a whisper, which they measured at 32 dB!

There are three stock configurations available: a high-resolution 17-inch widescreen LCD display, 1.6 GHz G5 processor, 256MB of fast 400 MHz RAM, 80GB SATA hard drive, and a CD writer/DVD player combo drive, for just $1,299 including the monitor. Upgrade to a 1.8 GHz G5, and a DVD recording SuperDrive for just $200 more. The stunning 20-inch widescreen model sports a 160GB hard drive, and sells for $1,899.

Custom options for the new iMac include up to 2GB of memory, or a 250 GB hard drive. And don’t let the clock speed fool you; the 64-bit IBM G5 performs at more than twice the speed of Intel’s 32-bit Pentium 4, making the 1.8GHz G5 about the same speed as a 4GHz Pentium. If a 4GHz Pentium even existed!

The marketing slogan that Apple is using for the new iMac is “from the creators of iPod”. For a Mac user, it’s kind of like “Duh, we know that”. However, for a large number of Windows-using iPod owners, it may be more effective.

Apple wants to convert more (PC users) to the Mac, and the runaway success of the iPod for Windows is a great step in that direction. Jobs even noted during a recent keynote that the iPod has a 82% market share of all hard-drive based music players, saying “it’s nice to be above 5%”, referring to the reported (and often disputed) percentage of Macs vs. Windows machines in the market. Windows users who like the design of the iPod might then be more inclined to purchase the new iMac G5.

Apple has developed, grown, and revolutionized the computer into a system we can all use today. Whether you use Windows, UNIX, Linux, or an older Mac, there is a new Macintosh that fits for you. You don’t have to worry about viruses, spyware, security holes, or hackers. The Mac works for you, not against you.

You can easily connect to Windows networks and share files with Windows users. If you really have to, you can even run Windows programs on your Mac using Microsoft’s Virtual PC software.

Today, with the new iMac, you can install it in your living room, den, or wherever fits your lifestyle. Put it in the kitchen and download recipes from the Internet. Put it in your home office and synchronize your calendar to your PDA or iPod. Put it in the family room and schedule the kids’ activities.

You can remove the foot and attach a wall-mount or arm-mount bracket and put it under a cabinet, or above a desk, and add wireless internet with Apple’s Airport Extreme card. Use Apple’s Bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse, from up to 30 feet away. Mount the 20-inch iMac G5 on the bedroom wall and create a flat-screen home theatre with access to the Internet Movie Database!

For the music lovers, you can make your own home audio system using iTunes. Apple’s Airport Express wireless base station with AirTunes technology lets you stream your music from any Mac to any stereo in your home – never be without your tunes! Do away with all the 8-tracks, cassettes, vinyl, and CDs and put all your music under control with iTunes. Carry all your music with you on the iPod.

It’s amazing the power we all have access to and haven’t tapped into. If people could just be locked in a room with a Mac for a week, they would be amazed at the ease of use, the compatibility, and the capabilities of it. They’d “get it”.

Apple has created a small, powerful, aesthetically appealing, innovated, creative, workable, user friendly, attractive, reliable computer that everyone can use. The ultimate Internet machine. The ultimate music machine. The ultimate graphics machine. The ultimate computing machine. Stop by and try one out today!

Steve Rea is an Apple Authorized service technician at Jessi Group, (www.jessi group.com), Rochester, NY’s only Apple Specialist Store. Steve can also be heard on Sound Bytes, a weekly computer talk show on WHAM 1180 AM.

 


TOPICS: Computers/Internet; Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: apple; computerwars; imac; lowqualitycrap; macintosh; macuser
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1 posted on 11/30/2004 2:02:20 AM PST by Swordmaker
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To: Bush2000; antiRepublicrat; LasVegasMac; Action-America; eno_; N3WBI3; zeugma; TechJunkYard; ...

iMAc review PING!

If'n you wan' off the list, Freepmail me... If'n you'all want on, do it to!


2 posted on 11/30/2004 2:03:42 AM PST by Swordmaker (Tagline now open, please ring bell.)
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To: Swordmaker

Can't wait to see it.


3 posted on 11/30/2004 2:28:49 AM PST by NetValue (Trust the cobra before you trust the liberal.)
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To: Swordmaker

bump


4 posted on 11/30/2004 2:35:35 AM PST by RippleFire ("It was just a scratch")
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To: NetValue

See it here:

http://www.macmall.com/macmall/families/newimac/default.asp?adcampaign=external,mwb02854&source=mwb02854


5 posted on 11/30/2004 2:51:38 AM PST by NetValue (Trust the cobra before you trust the liberal.)
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To: Swordmaker

Yay! More overpriced underpowered designer hardware with built-in obsolescence! Where do I get one!? :)


6 posted on 11/30/2004 3:20:10 AM PST by 302damnfast
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To: NetValue

Nice, very nice.


