Vintage Mac Living
When Did a Computer's Visual Appearance Become More Important than the Hardware Inside?
- 2005.12.20
I may be only 17 years old, but I remember a time when computers were tools. You didn't buy a computer because of what it looked like; you bought a computer because of what it did.
These days it seem like more and more people buy computer not because of what they can do but because of what they look like.
Enter the iMac
This change seems to have started in May of 1998 when Apple introduced the iMac. The iMac was supposed to be "the Internet age computer for the rest of us".
Everyone was raving about how powerful
it was, and they were also raving about how cool it looked. Everyone
loved the futuristic looking Bondi blue case.
The iMac came in one configuration - 233 MHz G3, 32 MB RAM, 4 GB hard drive, 24x CD-ROM - so it would be easy for consumers to buy one without making a million decisions.
In January of 1999, Apple introduced
the Rev. C iMac, the
one that came in blueberry, grape, tangerine, lime, and strawberry.
Steve Jobs thought that people didn't care about megabytes, megahertz, or gigabytes - customers wanted to trust the computer company to sell them a really great computer. The only question they should have to answer is, "What's your favorite color?"
The iMac was popping up everywhere. It was on busses and billboards, in TV and magazine ads, on radio ads, and all over the Internet.
It was everywhere. No one could get enough of it.
About Face
But Steve Jobs was wrong about one thing: People do care about megabytes, megahertz, and gigabytes.
In the summer of 1999, Apple decided it was time to get rid of their easy-to-buy single configuration iMac and introduced the new iMac.
From this point on, it would no longer be as easy for a newbie to buy an iMac. He or she would have to choose from different speeds, not just colors. These were the new models:
iMac (blueberry, $999)
- 350 MHz G3, 64 MB RAM, 6 GB hard drive, slot loading CD-ROM drive
iMac DV (blueberry, grape, tangerine, line, strawberry, $1,299)
- 400 MHz G3, 64 MB RAM, 10 GB hard drive, slot loading DVD-ROM drive
iMac DV SE (graphite, $1,499)
- 400 MHz G3, 128 MB RAM, 13 GB hard drive, slot loading DVD-ROM drive
The iMac kept selling in record numbers, and then Apple went a little crazy in the summer of 2000 with the next set of models. Now if you wanted a certain color, you might have to spend a certain amount of money:
iMac (indigo, $799)
- 350 MHz PowerPC G3
- 64 MB RAM
- 7 GB hard drive
- slot loading CD-ROM drive
iMac DV (indigo, ruby, $999)
- 400 MHz PowerPC G3
- 64 MB RAM
- 10 GB hard drive
- slot loading CD-ROM drive
iMac DV+ (indigo, ruby, sage, $1,299)
- 450 MHz PowerPC G3
- 64 MB RAM
- 20 GB hard drive
- slot loading DVD-ROM drive
iMac DV SE (graphite, snow, $1,499)
- 500 MHz PowerPC G3 Processor
- 128 MB RAM
- 30 GB hard drive
- slot loading DVD-ROM drive
It was out of control. There were just too many models and colors and price points - eight different iMacs in all. These models (and the colors ruby and sage) only lasted a few months before iMacs with the CD-RW drives entered the picture.
Anyone remember the Blue Dalmatian and Flower
Power models? I don't know what Apple was thinking with those two
color schemes, but for some reason they lasted longer than the ruby and
sage. Can someone explain that one to me?
Enter the iPod
Then in October of 2001, Apple introduced the iPod. At first it was a Mac-only accessory, but when Apple developed software so it could run on Windows, it started selling in record numbers. Now it's the #1 selling MP3 player in the market.
People love the way it looks and the way it works, and back then there was only one model to choose from.
As for today's
computers, I don't know if people are buying them because of the way
they work or the way they look.
Apple has a big presence in the world of fashion right now - everyone wants an iPod, and everyone is trying to make their computers look like Apple's computers.
Why did computers become such a big fashion statement?
When you're using your computer, are you really thinking about how
much you like the way it looks?
