The new iMac 24-inch brings back the iconic design
The design of the new iMac 24-inch has become a controversial topic. People particularly complained about the chin that does not seem necessary and the white bezel, which could be more distracting than the black bezel. I like the new design of the iMac 24-inch, especially the chin and white bezel, because it brings back one of my favorite Apple products: the original iMac G3.
The original iMac
The iMac G3 was the first iMac released by Apple in 1998 after Steve Jobs’ comeback as the interim CEO of Apple. The iMac G3 features a chin, white bezel, and translucent all-in-one enclosure with 13 different colors released throughout the years. The iMac G3 introduced coolness and playfulness to the desktop design, which was predominantly gray and black at the time. The iMac G3 also helped Apple reclaim the pop culture icon status and became the foundation of Apple’s business.
The Chin
Similar to the design of the iMac G3, the chin of the new iMac 24-inch highlights the playfulness of the all-in-one desktop and reminds people that this is not another boring PC.
Except for the “sunflower” iMac G4 featuring a display with a white base (which, in my opinion, is yet another playful reimagination of the chin), all iMac shares the design with the chin. And this consistent image of the product help consumer recognize the brand and is often used by many design-oriented companies such as Porsche which kept the core visual features of their 911 sportscars unchanged for many years or even decades. You may not know which 911 has the air-cooled engine but you know it’s a 911 just based on the silhouette.
If you are still not convinced, for a thought exercise, let us imagine the same iMac design without the chin. And for ergonomic reasons, we will need to keep the iMac display at the same height for the best viewing position. Without the chin covering the stand, the iMac would have a longer neck, making the design absurd and unstable. More importantly, the front of the iMac would look like any other front of the PC monitors, making it unrecognizable.
Removing the chin would also require Apple to move most of the hardware components, including the logic board with the M1 Apple Silicon SoC and the speakers to the back of the iMac. This alternative design would make the iMac significantly thicker, thus compromising the new iMac's slim look. The back of the iMac is an important feature because that is the often first feature you see when visiting an office’s receptionist desk.
You may argue that putting all components in the back of the iMac honors its old design. However, the old design could be limited by the technology at the time. The combination of macOS Big Sur and Apple M1 SoC offers an unprecedented performance to size ratio which cannot be matched by the existing PowerPC or Intel solutions that requires a bulky cooling system and separate RAM and storage components. Plus, this would not be the first time that Apple put thinness above any other design requirements.
The bezel
In 2007, Apple introduced the re-designed aluminum iMac as the first iMac with the black bezel. The black bezel design worked well at the time in combination with the sleek appearance of the metal body offering a premium feel and image of the Apple product.
The design language has been tweaked but not changed until 2021, while Apple has been cannibalizing its desktop sales by introducing the iPhone, iPad, and more powerful and thinner laptops. During the last two decades, the consumer desktop is no longer the center stage of professional computing. Professionals are using special desktops or servers, gamers cannot find any gaming hardware at the moment, and the average consumers tend to opt for an iPad or MacBook Pro for casual web browsing.
Nowadays, kids use the iMac as a family computer, receptionists use it to handle client appointments, and designers hope to be inspired by a new iconic look. Introducing the new iMac with the black bezel and original aluminum color would not bring back desktop sales or joy for the next generation of iMac users. When required, the iMac should be a centerpiece in a living room, studio, or office. At the same time, it should disappear and blend well with the environment. The black bezel creates a void, but the white bezel complements the iMac color and the interior design of its environment. The color-matched power cable and lighting cables also enhance the consistent look.
Improvements
Although I support most of Apple’s visual design of the new iMac and have no doubt about the improved performance offered by the M1 SoC, I would like to complain about a few missing features.
- The new iMac should offer Target Display Mode, which would allow us to use the new iMac as an external display for our laptops or Mac desktops.
- For people using an external keyboard without TouchID, FaceID would be a good alternative for user authentication.
- The higher-end iMac 24-inch should include an SDCard reader and a few additional USB Type-A ports.
