Fruit yums
Apple struck gold with the iMac. Now it wants to push its Windows competitors right out of the spectrum. Macworld tastes Apple’s new coloured iMacs. By Simon Jary (Macworld, April 1999)
Warning: the following information is not for the colour blind, or for any stick-in-the-muds still in love with their old beige computers. In case you haven’t been reading Macworld recently or your telly’s on the blink, you won’t know that Apple’s iMac – the best-selling consumer PC in the US and many other parts of the world (Hooray!) – is now available in a fruity range of new colours: blueberry, grape, lime, strawberry and tangerine.
Apple struck gold with the iMac – its finest-ever consumer PC. For the first time in years, it pushed Compaq and Dell into silver and bronze positions. And now it wants to push its Windows competitors right out of the spectrum.
And it’s not just the colours that have changed. The new fruit-flavoured iMacs are faster than the Bondi Blue original, have more video memory than the very first incarnation, and sport larger hard drives. The iMac just keeps getting better, but don’t hang around waiting for spiffier features and cheaper prices – if you desire one, stop wasting time and buy one today. In this review of today’s iMacs, we’ll tell you why these are the best consumer Macs (indeed, best consumer computer ever), undertake some indepth colour research, and answer your most frequently asked questions.
Techno colour
The five new colours – or “flavours” as Apple dubs them – are a juicier bunch than the beige boxes available everywhere else. Take a trip to PC World or Dixons, and tell me which computer stands out from the crowd. Even the Bondi Blue original iMac looks a bit staid in comparison to this range.
Quite simply, Apple has surprised us all about how much there is to consider when choosing colours for computers. In the past, we’d worry over the difference between lists of megahertz, disk capacities and screen sizes. Now that processors are so powerful that even the slowest is fast enough to handle the majority of our domestic needs, choosing a home PC has come down to the far more subjective level of taste and co-ordination. It’s a whole new way of considering computer compatibility … Imagine, people are actually going to redecorate their rooms around these things!
“The colours are reflecting the Web-oriented content now driving the computer,” says Thomas Meyerhoffer, the designer of Apple’s first translucent computer, the eMate.
“The computer is no longer a graphic printer machine or calculator in black or beige – instead it’s a www.edutainment.box,” says the former Apple senior designer.
Colour, says Apple CEO Steve Jobs, “is far more important than the mumbo-jumbo associated with buying a computer. People don’t care about this stuff. What they care about is ‘I want to express myself’.”
According to Leatrice Eiseman, author of Colors for Your Every Mood, “The colours of the new iMacs represent the current demographic of who’s buying computers. These are innovators and young-minded people who are open to the use of colour.”
Initially, there was a very high demand for Blueberry – presumably because people equated the iMac with blue, whatever the shade. Apple now claims that demand is “equalizing”, with the rainbow television ad raising the profile of the other four colours.
Figures in from resellers indicate that the Blueberry and Grape models are apparently selling best, with poor-old tangerine the least-popular colour. And yet, regional preferences turn the tables in various parts of the world. For example, Tangerine iMacs are reportedly proving popular in Denver, Colorado, reflecting the orange team colours of the NFL Super Bowl champs, the Denver Broncos. Apple UK may find a smaller fanbase among Dundee Utd fans. The Lime iMac is also a slow seller in most areas, and yet the Irish apparently love its emerald qualities.
What is certain today is that Apple seemed to get its homework right with the original Bondi Blue iMac, as the new Blueberry continues to outsell all the other flavours – with a 45 per cent share as we went to press. Grape sells about 25 per cent. And the other colours make up the other 30 per cent in this order: Strawberry, Lime and Tangerine. We can only presume that the two most modern colours of the range (Lime and Tangerine) have not yet made a significant impression on domestic decoration to fit into homely colour schemes.
Apple’s great new colours TV ad will be a boost, with its iMacs spinning to the tune of the Rolling Stones’ She’s a Rainbow from the Satanic Majesties Request LP – believe me, we’ve had countless calls asking us how to get hold of the music … (This 1967 long-player also included the Y2K-prophesizing 2000 Light Years From Home.)
