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Brushed Metal iMacs Dropping at WWDC

9to5mac.com — Apple is set to unleash a new iMac design that will utilize the company's trademark "Brushed Metal" look. One inside source claimed that the New iMacs would utilize Santa Rosa Chipset and could top out at a larger size than the current 24 inch display. Additionally, the design will resemble the current Cinema Display more than the current iMacs

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  • KSUdesigner, on 10/11/2007, -10/+76"Additionally, the design will resemble the current Cinema Display more than the current iMacs."

    If they can make it look EXACTLY like a cinema display I think it would be a near perfect form-factor for the iMac line. Just don't ever buy a first-gen iMac though. I've had first-gen iMacs twice in a row (G4 & G5) and have had nothing but problems. Always buy Apple Care too.
    • shuster420, on 10/11/2007, -26/+9these would be second generation Intel. But yeah, 1st ones off the assembly line are uusually not the best. apple or otherwise.

      What colors will these be I wonder? I hope they have a red one. Or Blue.
    • TomPlansMedia, on 10/11/2007, -6/+40you know when i initially heard there might be an imac redesign i kept coming to the conclusion that there was nowhere for the design to go, that it was already as minimalist as computer design could possibly be.

      but that mockup is GORGEOUS. im excited again.
    • TomPlansMedia, on 10/11/2007, -2/+36... even though the design in that mockup would never be used since the screen couldn't tilt at all.
    • TheWorm, on 10/11/2007, -0/+87The mockup is just a Mac Pro side view with a screen photoshopped onto it.
    • NeoRicen, on 10/11/2007, -7/+26I have a 1st Gen Intel Mac, haven't had any problems so far.
    • da_bradler, on 10/11/2007, -15/+5as long as they don't put a ***** laptop hard drive in it to keep the size down, the only thing I hate about my mac mini/xbox 360 is those damn small slow unreliable laptop hard drives
    • axiomflash, on 10/11/2007, -2/+6I hope they don't make many changes if any. In the opinion of this designer, the current iMac is the pinnacle of aesthetic industrial design. This design isn't old either. I would guess the new design has to do with additions or changes in technology rather than just for look-and-feel.
    • psilanthropist, on 10/11/2007, -7/+3i totally agree with the worm. the resemblance to the side of a mac pro is uncanny. plus, apple would never make anything that had such pointy edges. their entire design philosophy is "smooth, sleek and simple"
    • maiku00, on 10/11/2007, -17/+6what color? brushed metal? are you ***** retarded?
    • ganjadude4391, on 10/11/2007, -11/+4Ya know iused to like the imac. But than i started thinking. Why would i want my screen attached to my machine? If thats the case id rather get a notebook. You never know when you need to switch the screen out cause it blows, or decide to upgrade, I guess the Imac is just not my style. I do wish there was something in the price range of the imac but with no monitor, and since there is no monitor they could do other boosts to the tower and keep the price decent. The mini does NOT cut it its like they have entry mini, imac intergrated, and pro towers. Just give me a mid range tower
    • KibibyteBrain, on 10/11/2007, -1/+25Apple is clearly moving away from the Brushed Metal look in its user interface standards. Look at anything they've released in the past year and a half or the X.5 screens we have. To think they'd move back toward it in hardware is a bit hard to believe, especially when they could easily use an anodized aluminum case that would match their new UI schemes for about the same cost.
    • Greyarea, on 10/11/2007, -18/+25"what color? brushed metal? are you ***** retarded?"

      The current iPod Nanos are (a) brushed metal, and (b) coloured. What was your question again?
    • yonis, on 10/11/2007, -2/+23Isn't the brushed metal look on the Macs reserved for the Mac Pro and MacBook Pro? They've never broken out of that before, disregarding the lower end iPods (which aren't Macs anyway).

      I call shenanigans.
    • ggko, on 10/11/2007, -6/+2>I have a 1st Gen Intel Mac, haven't had any problems so far.

      [AOLer] Me too! [/AOLer]

      Old machine died, so I figured it was time for a (then) current Mac. I was planning to buy one of the desk-lamps, but the G5s were just coming out, so I pulled out an even older machine I had to hold myself over. No problems with the iMac since arrival.
    • DOGPARTY, on 10/11/2007, -2/+7Noo don't make it brushed metal, I was going to get an iMac this year (moving up from the old but excellent TiBook) and I was looking forward to a white one.
    • allenb, on 10/11/2007, -0/+29"The current iPod Nanos are (a) brushed metal, and (b) coloured. What was your question again?"

