Isn't it about time that Apple refreshed the iMac design?

The current design has had 4 or 5 releases which is about the limit for each previous design.

I wonder if ti will be updated? Surely Apple, the company that puts design first, won't allow a current design to become old?

If they do update it (possibly along side the release of Lion) what do you reckon it will look like?

They've pretty much confirmed that it isn't going to have a touch screen. But what else can they do?

I've been thinking of getting an iMac and if they change the design I will almost certainly get one.

What is it about the current design you don't like?
Hasn't the external Mac Pro design been around longer than the current iMac design?

Mark

It's not that I don't like the current design.

It's more a fact of not wanting to buy the current one if a new one is due

I know it's a bit of a girly reason.

I know there's an iMac update due soon anyway so I thought I'd put the question out there

Well given alter posts this may be pointless but the obvious question is - where can they go? The imac is 'a computer and monitor all in one'. That's pretty much it's remit, been like that from the start in various forms. And that's really what they've got now. Assuming they're going to continue using LCD/LED screens, what alternatives do they have? Some kind of return to the 'anglepoise'? Bit tricky that with a 27" screen.

I can see the design evolving over time in some ways but i think the fundamental form of the iMac is pretty much set unless we come up with something radically new in screen tech - maybe when we get ultra-thin OLED screens up to snuff, or flexible ones?

Jon

That's something I was going to say also.

If they do change the design what could they do with it?

Maybe limit the equipment inside and make it thinner but does that matter that much?

I'll be interested to see a new design anyway.

As tricky as it might be, I'd love to see that happen. The angle-poise iMac was the nicest looking iMac yet, in my opinion.
Don't get me wrong, I find nothing displeasing about the current iMac design, I just think that the angle-poise iMac was inspired.

Mark

If you go on Google Images and search for "iMac concepts" then you'll see loads of ideas of where they could take the iMac - some silly, some sensible. I'll let you decide which one this is...


iMac with iPad dock, taken from here

Most make you realise that Apple's design is actually pretty conservative. I'd love to have a sneaky peak inside Apple's design labs though to see designs that were rejected for whatever reason.I personally don't think they'll ever create a better design than the iMac G4 with the anglepoise arm. I still have a 700MHz one, and despite the fact the old girl can't do much by modern standards, I just can't bring myself to sell it. It's a design classic.

+1

I do find the stand of the current iMac (and cinema displays) somewhat … ungraceful.

Mark

TBH the "new" aluminium uni-body design is so sexy I hope they don't change it.

Same here

I wouldn't buy one because it's not my thing but don't change it for the sake of it.

Well the powermac still has the same design from when it was G4/G5 powered. So hopefully they will not change it.

My only criticism of the present alu-body iMac is that the SDHC slot and the DVD slot are right next to each other.
Far too easy to find yourself poking a card into the DVD drive.
I speak from experience.

G5. The G4 PowerMac case was plastic on the outside.

Mark

I was not sure about the G4 PowerMac. Thanks for clearing that up.