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Flat-panel iMac from Apple
Apple's clone of the I-Opener

New MessageFlat-panel iMac from Apple (modified 0 times) Linuxguru
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Now it looks like Apple is taking the I-Opener form-factor mainstream. Cover story on Time has the scoop on the new iMacs that Apple introduced today.

So it took a mainstream company 2+ years to catch on and copy the idea, which looked like a no-brainer here. Watch for the PC companies to follow suit, look-and-feel lawsuits from Apple saying it was *their* idea, etc.

Nevertheless, it is interesting to consider a flat-panel LinuxPPC platform with integrated DVD/CDRW support, Ethernet, etc. A bit pricey at $1299, but with passable industrial design and ergonomics. I personally prefer the grey color scheme of the I-Opener over the iMac, and the hemispherical base looks like a retro Italian table-lamp (ugh!) so it's unlikely that it will make much headway here.

01-07-2002 13:23:36

New MessageRE:Flat-panel iMac from Apple (modified 0 times) Linuxguru
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Clarification to the original post: the guts are in the hemispherical base, so it's a different form-factor from the I-Opener. Also, the high-end model has a DVD-burner included for $1800, so it is actually pretty competitive with PCs (similar Sony Vaios are priced similarly or higher, but have higher-spec CPUs - Athlon or P4).
01-07-2002 13:50:44

New MessageRE:Flat-panel iMac from Apple (modified 0 times) Randy
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Funny you drew a parallel between the i-opener and the new iMac. The fact is that Quanta Computer -- http://www.quanta.com.tw -- which manufactured the i-opener for Netpliance was contracted by Apple to manufacture the motherboard for the new iMac.

Randy

01-07-2002 19:18:43

New MessageRE:Flat-panel iMac from Apple (modified 0 times) 02U2
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Here's a few pic's http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101020114/gallery/
01-07-2002 22:41:28

New MessageRE:Flat-panel iMac from Apple (modified 0 times) zyxw
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Hmm....,
Not sure what the specs are, but an SV24 (or 25 whatever shuttle and via are showing at the Comdex now) would have a closer to I-Opener form factor, and for $1,800 I could load it with a DVD burner and have enough left over for an 18" LCD, heck I may be able to afford an 8MB cached 100GB drive (depends on which LCD).

I think for $99 a 10.4" lcd on an I-Opener was decent, for $1,800 (even for $1,300) a 15" display just isn't what I'd be comfortable with... though it appears network appliances and Apple (and the SV24/SF24/25 what not) are demonstrating people want quieter appliance boxes more like TV's but still with the functionality of computers. Personally I'm in that camp, I can't stand the noise anymore on my "large" systems, and am likely going to take a plunge into a C3 933Mhz and an SV/SF 24/25 with a fanless powersupply and heatsink only cooled processor.

Yeah, a 933 C3 will be pokey, but it'll be darned quiet. Also my legacy stuff (usb devices, hard drives, operating systems) all are maintained as viable, going to Apple would likely lose some compatibility.

01-07-2002 22:56:53

New MessageRE:Flat-panel iMac from Apple (modified 0 times) Linuxguru
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As Randy pointed out, Quanta is one of the lead contractors for the new iMac. Another is HonHai, which owns FoxConn, which is also well-known to us on this board.

http://www.theinquirer.net/09010204.htm

All this is probably not entirely co-incidental - Quanta has demonstrated considerable expertise in small form-factor PCs and webpads.

01-09-2002 20:16:39

New MessageRE:Flat-panel iMac from Apple (modified 0 times) bigdork1
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Have you evernoticed Gateway has had this form factor for several years. They have been calling there model the Profile. They look like a overgrown GCT. I wonder if Quanta also manufactures the Profile?
01-10-2002 12:51:15

New MessageRE:Flat-panel iMac from Apple (modified 0 times) Randy
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Here's an article which mentions Apple's relationship with Quanta vis-a-vis the new flat-panel iMac:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/39/23248.html

Randy

01-10-2002 13:23:25

New MessageRE:Flat-panel iMac from Apple (modified 0 times) amused
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Gateway still makes the profile:

http://www.gateway.com/home/prod/hm_aio_completeprofile.shtml

But the new iMac isn't like the Profile, which has all the guts glommed to the back of the LCD. On the new iMac, the guts are, as someone else pointed out, in the "dome" base. The tilting, rotating arm is a little gimmicky, but useful.

01-11-2002 23:41:52

New MessageRE:Flat-panel iMac from Apple (modified 0 times) doug
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I just have to set the record straight on this one. Apple is not catching up or copying anyone in building an LCD screen computer. Back in May of 1997, well before any of the others mentioned, Apple introduced the 20th Anniversary Macintosh. It was a limited edition of only 12,000 units to showcase Apple's technology and industrial design. This Mac had unique shape and advanced sound and video features. It came with an integrated TV/FM Radio System, an S-Video Input, and a custom sound system designed by Bose, with integrated stereo speakers, and a separate sub-woofer.

Details and pictures are here:
http://home.earthlink.net/~glimmung/twentieth/twentieth_home.html

01-20-2002 15:23:53

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