Join us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.
Recent Vintage Mac Living articles
- What a waste! Some schools would rather store old computers than put them to use, 2007.09.12. Denver Public Schools is one example of a school district so ready to buy new computers that it has tens of thousands of old, usable computers sitting in storage.
- My incredible $110 Lombard and Power Mac G4 deal, 2007.07.11. Sometimes pawn shops can be a great source for older Macs, such as turning up a Lombard PowerBook and a very upgraded Power Mac G4 Digital Audio for just $110!
- Too stressed to even think about computers, 2007.05.16. "I've been so preoccupied that I haven't been able to think about computers, much less write about them."
- More in the Vintage Mac Living index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: Mac IIfx, introduced 1990.03.19. This 'wicked fast' 40 MHz Mac trumped the 33 MHz DOS world.
- February 14 in LEM history: 98: A perfect compact Mac - 00: Extended computer warranties worth the cost? - Making your PC work with your Mac - 01: Customize Microsoft Word - 02: Quadra revives a passion for computing - 03: Real world performance - DIY Pismo screen replacement - Best Mac for writing - 03: Fastest browser on the Mac - 06: 15" MacBook Pro - Impressions of a newly acquired Lisa - Finding and using free WiFi - Apple should liberate OS 9 - 07: New Mac mini cheaper than upgrading a Power Mac - 08: Falling in love with OS X
- Support Low End Mac
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Fix Home Button Delay, Tablet the Ultimate Mobile PC, iPad Notebook a Possibility, and More, iOS News Review, 2012.02.10. Also using your iPad at work, two photo editors, a new iPad text editor, Macally's magnetic iPad 2 stand, and more.
- White MacBook Goes End-of-Life, Logitech Touch Mouse Supports Gestures, Firmware Updates, and More, The 'Book Review, 2012.02.10. Also MacBook Air better than any Ultrabook, docks for MacBook Pro models, Intel offers improved SSDs, and more.
- Mac and iOS Browsers: Options Galore, Freeware Forum, 2012.02.10. Safari is adequate on Mac and great on iOS, but the range of good alternatives is stunning. LEM writers share their favorites.
- Apple's Support Lead Shipping, Smartphones Outsell PCs, OS X Ported to ARM by Intern, and More, Mac News Review, 2012.02.10. Also the power of Tex-Edit Plus, Google and Twitter are already censoring the Web, Snow Leopard Security Update, and more.
- LogMeIn: Remote Screen Sharing for the Rest of Us, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 2012.02.09. Configuring the Mac's built-in screen sharing to work over the Internet can be difficult or impossible. LogMeIn makes it easy.
- 15 Years Ago Motorola Unveiled the PowerPC G3, Low End Mac Round Table, 2012.02.06. The G3 processor was optimized for real world Mac software and made a big leap forward in efficiency.
- Don't Kill Caps Lock, Learning to Love the iOS Keyboard, and an Adaptive iPad Keyboard, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2012.02.06. The Caps Lock key has a useful function, the iPad's keyboard really is useful, and checking out an adaptive keyboard for the iPad.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best 17" MacBook Pro Deals
- Best iPod classic Deals
- Best eMac Deals
- Best MacBook Air Deals
- Best iBook G4 Deals
- Best iPad Deals
- Best Classic Mac OS Deals
- Best Apple TV Deals
- More deals in our archive.
About LEM Support Usage Privacy Contact
Follow
Low End Mac on Twitter
Join Low End Mac
on Facebook
Low End Mac Reader Specials
TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Introductory Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!! Or buy direct
from Strider Software.
Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how to download and install a native Mac poker and Mac Casino applications in minutes.
Favorite Sites
MacSurfer
Cult of Mac
Shrine of Apple
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac Museum
DealMac
Deal Brothers
Mac2Sell
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System 6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End Mac FAQ
Affiliates
Amazon.com
The Apple Store
The iTunes Store
PC Connection Express
GainSaver
Parallels Desktop for Mac
eBay