      Actually, they aren't brushed metal. They are anodized aluminium, which is very different - and very tough.

      The Mac Pro and MacBook Pro are, too - which is the chief reason I don't see this happening. When it comes to Macs, anodized aluminium = pro, white (or black) plastic = consumer.
    • Greyarea, on 10/11/2007, -6/+3"Actually, they aren't brushed metal. They are anodized aluminium, which is very different - and very tough.

      The Mac Pro and MacBook Pro are, too - which is the chief reason I don't see this happening. When it comes to Macs, anodized aluminium = pro, white (or black) plastic = consumer."

      Out of interest, how is it different? I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just not quite sure what you mean.

      As for the metal/white pro/consumer difference, I agree totally but I can sort of see El Jobso introducing these by saying something like "with power like this these machines deserve to be called professional."

      Which begs the question - wither the Mac mini? Will that stay and be the only non-Pro machine (along with MacBooks)?
    • allenb, on 10/11/2007, -0/+22@Greyarea:

      Brushed metal is 'brushed' with something like sandpaper, to achieve a surface with little lines running through it - and it tends to be steel. You get it quite a lot on hi-fi components.

      Anodizing aluminium, on the other hand, involves using electrolysis to form a thicker layer of aluminium oxide on the surface, which not only protects the aluminium from corrosion, but also gives it a unique, delicately mottled apperance. It also allows it to be dyed - hence the coloured iPods.

      If you wanted coloured brushed metal, I'm pretty sure you'd have to paint it, and that would flake and scratch off with wear.

      The coating on Anodized aluminium, however, is tough as old boots. I've dropped my iPod mini more times than I care to recall, and even where the body has dented, it still retains its colour.
    • Greyarea, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4@allenb: Many thanks for that explanation. Most informative.
    • michaelb1, on 10/11/2007, -4/+1I first gen 20" works fine. but DO get applecare.
    • miles01110, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6Anodized aluminum also reduces electrical conductivity, making it harder for a component to touch the casing and short.
    • geepee, on 10/11/2007, -2/+5I bought a first gen Intel iMac last year (around March or April) and didn't buy AppleCare...

      To this day I've had 0 problems with it.
    • noahhoward, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4This rumor brought to you by the same people who are trying to tell us the iPhone doesn't have that sim card slot that Apple pointed out to all of us. Take this news with a rock of salt.
    • TheCount, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I don't think the first gen problem is limited to just the iMac or Mac products in general. I've had problems with my first gen xbox 360, first gen PS2, etc. I've also had problem with my first gen Macbook Pro, but nothing catastrophic.

      Anyway, I had been hoping for a Mac Pro update, I've been holding out on buying one since rumors surfaced of an impending change months ago. The only thing they've done since releasing it, is putting out the Octocore, which is not exactly what I had in mind since it's overkill for my home application.
    • pcharles23, on 10/11/2007, -9/+1i was waiting for some stupid fag to repost this ... Ugh...
    • jonathono2000, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh! Yes! Yes!


      Oh My god!


      Dropping brushed metal iMacs all over the WWDC!


      Naaaaaaaaaaaaaasty!
    • Ireland, on 10/11/2007, -2/+17Yo! http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa239/joelfagin/imac.jpg
    • zeejay, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1That mockup is nothing more than a cinema display Photoshopped on to the side and bottom of a MacPro case. Looks cool, but surely zero basis in reality.
    • SVPirate, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1@ allenb

      Thank god someone else realises the difference between brushed metal and anodised aluminium. I'll add my voice and say IT'S NOT BRUSHED METAL!