It’s a fine choice of music, but thank God Apple didn’t stretch the Stones references any further. Imagine the Jagger/Richards range of iMacs: Ruby Tuesday would be fine, but please no Blood Red Wine or Brown Sugar … as for Cocksucker Blues …
The i jump
The new iMacs boast a faster processor than the original Bondi Blue iMacs. The 266MHz G3 PowerPC processor is about as fast as a 400MHz Pentium II, and even faster than a 450MHz PII at some functions. This is because the PowerPC G3 is a more ‘modern’, leaner processor than even Intel’s latest Pentium III. Don’t compare megahertz speeds across different processors, let alone platforms.
The colour iMacs 266MHz chip represents an overall boost of about 20 per cent over the original’s 233MHz processor and chipset. See our speed-comparison table on page 69. The original 233MHz chip shouldn’t be considered a slacker, however. It is way fast enough for most domestic – even professional – needs. Remember, many Mac pros are still labouring away in studios on pre-G3 Power Macs.
The newest iMacs also get a 6GB hard drive – compared to the older 4GB drives. Again, 4 gigs is probably fine for most, but few will turn their nose up at the extra 33 per cent of space.
The on-board video accelerator – also known as the graphics chipset – is responsible for the screen performance. This was upgraded – from an ATI RAGE lie to a more powerful RAGE Pro Turbo – even on the Bondi Blue iMac around December last year, and so there’s no change with the flavoured iMacs. The next step up – the blistering ATI RAGE 128 – is available only on the new blue-&-white G3 Power Mac (see Macworld, March 1999).
Another change is the fruits’ lack of an infra-red port. The Bondi Blue iMacs did have this under-used feature. Its removal has enraged some PowerBook users who use infra-red for networking. Apple, probably rightly, decided the benefits of wireless connectivity didn’t justify the extra cost for the majority of iMac users. At present, there’s no infra-red solution as Farallon‘s add-on AirDock is not available for USB. But it’s no great loss for most of us.
Everything else on the iMacs is pretty much the same, except some local differences in the software bundle. The fruity iMacs ship with: Mac OS 8.5.1, ClarisWorks 5.0, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Outlook Express, Netscape Navigator, Adobe PageMill, FAXstf, Kai’s Photo Soap SE, World Book Macintosh Edition, Nanosaur, Sammy’s Science House and Thinkin’ Things 2.
Of course, each new iMac comes with its own coloured keyboard and mouse. Neither is to everyone’s liking, though. Some say the keyboard is too small; others that the low-profile round mouse is uncomfortable.
On the whole, most of the iMac users we polled agreed that they soon “got used” to the more compact keyboard – it still includes all the function keys of the old Extended Keyboard. But few had anything nice to say about the mouse. It’s just too radical a change for people to stomach. We surveyed iMac owners new to computers, and found they don’t complain about the mouse at all – it seems to be a case of oldies adjusting to the new form. After a few weeks trial, if you don’t like it we suggest you try one of the third-party mice on offer – for instance, Contour’s more traditionally shaped Unimouse (£35) that comes in each of the new flavours. See the following feature on USB peripherals for even more choices.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Apple reports that the iMac has sold over a million units since last August. As soon as it hit the shelves, it rushed to the top of the charts – becoming the best-selling PC (October through December 1998) in the US and other countries. Hands down it beat various models of Compaq Presario (with 350MHz Pentium II and 333MHz Celeron chips) – some feat.
The most significant and satisfying success of the iMac to Apple is that it’s not just Mac loyalists who are buying – the company’s latest figures show that approximately 46 per cent were purchased by first-time computer owners, and another 16 per cent were purchased by Wintel converts – totalling 62 per cent of iMac buyers that are new to the Macintosh platform. This is definite proof that that the iMac’s simple Internet setup, competitive price and design ethos mark a significant victory for Apple in a world dominated by the beige Wintel Goliath.
Now that Apple has moved its professional Power Mac systems to USB as well, the choice of peripherals is sure to rise. Another bonus for iMac users is Windows 98 support for the Intel-engineered standard. Wait till the Windows gang get busy creating new add-ons – it won’t take much to make these devices work with your iMac. Whether Blueberry reigns where Bondi Blue left off, Tangerine gets peeled by Strawberry, or Grape squashes Lime, the introduction of the fruit-flavour iMacs is sure to boost the consumer device’s profile and selling power. Up above the streets and houses, rainbow flying high.
