The new iMac G5

Originally Posted by Bifta

So's my laptop

What would a 64-bit laptop with a 17 or 20ins monitor cost, out of interest?

We thought about a laptop as a way round the lack of deskpace problem we're going to have, but a laptop has too many compromises for me. I don't like the proximity of the keyboard and monitor, I don't like the viewing angle (I get a sore neck quite easily these days ) and I hate trackpads, trackballs, and intellipointerthingys of all kinds. It's also overkill because I don't want to take my computer out of the house, I just don't want to have to have a desk to use it inside the house.

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Chris T

What would a 64-bit laptop with a 17 or 20ins monitor cost, out of interest?

Actually, recently I did see a 64bit widescreen x86 laptop for less than 1300 quid, in comet I believe, the person buying one however didn't like the idea of non standard resolutions.

We thought about a laptop as a way round the lack of deskpace problem we're going to have, but a laptop has too many compromises for me. I don't like the proximity of the keyboard and monitor, I don't like the viewing angle (I get a sore neck quite easily these days ) and I hate trackpads, trackballs, and intellipointerthingys of all kinds. It's also overkill because I don't want to take my computer out of the house, I just don't want to have to have a desk to use it inside the house.

True, I plugged a cordless mouse and keyboard in to mine, unfortunately it adds another power cable but does the job. I have a spare room dedicated purely to computer and AV equipment and I'm salaried to work from home so I don't get nagged at for it thankfully.

[macuser_e7]

My first impressions:

Plus Points:

G5 processor
Small footprint
17" and 20" options
Base model is well-spec'd but still under £1,000 (inc. VAT)

Minus Points:

Lack of display adjustability compared to previous model
All the ports are on the back - one USB and one FireWire on the front would have been handy
Bluetooth not fitted as standard

Nonetheless I think they're cool and Apple will send a ton of them (which is the point, after all).

We've all been so excited about this thread that no-one noticed it's not even in the right forum area ... I'm moving it to 'Computers and IT' now, although I think I could make a reasonable case for putting it in 'Lifestyle'

(Any wisecracks suggesting the iMac belongs in the 'humour' forum will result in a summary ban, I know where the button is and I know how to use it )

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Chris T

We've all been so excited about this thread that no-one noticed it's not even in the right forum area ... I'm moving it to 'Computers and IT' now, although I think I could make a reasonable case for putting it in 'Lifestyle'

(Any wisecracks suggesting the iMac belongs in the 'humour' forum will result in a summary ban, I know where the button is and I know how to use it )

Although the iMac could be considered a lifestyle choice..

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by scastle

Although the iMac could be considered a lifestyle choice..

Can we call Bifta a Macophobic then?

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

Can we call Bifta a Macophobic then?

I'm not scared of Macs! I pity them They're like the big bolshy PC's effeminate little brother.

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by Bifta

I'm not scared of Macs! I pity them They're like the big bolshy PC's effeminate little brother.

Aah, so you're not a Macophobic, you're a big fat 64 bit bully .

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

Aah, so you're not a Macophobic, you're a big fat 64 bit bully .

Ah no, that'd be Richard.

[Richard M]

I'm not fat.

Originally Posted by Bifta

I'm not scared of Macs! I pity them They're like the big bolshy PC's effeminate little brother.

We're not effeminate, we're just in touch with our female side.

EDIT

I went into town at lunchtime and looked at the Macs in John Lewis. They had a G4 'anglepoise' iMac for £1,450, which is a full £100 more than the starting price of the top-of-the-range G5 model. I'd be feeling very sick indeed if I'd just gone and bought one of those ... but I can't help thinking there might be a mega-bargain to be had next month when they start displaying the new ones. John Lewis seems to take about £100 off ex-display and end-of-line stock in its Audio/video/computer department, but in this case a £100 reduction would make their G4 iMac the same price as the new ones. Thing is, now I've seen the new one, I don't want a G4 anymore, funky though it is. No bargain for me.

Something interesting I did see, however, was one of their 20" studio displays on a stand. The design is very much consistent with the new iMac, so it was a bit of a taster of what a new 20" iMac will look like 'in the flesh'.

[macuser_e7]

As an aside, I notice from watching the introductory video on the Apple site that these machines are being promoted as "from the makers of the iPod."

Barely any mention of previous iMacs and none at all of Apple's long history as an innovative computer manufacturer. Is this a pointer to where Apple sees its future sales and its future customer base coming from?

Originally Posted by macuser_e7

As an aside, I notice from watching the introductory video on the Apple site that these machines are being promoted as "from the makers of the iPod."

Barely any mention of previous iMacs and none at all of Apple's long history as an innovative computer manufacturer. Is this a pointer to where Apple sees its future sales and its future customer base coming from?

The iPod is the most recognisable of their products at the moment I would have thought. The original iMac is a design icon, but it's been out of production for 2 or 3 years now. And sadly, Apple's long history of innovation has singularly failed to propel it to worldwide megastardom and dominance of the computer hardware or OS market. Telling people 'we made the iPod, and now we've made this' is certainly the best way to get people to at least take a look at it.

[jtwn]

Useless for games, useless for me.

[downquark1]

Originally Posted by jtwn

Useless for games, useless for me.

That's really developers fault, the hardware is quite capable of games.