      The Mac Pro on my desk looks a slightly rounded/shaded grey in most lights - very like the *new* UI style seen in iTunes and Tiger/Leopard. Brushed metal is dated and looks yucky. The satin anodised finish Apple use on current Pro machines looks formal and very understated in contrast. I prefer it no doubt but I'm not sure if it's right for consumer machines. While I think owning a pure white home computer is asking for trouble (you just have to look at my poor iMac G4 to know why - it's almost always covered in dust, spots of cola, and every day desk grime, and I clean it every few months), I also think the flat grey anodised finish is a little bit dull for home users. It needs to me more shiny and exciting for consumers I think :)
  • kelchm, on 10/11/2007, -20/+3dead already?
    • danielbachhuber, on 10/11/2007, -2/+50yeah, it's being hosted off a newton
    • sweintraub, on 10/11/2007, -2/+9http://www.duggmirror.com
    • KibibyteBrain, on 10/11/2007, -4/+8Actually, the Newton was a stable little hunk of junk. It would have grind to near a halt, but wouldn't have gone down. Shame such stability is lacking in modern systems; guess thats why VAX still has a market share...
    • monahanman, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2theres an old saying about that:
      "newtons never die, they just get new batteries!"
  • bradym80, on 10/11/2007, -8/+6I doubt this came from a legitimate source. I would have guessed the same thing. I havent even clicked on the link but im going to assume its flooded with advertising. I've never heard of 9to5mac.com
  • Rued, on 10/11/2007, -50/+5http://feeds.feedburner.com/9To5Mac-MacAllDay
    • hdtvdust, on 10/11/2007, -2/+34ABSOLUTE PROOF that 9to5MAcs is gaming digg for their own ***** SPAM.

      This comment is nothing but a SPAM by a user who is CLEARLY connected ot the site. And it is getting dugg up, even though VETY other clear spam posted in comments gets buried quickly.
    • hdtvdust, on 10/11/2007, -0/+25It is amazing that for pretty much EVERY 9to5Mac.com submission, the same 4 users are in the WHO DUGG THIS representing the first 6-7 diggs the article got. rued, parisseth, shuster420, sweintraub.

      And lo and behold, there is even a shuster490! Could that person be any relation to shuster 420? (Come on! At least TRY to hide the fact that you have multiple accounts!)
  • ementis, on 10/11/2007, -0/+10Still no word on the "missing mac".. :(
  • Ashex, on 10/11/2007, -8/+46Damn. When I read the title I thought they were dropping them off the building.
    • tbeseda, on 10/11/2007, -12/+7part of me wants to digg you down, but the other is still laughing. no + or -
    • diggelicious71, on 10/11/2007, -8/+0LMAO!!
  • tbeseda, on 10/11/2007, -7/+1Now I am going to have to rethink my entire set up. Thought I was going to go for a Mac Mini and ACD, now this is looking pretty hawt, and Apple is discontinuing the Mac Mini(?).
    I just don't know...
  • rbfbeerguy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I like this, now how are they gonna manage to make the sucker tilt...???
    • silverchrysalis, on 10/11/2007, -0/+11shims
    • skim1420, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Along those lines, I wish they would incorporate height-adjustment capabilities. For both the iMac and Apple displays. I don't have high hopes, but it's on my wish list.
  • ph30nix, on 10/11/2007, -3/+3so they're doing metal now...ipod nano colors available would be sweet.
    • rcran, on 10/11/2007, -3/+19Not in my opinion. I actually think color was a step back.
    • barthosch, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Yes. Colour is totally overrated these days...
  • jk_baller23, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2I can't wait to see what they have lined up. Some new products coming, some older ones being discontinued. This WWDC is going to be exciting. I always thought that the current iMacs looked stylish. I wonder if they are going to introduce new monitors too, since Steve did mention something about them in the greener apple article a while back.
  • nakile, on 10/11/2007, -0/+11So, this leaves the Macbook with polycarbonate? I like the polycarbonate. It's strong and resist impact good. To me, the plastic should stay on the consumer side, with the metal on the pro side.
  • NeoRicen, on 10/11/2007, -1/+16Apple has no reason to debut a consumer Mac at the World Wide DEVELOPERS Conference. This story is BS. Expect a Mac Pro of MacBook Pro if anything.
  • Volkerball, on 10/11/2007, -11/+2I hope not. I only just got my iMac G5.
    • LoganT, on 10/11/2007, -1/+18Well then Volkerball you should be even more dissapointed as we are at the Core 2 Duo's.
  • mindsnare, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10*cough*******cough*

    I might be wrong, but when has Apple ever released a consumer level product at WWDC? (excluding Mac pros, Macbook Pros, and OS)
    • LoganT, on 10/11/2007, -1/+12"I might be wrong, but when has Apple ever released a consumer level product at WWDC? (excluding Mac pros, Macbook Pros, and OS)"

      That's a contradiction.

