USA Today: Apple iMac G5 ‘exquisite, handsome, mighty attractive’

21 years ago

“Apple Computer is the latest tech powerhouse to stake a claim to your living room. Its new iMac G5 computers, unveiled last month in the shadow of the video iPod introduction, are all about enjoying your digital treasures from the couch-potato comfort of your sofa,” Edward C. Baig reports for USA Today. “There are two exquisite new models: a $1,699 20-inch widescreen version (the one I’ve been testing) and a $1,299 17-inch widescreen model.”

“Their most compelling new feature, dubbed Front Row, is designed so you can sit on your couch with a remote control, up to 30 feet from the computer screen. From there, you can appreciate the pictures, music and videos you’ve stored on this digital hub, without having to rely on the keyboard or mouse,” Baig reports. “Front Row brings to mind PCs with Microsoft’s Media Center software, which also uses a remote control to let you access music, photos, videos and more on your machine. Media Center has been available for a few years now, though it hasn’t exactly been zooming off store shelves. (Of course, Apple’s share of the personal computer market remains in the single digits.)”

MacDailyNews Note: Apple’s share of the personal computer market remains in the single digits, as does Lenovo’s, Acer’s, Fujitsu/Fujitsu Siemens’, Gateway’s, and every other PC maker outside of Dell (18% in Q3 2005) and HP (16%), according to IDC. Isn’t perspective a wonderful thing?

Baig continues, “What Apple brings you with the newest iMac are its trademark simplicity and beauty. These iMacs, like the earlier versions whose design commanded much awe and admiration, are meant to be seen… As with other Macs, you can exploit the wonderful iLife multimedia software suite, which gives you iPhoto, iDVD, GarageBand (for creating music) and iTunes. Through iTunes, you can buy (for $1.99 a pop) shows such as Desperate Housewives and Lost, though there’s still not much TV footage to watch… Handsome as the computer is, I wonder whether your living room is the ideal spot for the new iMac. Unlike Media Center PCs, the iMacs lack a tuner for watching or recording live TV. Even if you’re viewing a DVD, I’m not convinced that the 20-inch display will satisfy those who demand a monster-sized screen. The den, the office or the bedroom might be better options.”

MacDailyNews Note: Elgato’s EyeTV lets you watch live TV in digital quality, record TV, schedule programming remotely, edit content, burn your recorded television onto DVD or Video CD, and more – directly on your Mac. More info here. Want to connect to another screen? Use Apple’s $19.99 VGA Display Adapter to connect the mini-VGA port on the iMac G5 to any VGA-equipped monitor or external projector for video-mirroring. The VGA cable plugs into the VGA video-out port built into your iMac G5. Or use Apple’s Apple Video Adapter to connect the mini-VGA video output port on your iMac G5 to any S-video or Composite enabled device (TV, VCR, or overhead projector’s S-Video or RCA (composite) cable).

Baig concludes, “I’m a tad disappointed that the newest iMacs include no TV tuner. But if you can live without that function and are in the market for a multimedia marvel, these latest computers look mighty attractive — from virtually any seat.”

Full article here.

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