R.I.P. Original iMac: 1998-2003

Joey Patterson writes "CNET News.com reports that, after five years, Apple has stopped selling the gumdrop-shaped iMac to the general public."

Comments

Mom likes em

[Palshife]

Ahh, the end of an age. The only computer my mother ever used that almost completely replaced my usefulness.

Re:Mom likes em

[Mononoke]

I want my computer to look like a computer, damn it.

ENIAC, or UNIVAC?

Re:Mom likes em

[Twirlip of the Mists]

I wouldn't buy a computer that looks like a lamp. I want my computer to look like a computer, damn it.

Computers are supposed to look like lamps. I don't know what the heck you people are thinking, buying computers that look like a cross between a television and a typewriter. Bizarre.

;-)

RIP iMac

[Exitthree]

Perhaps now that people realize Apple has stopped selling fruit colored computers we can see the end of all the pink and purple translucent plastic office products...

Re:RIP iMac

[nano2nd]

And the multi-colored George Foreman Grills!!

Re:RIP iMac

[Ponty]

It'll never happen. Those cycles move more slowly than the computer style cycles. Apple had effectively moved away from colorful plastic just when they were getting to full capacity.

And try telling people that Apple doesn't sell computers by the flavor anymore. :-)

Re:RIP iMac

[dnahelix]

You are so right!
Personally I prefer bland, opaque designs. Bright colors can make one feel cheerful and happy, which is so annoying. I would much rather be reminded of the non-descript conformity we all strive for.

Re:RIP iMac

[macrom]

Hey now! The multi-colored George Foreman grill matches the iMac used for curing kitchen boredom. Nothing like browsing for pr0n *AND* grilling up some lean burgers! Too bad the Foreman grill only takes a few minutes to cook something...

Re:RIP iMac

[Ryan Amos]

And it only takes most of the slashdot crowd a few minutes to tenderize the meat, so it works out perfectly.

And Ellen said...

[KillerHamster]

...and it was like, beep beep beep... and it was, like, gone...

New Xserve

[humina]

I'm surprised that slashdot posted about the CNET article about the end of the original iMac instead of new clustering Xserve. I mean think about it. Can you imagine a beowulf cluster of...oh nevermind.

O Mac must be next

[L. VeGas]

Old Macdonald had a farm.
e Mac
i Mac
e mac
i Mac

O Mac

'Course my fave is BigMac.

Re:It was cool...

[L. VeGas]

the only macs I get are covered in grease.

Those are called "Big Macs".

Re:New Xserve Cluster Node

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh! Common mistake. That stands for "Actually There Isn't Graphics"

Re:R.I.P.

[Kaz Riprock]

You do know that just because they aren't selling them anymore does not mean that the one on your desk is going to disappear...right?

It's the mouse...

[Chief Typist]

See what happens when you try to sell a computer with only one mouse button!

Re:*sniff* (a eulogy)

[jayhawk88]

Yes, thank God the iMac showed the computing industry that they should focus on style and asthetics over features and functionality. I'm so fucking glad that Dell, IBM, and HP now feel the need to change the form factors of their machines every 3 months, and in the process give me some of the most horrible, badly designed machines ever made. iMac can kiss my ass. Anyway, my favorite iMac story:

I'm working at CompUSSR as a technician. It's a slow day, and I happen to be up at the front counter of the tech department, filling out some paperwork or something. A lady walks in the front door carting an iMac in hand, and from 10 feet away I can see the anger in her eyes. She steps up to the counter, and with one emphatic push, heaves the iMac up onto the counter, where it lands with a deafening *THUD*, loud enough the whole store takes notice. She takes a few moments to catch her breath from the effort, then looks me straight in the eye, and says...

"Jeff Goldblum is a fucking liar!"

It was a good 5 minutes before I could compose myself enough to speak.

Re:5 year lifespan for hardware?

[Anonvmous Coward]

"...but I guess this goes to show that Apple does make solid products that last for a while."

A friend of mine has worn the same pair of shoes for over three years now. He's got unusually proportioned feet so he can't just go to the store and pick any old pair of shoes he wants. He has to go to a specialty place.

Take a minute to let that anecdote set in.

Only as dead as Amiga!

[FatalTourist]

And the Amiga's still alive and... um...

*hugs Amiga 1200 to chest and cries*

Re:5 year lifespan for hardware?

[geekoid]

so your saying your 'friend' has an odd shaped penis? ;)

Have no fear! Daisy-chain iMac is here!

[Decimal]

On my machine right now, the mouse is plugged into the keyboard via USB, which is plugged into the monitor via USB, which is plugged into the computer via ADC, which is plugged into the wall. That's it. No other plugs.

I guess if you need to escape out of the window real quick for some reason, you won't have to go looking for rope. :)

And in other news...

[dfj225]

Ford no longer sells the 1998 model Taurus and has instead replaced it with the model year 2003 line. Anaylists were left baffled at this move. One remarked, "Who thougth Ford would make such a drastic move as this? Updating their models and not selling the older ones...I'm baffeled!" Similar trends have been noticed in just about every other freakin company on earth! So why is this front page /. news?

Re:Apple dying

[Shuh]

[quote]With WindowsXP there is no need for Mac any more.[/quote]s/WindowsXP/Windows200/
s/Windows200 0/Windows NT/
s/Windows NT/Windows 98/
s/Windows 98/ Windows 95/
s/Windows 95/Windows 3.1/
s/Windows 3.1/Windows 3.0/
s/Windows 3.0/Windows 2.0/
s/Windows 2.0/Windows 1.0/

It's good to have a dream.

I got your stapler right here...

[MsGeek]

That Lumbergh, he took my stapler! Guess I'm going to have to go burn the building down now.

One of the fundamental laws of the universe is that sooner or later, everything becomes Office Space. Everything that doesn't become Office Space becomes This Is Spinal Tap.