      Here's how I feel on the subject. What makes a Mac Pro or a Macbook Pro a tool for developers? Are you saying I can't develop on a Macbook or an iMac?
    • falconer, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Well, we had Macworld devoted almost entirely to the iPhone and Apple TV...
  • Noobist, on 10/11/2007, -8/+4hahaha i love flickr, quick sum1 else host this before it goes down!
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/8679453@N04/529258452/
  • jmonty1000, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I'd more readily believe this is simply an update to the Cinema displays. Apple needs to add an iSight to the Cinema display line in order to allow the Mac Pro to do iChat. Since Apple discontinued the external iSight there has not been a good solution for the Mac Pro.
  • MackPrime, on 10/11/2007, -4/+5Isnt it time the Mac Pro got a new case or something ?
  • Kwipper, on 10/11/2007, -16/+1*creepy-spooky music plays*

    *chanted whispering*

    games....games....games....games....games....games....games....games....games....games....

    *silence*

    GAMES!!!!

    *apple fanboys run away screaming*
  • hdtvdust, on 10/11/2007, -7/+3The only thing more pathetic and lame than people outside the music industry using the term "dropping" instead of "released" are people outside the industry using that term for something OTHER than a CD.

    Do you think that makes you some kind of industry insider? Nope. Makes you sound like a pathetic poser.
    • Urusai, on 10/11/2007, -3/+6How about, Apple busts some dope product?
  • Spaceomega, on 10/11/2007, -13/+2The "brushed metal" look apple uses is fugly.
    • xstarsprinklesx, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6I'm a loyal Apple fan and user, and I agree with you. I prefer when they use white.. it just looks so clean and fresh. Brushed metal looks too industrial.

      It would be neat if they (or a third party) could make skins to fit over it so everyone would be happy, similar to iPods.
    • davidleeroth, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1xstar: colorwarepc changes the colors of iMacs, macbooks, and a lot of other models for a HUGE increase in price -- almost a grand.
    • xstarsprinklesx, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Yeah, I was thinking of something a little more affordable. Like skins you put on yourself, silicone or even cloth. Doesn't seem like it would be that hard, since they only come in a limited number of sizes.
  • hdtvdust, on 10/11/2007, -7/+16so, I see we have a brand new Apple fanboy site currently Gaming the Digg algorithm.
  • mateo60, on 10/11/2007, -6/+8FAKE
  • RooDoG, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1That would be great if you could choose a different color, much like the iPods have. I would not mind being able to choose a different color if they made it available, but I think that splash of bright colors that their iPods have may be to vibrant for my taste. I really like the whole Brushed Metal iMac idea, cant wait to see it. I may have to consider buying one if the MacBook wasn't so damn sexy, we will see. Maybe I will just have to buy 2 macs! :D
  • xspinkickx, on 10/11/2007, -4/+1pretty.....
  • nick2, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Come on Apple, we want headless Macs!!!
    • thomas, on 10/11/2007, -2/+7@nick2 (#7007277)
      What you mean is you want a medium grade headless mac. Both the Mac mini and Mac Pro are both headless but one sucks and the other is overkill for most people.
    • clyde2801, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8I'd settle for a Mac that gives me head...
  • TeKoverride, on 10/11/2007, -2/+15damn you apple for making products that make me want to buy them!!
  • orlyyarly, on 10/11/2007, -7/+1FUKKEN UGLY!!
  • thomas, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Looks good. Now we just have to wait and see if this is real or bull.
    • thomas, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1@thomas (#7007387)
      I meant to say sounds good and not looks good. (Yes, I missed the edit period.)
  • eleven, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1This has to be the new Cinema Displays (with LED backlights). If it is a Mac then perhaps it's an "iMac Pro" but I seriously doubt that they would skin their consumer machines in Aluminum. Apple would offer a black alternative first - then perhaps a pro metal one.
  • stiiphiin, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0I asked apple revamp the imac to with an anodized aluminium case like th nano months ago. I guess apple reads their feedback comments :)
  • iMaculate, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0It is a bit premature for new iMacs. A new form factor would not be a reason. I believe that a new iMac will have some kind of multi-touch screen and probably utilize some of the new features of the upcoming Leopard.
  • mgkwho, on 10/11/2007, -6/+1Where did this blog/guy come from??

    -=|Mgkwho
  • Pliep, on 10/11/2007, -3/+8HOAX! Why are people digging this?
  • Macisbetter, on 10/11/2007, -2/+0To recap what's coming out soon
    phone
    leopard
    touchscreen mac
    macbook
    imac (brushes meta)
    some upgrades
    add.. to the list or edited it
  • erichhealy, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Why are people so obsessed with PCI slots? On an iMac? What would you possibly want to install?

    A graphics card is out of the question for a computer with a built in monitor. Unless you want to get crazy and run a 2nd display off of it. In which case, you should have bought a Mac Pro.

