The first product launched by Apple was not an iPhone or iPod, but a new desktop computer, after returning as CEO in 1997. The original “Bandy Blue” IMAC was a revolutionary product that not only saved Apple from the financial disaster, but also re -shaped the entire individual computer industry.
In the late 1990s, Apple was a dying company. In the house market, it depended on a misleading lineup of Macintosh Performa computers, which was essentially prepared for the power Macintosh model designed for business and education.
A poor conversation Macintosh Clon program caused more damage to Apple than helping more. Jobs shut down the Performa model, abolished the clone program, and acquired a $ 150 million investment from Microsoft, trying to avoid monopoly situation for Windows.
All Apple needed a new home computer.
Image Credit: Daniel Lu
First, Apple developed Macintosh NC as part of a network computer initiative promoted by Larry Elison of OraCle. Alison was appointed as a member of the Apple Board when the jobs were restored as CEOs.
The idea was to create a computer without an external disc drive, which would rely on the Internet to use apps. This concept was not far from today’s chrombook, but in the era of physical media and dial-up modem it was still very early for him, and the project was canceled.
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A new beginning
Apple released IMAC for $ 1,299 (today $ 2,500 today) in August 1998. It was an all-in-one computer with a CD drive, modern Powerpc G3 processor, and an underlying modem that made it easy to connect to the growing internet quickly, so “I” in its name.
When the jobs unveiled IMAC in May 1998, they explained: “I stand for” internet “, but it means” personal, “instructions,” informed, “and” inspire “.” At that time, the Internet was exploding in popularity, and Apple wanted to place IMAC as the easiest computer to get online – which was a big thing in an era when it was still complicated to establish an internet connection.
If you were born in this century, IMAC G3 can see you like an innovative PC case with an underlying performance, but it was actually a stylish monitor with a built -in computer. Apple used a CRT instead of LCD with a physical pixel, just because it was more inexpensive at that time. Stereo speakers were posted on the edges of the CD drive.
Yes! In IMAC “I” stood originally for the Internet – but it quickly took to a broad meaning.
The original model had a translucent Bondi Blue Body (named after Bandi Beach in Australia), somewhat similar to Newton -based Amet 300 laptop. Within months, IMAC was available in five different colors. Egg -shaped design is credited to Johnny Ive, then the new major design of Apple. He attracted inspiration from a gumdrop candy and modern domestic objects to the winding translucent shell of IMAC, meaning that the dull beige of time for computers feel more fun and invited than the beige box.
Image Credit: Tepo Moicio
When the monitor was shaped as oven and mainly beige, IMAC looked like nothing else. The original, single-button mouse of a hockey puck was heavily criticized and eventually replaced as an example of form on the function.
To remove the headphone jack from the iPhone in 2016, IMAC did not have a dedicated printer port, inspired the industry to switch to unclear USB standard.
Image Credit: H. Michael Cursis
More importantly, two years before the first USB flash drive, IMAC did not have a floppy disk drive – a bold trick that was heavily criticized. This made the exterior floppy drive one of the first popular USB devices.
Apple’s stake on CD-Roms and USB was ahead but controversial. The closest thing since Apple is that in 2008 it was done to remove optical drive from the original MacBook Air.
Steve Jobs was notorious against using cooling fans in computer, prioritizing passive cooling to keep the machines silent. However, the G3 processor of IMAC went very hot, so a whipper-quit fan was to be added. Only after being convinced by the engineers, Jobs agreed that this user would not waste the experience.
This is a hit!
Image Credit: Gym Abels
IMAC became an immediate hit, selling 800,000 units in its first five months, making it one of the fastest selling computers and marks the onset of Apple’s return. Using Jeff Goldblum as a narrator, the advertisement focused on the computers’ elegant all-in-one design and ease of connecting to the Internet.
Apple estimated that about one -third units were first sold to computer buyers. Two companies were sued by Apple for issuing all-in-one computers with the color scheme of IMAC.
In 1999 released for $ 1,599, IBook was not only nominated and designed after IMAC, but also made her heritage as the first consumer equipment with Wi-Fi support. The cost of an airport router will cost $ 299, and each match will add $ 99 to the Wi-Fi card.
Thanks to Apple’s product placement efforts, its new computers appeared in the biggest movies and TV shows of the time – Apple aimed to be more than a computer manufacturer, but once again more than a cultural icon.
The same year IMAC was re-designed with a more compact body, a CD/DVD slot instead of a bridge-out tray, and a firewire connector, initially mostly used to unload photos and videos from digital cameras. IBook was switched to an all-white, rectangular design in 2001.
By the end of 2001, IMAC sold 6 million units.
Then, Apple released a firewire-competent IPod, which could have 5GB songs in a package as a compact as the smallest Sony Walkman model. Without the success of IMAC, Apple will not be able to leave that ipod early.
IMAC wanted jobs
Apple released a new IMAC in early 2002, with a Powerpc G4 processor, a LCD screen and a radical new design. Jobs stated that mounting a computer with an optical drive behind a hard disk and a flat display, it is “no longer flat,” and “the worst cable mess, right in front of your eyes”.
Instead, the jobs chose “to let each element come true”: A 15 -inch display was associated with the shape of the dome with a mechanical hand that allows tilt, height and swing adjustment.
For the education market, Apple released EMAC, with the same G4 processor and an all-white body similar to IMAC G3. It was eventually made available for the home market for $ 1,099. Later that year, Apple released a 17 -inch version of IMAC G4 with a 16:10 aspect ratio.
The problem realized with the new design when a 20 -inch version became available in 2003. The mechanical arm was to be stifer to prevent the performance from drowning, and the base had to be heavy to retaliate. Overall, the new version was almost double heavier than the 17 -inch model.
New Apple’s computer
In 2004, the IMAC G5 issuing company was very different from the creation of IMAC G3 six years ago. By then, Apple was mostly known for the IPod, which was thanked to the mainstream for the USB 2.0 support, and iTunes Store, which ended the album era in the music business.
The new IMAC was designed to look like an iPod, with an all-white chin and downward speakers. It was the thinnest desktop computer of its time, less than two inches. This design went against everything that jobs said less than three years ago. Not surprisingly, IMAC G5 was not presented by jobs, but by Phil Shiller, the head of Apple’s marketing.
The IMAC processor was replaced with an Intel Core in 2006, which effectively eliminates Apple’s Powerpc alliance with IBM and Motorola. The reason for this was the disappointment of Apple in the efficiency of the G5, which was never used in the laptop.
The move was with the “Gate a Mac” advertising campaign, which exposed the software difference between Mac and Windows platforms. As part of the infection, the high-end powerbook was replaced by the MacBook Pro, and the iBook was replaced by MacBook.
With the release of the iPhone in 2007, IMAC switched on a curved design made of aluminum and black plastic. The model of 2009 went in 16: 9 aspect ratio. After removing the optical drive in 2012, the design of IMAC remained the same for almost a decade.
Apple released an IMAC based on its own M-Series processor in 2021, with a flat design, no disk drive option, and IMAC G3, the first time after many colors. At 11.5 mm, it was the first IMAC thinner than the performance of IMAC G4. The design of IMAC has been built since then.
Image Credit: Reddit
The inheritance of IMAC G3 is not today’s IMACS, but philosophy behind it: attractive design, ease of use, and leave the past behind.
The inheritance of IMAC G3 is not today’s IMACS, but philosophy behind it: attractive design, ease of use, and leave the past behind. This philosophy can be seen in iPhone and iPad, and it is the cause of “i” in their name.