7 posted on 11/30/2004 3:29:30 AM PST by shezza (Pray for our troops who are away from their families this holiday season)
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To: Swordmaker

Sitting here w/ a tower, conventional monitor & keyboard
'owning' my desktop, I have to say that this evolution of the iMac would be very, very tempting if I wasn't such a miser/ cheapskate.


8 posted on 11/30/2004 4:05:16 AM PST by elli1
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To: Swordmaker

Hmmm....They'd have to shoot me to take away my iMac with its articulating neck. THEIR neck makes MY neck feel a lot more comfortable.


9 posted on 11/30/2004 5:20:33 AM PST by kitkat
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To: Swordmaker
future "big thing" is interface.

I envision a "live desktop." It's as thin as cardboard. Data is entered via digitized paper or keyboard, voice, or touch -- all options available. visual interface is either digitized paper, screen or audio -- again, all options open.

Think of the old wooden desk, with a digital blotter on top. And yes, there's a brief-case sized one as well. We will look back on these big plastic boxes the same way we look back on those room-sized calculators.

10 posted on 11/30/2004 5:30:34 AM PST by the invisib1e hand (if a man lives long enough, he gets to see the same thing over and over.)
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To: Swordmaker

I thought the G5's were now available in a 2.5Ghz version.


11 posted on 11/30/2004 5:59:52 AM PST by Military family member (Go Colts!)
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To: elli1
I have to say that this evolution of the iMac would be very, very tempting if I wasn't such a miser/ cheapskate....

I bought a G5 tower last year... not long after I bought Apple stock at $13.58 (May, 2003). My stock has gone to $68.44 as of yesterday, and I wish I had bought three times as much! Apple must be doing something right, besides iPods!

I have owned Macs since 1984 (fat Mac=512k ROM, 3 1/2" floppy, no internal HD, but got an internal 5 MEGABYTE for $600 extra from GCC... five megs ran everything, and I had room left over!

12 posted on 11/30/2004 6:18:38 AM PST by pageonetoo (I could name them, but you'll spot their posts soon enough.)
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To: 302damnfast
More overpriced underpowered designer hardware with built-in obsolescence! Where do I get one!?

here. But if you want more value, go here.

13 posted on 11/30/2004 7:00:11 AM PST by antiRepublicrat
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To: kitkat

Dittos. I just wish I had the 17 or 20" model...


14 posted on 11/30/2004 7:05:01 AM PST by tubebender (If I had know I would live this long I would have taken better care of myself...)
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To: pageonetoo
... I bought Apple stock at $13.58 (May, 2003). My stock has gone to $68.44 as of yesterday...

uh--that would be George Bush's fault, right?

Seriously, Apple be very, very good to you. Wish I'd done that. Had I, I'd probably be showing my gratitude & celebrating w/ one of their new-fangled machines right now.

15 posted on 11/30/2004 7:11:56 AM PST by elli1
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To: pageonetoo
I bought a G5 tower last year... not long after I bought Apple stock at $13.58 (May, 2003). My stock has gone to $68.44 as of yesterday, and I wish I had bought three times as much! Apple must be doing something right, besides iPods!

I bought Apple stock at around $15, and AMD stock a while back at around $5, and have been very happy. I almost didn't buy either, but my gut instinct said they can really only go up, and it was right. They both make good solid products, and that's the kind of thing I look for when buying stocks.
16 posted on 11/30/2004 7:26:58 AM PST by af_vet_rr
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To: ShadowAce

bump


17 posted on 11/30/2004 7:39:42 AM PST by JoJo Gunn (More than two lawyers in any Country constitutes a terrorist organization. ©)
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To: the invisib1e hand
Think of the old wooden desk, with a digital blotter on top. And yes, there's a brief-case sized one as well. We will look back on these big plastic boxes the same way we look back on those room-sized calculators.

Waaaay back when the mac first came out, someone famously said "The desktop metaphor works better on a screen the size of a desk."

18 posted on 11/30/2004 8:03:21 AM PST by eno_ (Freedom Lite, it's almost worth defending.)
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To: Swordmaker
When the original iMac was introduced in 1998, it was praised for it’s compact design
Even smaller and lighter than it’s predecessor

Sheesh.

I am an iMac user, but this guy needs an editor.

19 posted on 11/30/2004 8:15:39 AM PST by M. Thatcher
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To: Swordmaker

Had mine on order for over a month now. Should have it this week. 20", Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, 1gig RAM, big hard drive.


20 posted on 11/30/2004 8:27:23 AM PST by woofer2425 (Kerry LIED)
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