On the whole, most of the iMac users we polled agreed that they soon “got used” to the more compact keyboard – it still includes all the function keys of the old Extended Keyboard. But few had anything nice to say about the mouse. It’s just too radical a change for people to stomach. We surveyed iMac owners new to computers, and found they don’t complain about the mouse at all – it seems to be a case of oldies adjusting to the new form. After a few weeks trial, if you don’t like it we suggest you try one of the third-party mice on offer – for instance. Contour’s more traditionally shaped Unimouse (£35) that comes in each of the new flavours. See the following feature on USB peripherals for even more choices.
Fruit-flavoured iMac Q&A
Where’s the floppy disk drive?
There isn’t one. As we explain in ‘Droppy floppy’ on page 69, there are far better ways of transferring files than the ye olde floppy. Imation’s SuperDisks hold 120MB of data and can handle old-style 1.4MB floppies if you really need to use them. The other major storage devices for iMacs are Iomega’s Zip (100MB) and Jaz (2GB) drives, but neither is compatible with floppies.
Will this iMac run all the software we need since it doesn’t run Windows?
The iMac comes with Mac OS 8.5.1 already installed, so it will run all the thousands of software titles available for the Mac – from Microsoft Office to Tomb Raider. By adding software like Connectix’s Virtual PC or Insignia’s SoftWindows 98 (both about £100), the iMac can run any Windows 95 and 98 titles, too. Connectix has also announced Virtual GameStation, which promises to let you run games for the Sony PlayStation on Macs. At the moment, though, it will run only US titles. We’ll keep you posted.
How long will it last before we have to replace it?
Most new computers – unless you buy them under the bar down your boozer – should run and run for years. Macs age better than Windows PCs because the older ones can still get by with many of today’s software titles. Many Macs in use today date back from the 80s! You are more likely to replace a computer because your needs have changed. The more you use your iMac, the more proficient and ambitious you become. And that usually means you demand more and more from your computer. That said, the iMac is one powerful computer – and unless you suddenly become interested in 3D engineering CAD or high-end video producing, your new iMac should be good for at least three years. And that’s probably more than you could say about any computer available today.
The iMac has a 266MHz processor. But Windows PCs run on 350 and 400MHz Pentium II. Surely the iMac is slower?
It’s easy to directly compare processor speeds, but it’s not the way to judge between different types of computer. The iMac’s G3 PowerPC processor is a different type of chip to the Pentium II of a Windows PC. In general, the iMac’s 266MHz G3 processor runs software at about the same speed as a 400-450MHz Pentium II or Celeron processor.
Are the iMacs all the same?
Yes and no. There have been three types of iMac since the September UK launch date. Revision 1 (RevA) was quietly upgraded – with no price increase – to RevB in December last year. Basically, Apple boosted the video memory (VRAM) in the RevB iMac from 2MB to the maximum 6MB and powered up the graphics chipset to deliver better 3D game graphics.The extra VRAM also allows iMacs to display millions of colours at the screen’s maximum resolution (1,024-x-768 pixels). The flavoured iMacs are RevC. They have a faster processor (266MHz as opposed to 233MHz) and a larger hard drive (6GB compared to 4GB). Rev4? You can bet your iMac T-shirt that there’ll be faster iMacs released sometime this year, but nobody’s saying when. There have also been rumours of iMacs with 17-inch screens – but don’t hold your breath waiting for these. All computers get superseded by faster, bigger (and cheaper) models. Fact of life. Don’t worry about it. If you want/need now, buy today.
Is that all I need to buy?
Yes, if you just want to browse the World Wide Web, send email, and play games. But you’ll probably want to print out letters and so forth. And maybe you’ll want to input your own pictures – via either a scanner or a digital camera. One additional thing we advise all iMac buyers to purchase is more memory.The iMac’s 32MB is enough for low-level browsing and email, but will struggle if you want to use a Web browser at the same time you’re drawing in ClarisWorks. You can’t have too much memory – you’ll crash less and be able to run bigger and better programs. Buy an extra 64MB for about an extra £70.
What does it cost?