    A USB/Firewire card is dumb. who wants 20 cords coming out of an iMac? Just get a hub.

    Audio I/O devices are all going Firewire and the iMac already has an optical input and output for 5.1.

    Please somebody tell me a PCI device you would want to put in an iMac that would actually be useful.
    • dfijma, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4TV Tuners? These can be connected via FireWire or USB, too. But that's an extra box on your table.
    • erichhealy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Good point, TV tuners would be an arguable mod.
      I have an EyeTV Hybrid. It's USB and a little bit larger than a thumb drive. Sure you can find a few PCI cards for cheaper, but I have yet to see one that is Mac compatible. I also see a USB tuner as an advantage because it is portable, and can be taken on the road with a laptop.

      Plus, if the iMac keeps it's slim form factor, that would mean you would have to install the PCI card vertically and have cords, like coax, coming out of the side. That might not look so good
    • MacParrot, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2One thing I would like to see in an iMac is the ability to easily swap or add hard drives. The current design makes it almost impossible to replace them unless you're into doing major surgery and voiding your warranty.

      With all that almost empty space on the bottom, why not have removable hard drives similar to what Apple did with the old Pismo G3 laptops? Pull a lever, remove the drive, add a bigger or faster one, push back into place. There's a reason why the Pismo was once one of the most coveted Macs.
    • jschrab, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1@macparrot

      Almost all empty space? Try again - that's where your speakers/sound conduits are. The iMac pretty "full" as it is right now. LED backlighting and mobo's with chip consolidation are the only path to save space in the current enclosure design. Making it easier to swap hard drives would be nice, however.
  • huntedbyafreak, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1dugg because of the mock-up. never seen it and looks great.
  • lightdifference, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3This is...

    I'm in shock. How did this get to the ***** front page?
    This site is utter reblogging *****!
  • axelsegebrecht, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1*homer simpson drool* 8-)
  • aaronmarks, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1iMacs are great, but I can't see a place for it in my computer collection ;-)

    I only can really use computers that I can throw on a KVM since I have so many of them.
  • cpbrown, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Brushed metal isn't even their trademark surface.

    it's anodised aluminium.

    blatantly fake if they can't even get a simple thing like that correct
  • cpbrown, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1additionally, WWDC is a developers, hence "pro" event, in which iMacs would be out of place
    • erichhealy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Didn't Apple release THE iMac at WWDC?
  • soundbitch, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0God help Apple if the new iMacs are anything like the 1st gen ones... anyone else have issues with blank displays and melting CPUs?
  • grayapple, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Isn't apple ditching the brushed metal look?
  • WraythX, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Well- rued - the guy who is submitting all the articles from this site in conjunction with his other username (ParisSeth) has just changed his screen name to Howard (presumably so he can submit more articles without people seeing the same name on them all).

    Bad boy Rued (or Howard, or ParisSeth).

    Oh - incidentally, Rued (Howard) has his aim details on his digg profile - guess what the name is? llsethj - what a coincidence! And he lives in Paris. Digg - want to remove these users?
  • seraph82, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I hear you can actually upgrade the components inside of the new iMacs if something goes wrong instead of having to buy expensive support plans and wait on service/parts.

    Haha NOT!
  • wackymacs, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Doubtful. Apple is moving away from brushed metal in Leopard, which would indicate they're certainly not going to start using a similar design for their hardware.
    • Trat, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1You made this up... why?
    • monahanman, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0@trat, wackymacs is right, that was one of the main things they did in the latest build of leopard.
  • zodieman, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I've been telling my customers that it makes sense they would go to the cinema display form factor (lose the "chin" and make it thinner). Heck have it in colors and I'd be first in line for a 24" model. In anodized orange no less!
    • QuimZ, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1You lose the chin, it's getting thicker.
  • mshea, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Buried for the use of the word "utilize".

    Prefer "use".
  • betasp, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3The is the second BS story from the same site. The first was the "no sim" iphone. Marked as SPAM!!!!
  • eddx, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0This type of iMac would look fantastic next to my MacBook Pro.

    Maybe Apple wants to split the iMac line into two product lines, the iMac and the iMac Pro?

    This would explain why they would have brushed metal iMacs because these would be the iMac Pros. I still think they should keep the normal white iMacs, maybe even add black iMacs as well.

    Looking forward to hearing what actually happens at WWDC, personally hoping for much cheaper Cinema Displays with loads of inputs.
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