The new “fruit-flavoured" iMac lists for £779 (ex. VAT). Be careful, MacWarehouse is cheekily charging an extra tenner for the popular Blueberry and Grape models. You can still pick up an original (probably RevB) Bondi Blue iMac for just £649. Both of those prices include a keyboard, mouse, and generous software bundle. Unlike many “bargain" Windows PCs you’ll see, the iMac has a built-in 15-inch screen and so that won’t cost you a penny more. But extras like printers, more memory (RAM), an external disk drive, scanner and extra software will cost extra.
Droppy floppy
One of the most famous facts about the iMac is its lack of a floppy-disk drive. For some bizarre reason, this is still causing people to choke on their sandwiches. Yes, it was a radical step for Apple to take. But only as radical as rubber tyres for bikes, or ditching 8-track audio cartridges from music centres. And Intel was quick to endorse the notion of a floppyless computer with its Concept PC announcements a couple of months later – although Windows users seem keen to hang on to the 1.4MB removable ‘solution’ until about 2003 …
Apple scrapped the floppy for a number of reasons. First, it chopped quite a few pounds off the price. And second, the floppy is definitely a dying medium for storage in the light of bigger file sizes, inexpensive Zip and SuperDisk formats, and fast email messaging.
One company, NetFloppy, is capitalizing on the iMac’s floppy gap with what it calls a “virtual floppy” for iMac users. (In fact, the service can be used by any computer users, even those owning Windows PCs. iMacFloppy.com is an online file-exchange service where, instead of copying a file to a floppy in order to transfer a file to another Mac, the iMac user copies the file to a secure online disk space. This file can then be easily transferred to another computer’s hard drive. All the second computer needs to access the file is an Internet connection.
The iMacFloppy disk-service account comes with a free 3MB of disk space for file transfers between Macs. NetFloppy plans to offer premium service add-ons, which may include more storage space for larger files, security-enhanced connections, and group accounts.
Visitors to iMacFloppy.com can also pick a matching colour scheme to match the new fruit flavours. The site uses an Internet file called a ‘cookie’, which is a tiny text file that contains information about you and your visits to Web sites. With this cookie installed, your chosen colour scheme pops up automatically on the next visit. Other storage solutions include Imation’s SuperDisk and Iomega’s Zip drive – see the following feature on USB peripherals.
Colors
Pinker than a true red, this Strawberry is really rather camp.
Symbolism: Red is the colour of fire and passion. It suggests love, joy, energy, strength, assertiveness, ferocity and fertility. Red is also the colour of revolution. Beware, while red is the Chinese marriage colour (good idea for a present), it means disaster to native Americans and death to those of Celtic persuasion. In heraldry, it symbolizes courage and zeal. In marketing red addresses our need for instant satisfaction: hence its use on Coca-Cola and Marlboro ciggies. Exposure to red causes blood pressure to go up, pulse rates to quicken, and stimulates brain waves. Be careful, though, as it also makes you sweat more …
Popularity: In the Eysenck and Porter colour surveys (see Blueberry), blue came out as the preferred colour for the great majority of adults, with red safely in second. Interestingly, however, red is number one for pre-pubescents. So the Strawberry iMac could be just the ticket to get your kids more interested in the Internet than Nanosaur.
Strawberry owners: This iMac’s red tone should find strident support. And its pinkish hues might attract people who seek tenderness, affection and gentility.
For: Liverpool, Man Utd, Forest, Arsenal and Charlton fans; Barbie; Air stewards
Not for: Bulls; the bad-tempered; Dennis Wise
Pop group/song: Strawberry Switchblade; Strawberry Fields Forever
Meal: Strawberries and cream
Teletubby: Po
The Blueberry iMac is the most popular of the new iMac flavours – probably because it’s closest to the familiar Bondi Blue of the original (it’s slightly less aquamarine). Tests have shown that exposure to blue has a calming influence. Blood pressure, pulse rate and –
worryingly – brain waves slow down.This could turn out useful when your iMac crashes or you’re waiting for your USB printer to churn out the next page.
Symbolism: Blue represents reliability, and, according to studies, denotes a safe investment. Blue is best for authority and spirituality – it was the colour of God in the Old Testament. In heraldry, blue symbolizes piety and sincerity. It has often been used to imply heaven, truth, eternity, faith, peace, loyalty, chastity, prudence, wisdom and contemplation. Popularity :; Both the landmark 1941 colour survey by Hans Eysenck and the comprehensive 1977 Porter Survey place blue as number one in the"universal order of colour" This preference was given further backing in the 80s when Rowntree-Mackintosh (no relation) discovered that British kids were crying out for blue smarties.
Blueberry owner: People who prefer blue are said to be conservative, accomplished, deliberate and successful. It also indicates a desire for order and peace, and a benign life.
For: Chelsea and Everton fans; William Hague’s new Tories; iMac traditionalists
Not for: John Prescott’s old Labour; Man Utd fans; iMac radicals
Pop group/song: New Order’s Blue Monday
Meal: Muffin
Teletubby: Noo-noo (the vacuum cleaner)
The Grape iMac is a luxurious, and, of course, translucent purple – “the colour of imperial Rome" according to Apple’s Steve Jobs. The word purple comes from the name of a starfish that yielded a highly expensive coloured dye that was used for the robes of Roman emperors and magistrates.The only more expensive colour dye at the time was blue.
Symbolism: Purple is a rich colour, carrying suggestions of wealth and extravagance. In heraldry it denotes rank and royalty. It is closely related to violet – which is used to indicate knowledge, sanctity, humility, sorrow, nostalgia and old age. On the other hand, companies such as Cadbury and Silk Cut use purple for its “naughty but nice" associations, linking smoothness and excitement.
Popularity: In colour preference tests, violet/purple ranks over yellow and orange, but below red, blue and green. Macworld’s own tests found Grape to be No. 1 ‘with the ladies’.
Grape owners: Those who prefer violet are said to be sensitive and tasteful, with a liking for the arts and philosophy. They are temperamental with high ideals. Purple follows blue in the calming stakes, slowing down blood pressure, pulse rate, and brain waves.
For: Wine connoisseurs; goths; priests
Not for: Teetotallers; the young at heart; real men
Pop group/song: Black Grape; Deep Purple; Purple Haze
Meal: Aubergine bake
Teletubby: Tinky-Winky.
People have been dreaming of a truly green computer for years – now they’ve got one. Lime is a cordial colour, but quite shockingly new compared to yesterday’s beige. Before this less-than-sober machine, Lime was popular only for squeezing down bottles of Mexican beer. Now, Apple is hoping you’ll find this Lime tasty enough on its own.
Symbolism: Green is the colour of nature and even genetically modified vegetables.
In heraldry, green is the symbol of hope, through growth and regeneration. It’s the sacred colour of Islam, but also the colour of money – American Express sucked until the company changed its credit cards from yellow to green. It has, of course, also been appropriated by the eco-friendly Green Movement (natch).
Popularity: Green comes third in colour-preference tests, behind blue and red.
Lime owners: Adults who prefer green are said to be well adjusted, civilized and conventional. Kids who choose it are well balanced and without strong overt emotions.
Take note: a rejection of green is said to indicate a degree of mental disturbance, and a complex lonely existence …
For: Alan Titchmarsh; eco-friendlies; country types
Not for: Urban minimalists; Orangemen; the French Secret Service
Pop group/song: Green Day; Shakin’ Stevens’ Behind the Green Door
Meal: Salad
Teletubby: Dipsy
Remarkably, the least popular of the new iMac flavours. The Tangerine iMac is more a glowing gold or fossilized amber than a small orange. We rather like its striking statement here at Macworld, and are perplexed at its ranking. Colour research has shown that orange is often picked out by those who suffer from physical and mental exhaustion to compensate for the vitality they lack – quite the thing for rush-hour on the Internet.
Symbolism: Orange is the colour of warmth, fruit and flowers. In Greek mythology, orange was the colour of Jupiter, the supreme ruler of gods and mortals. On the other hand, the robes of Buddhist monks are coloured saffron to symbolize humility. For the Chinese and Japanese, orange is the colour of love and happiness. In heraldry, orange symbolizes strength and endurance.
Popularity: iMac buyers must be a pretty representative bunch as orange is also at the bottom of the colour-preference heap, according to scientific studies.
Tangerine owners: People who favour orange are said to be cheerful with a ready smile, quick witted, talkative, and sociable.
For: Auric Goldfinger; King Midas; Dundee Utd fans; the Man from Delmonte
Not for: Vodafone; Irish republicans; sexually deviant Tory MPs
Pop group/song: Tangerine Dream (natch); REM’s Orange Crush
Meal: Jaffa cakes
Teletubby: None!