[montgomery_burns]

"I like that idea, but I'd argue that it will be a very long time before an iMac would become obsolete."
The "slave monitor" idea would still be useful today for people who have more than 1 computer and want to use a single monitor + keyboard. Plus, many non-Apple LCD monitors already feature dual inputs for connecting 2 computers.

[argonaut]

Sounds simple enough to me - all you need to do is take the screen off of a PowerBook and you're basically there.

[PowerBook12]

What use would my grandma checking her email on an iMac have for a second display? That is who this targets, iPod users, and casual users. Simplicity is the idea. I understand that the idea of a removable display could be moved to a second computer, but in my experience, monitors need upgrading before the computer runs into the ground, and that was with a PC. I have no idea how many years this iMac will run before it is officially obsolete.

[macPCguy]

I said this about the iPod and it did. I said that the mini would drop in price and it didn't. But I think the price will drop later because pricing is an art form and we know that Apple are artists. Right now, the products going to be constrained and so even introducing it at this price is too low, imho. But they've position the product to move down a bit in price. I also think you'll see the same with the e-Mac. But...
There will have to be some critical mass of the iMac at current pricing levels. The iMacs are great deal, for sure--the bigger starting screen, the incredible design, the lighter weight. If Windows iPod users do buy--and for the first time in my life I actually feel like serious computer users in the Windows world won't laugh at this product but really like it--then the whole thing could start steamrolling and we'll see other consumer Apple Mac products gain lower price points through better enconomies of scale.
True, Apple could get greedy and they might grow market without tweaking anything. But they might find a way to tune-down pricing on Macs and gain much more market. And next year at this time, Apple will be a top 4 computer company. HP, Dell, Sony, Apple. Maybe in two years, they'll peak at number 2. And keep a market share of around 25% of all PC's.
lounging back in an office chair, bs'ing. oo /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[LeoO]

Back up your data! Frequently! Get an external hard drive or removable media such as CD-Rs. My DVSE's OSX partition went on the blink a couple of weeks ago. My most recent backup was way too long ago. Do it!

[wwelsh39]

I think the new iMac G5's are really neat, BUT they need more RAM to be really useful. Shelling out an additional $225 for a GIG of RAM in addition to $1899 for the 20" iMac puts it over $2,000. And, that's without an Airport Card or Bluetooth. Still, I may get one this winter.

[Nobody]

Although you make a legitimate point, consider this: when is the last time you saw an ad in the paper, either in a dell spread or in a best buy spread, in which a computer box was shown for sale without a monitor? I know that you can opt out of the monitor, but for what cost savings? Dell, HP, Compaq, eMachines, etc., sell nearly all their computers as part of a package which includes, at a minimum, the box, keyboard, mouse, and yes, a monitor. I just visited the Dell store myself to confirm what I am saying. You can buy a Dimension 4700, which comes with a crappy 15" monitor (or choose a "free" upgrade to a 17" LCD), a P4 3.4 GHz, base system (integrated graphics, etc.) for $1,477. In other words, the cost of the monitor is obviously built into the package price. I didn't spend much time, but there was no obvious way to even remove the monitor from the package at all. I am guessing that Dell sells very few systems with just a box, at the consumer level. When you get to the professional level, things might change. But like someone else said in this thread, the iMac is a consumer product. The PowerMac doesn't come with a monitor as part of any package.

[mdjericho]

Has Apple missed a golden opportunity?
To me the new iMac looks like a TV. In this age of digital convergence isn't it time for the innovation leader (ie Apple) to wow us again. For months people have asked when Apple would release a video iPod. Would it have been too hard to incorporate an digital TV/FM Radio receiver inside the new iMac plus a wireless remote control?
Imagine this new iMac in your teenagers bedroom or your lounge room. It can play MP3, CD, DVD, record DVD, watch/record TV/FM Radio shows, surf the internet and LAST BUT NOT LEAST its also a computer!
The ultimate digital convergence device. WOW!
A plea to the people who work at Apple please remember:
Apple == Innovation.

[DPG4450Guy]

That would be a terrible idea.
Apple has it righ as it is.

[patrickmcmichael]

Wow! I was awed by the new iMac G5. I've been saving my pennies for months towards a dual G5 for my first Mac. (I've consoled myself in the iterim w/ an iPod and an AirPort Express.) While I could tolerate running a PM G5 on my old 19" tank of a VGA monitor, I know I'd be drooling over the 23" HD for months at the local stores.
For the price point, the high end iMac w/ 20" display already there is VERY tempting. It's consumer vs. pro, I know, but for a first Mac for a switcher, I think I'd be pretty happy w/ it.
My only complaint is the 64MB video memory. Yeah...I know...consumer not pro...but even consumers like their games, and 64MB VRAM was already the minimum on some of the latest Mac games. I'm not a huge gamer, but I like to buy a system that I feel I can get a few years out of in terms of upgradeability/expansion. I'd shell out the $50 to upgrade the 64 to 128 on the video memory like they did for the PB models.

[hpypwrbk]

I'm personally most taken by the design, most notably the size. It seems to me that the iMac G5 is a sign that the PowerBook G5 will not be too far behind. I know the cooling technologies will be different, which is the big hold up, but it get's me excited none-the-less.
To address price. I don't know about everyone else, but I prefer a laptop to a desktop, even if it's a little slower at the processor. So, if I have my choice, as a consumer, of an iMac, or an iBook that is fully equiped with the exception of a little RAM, and the price is comparable, why would I get the imobile iMac. Everybody offers w/l connections these days, even McDonalds. Heck I get 5 different wireless signals at a time in my appartment. Until the iPod becomes a PDA as well, and carries a MacOS (and why should it not when you have Windows based handhelds?) the laptop seems to be the choice to me if they both cost you $1599.

[mrscience]

"FW800 is professional." Yeah? So is the G5 chip! This is a dumb statement.
I would agree if you could add an extra internal disk, but you can't. FW800 is a critical component to a machine that can't be upgraded, in my opinion, since it is ~30% faster for an average hard drive today (let alone next year). It's not like FW800 is brand new technology: roughly as new as the G5 chip, eh?
I'd order one today if not for this. Big mistake, all for the very small amount of money (lets' face it, a few dollars) it would have cost to bump FW400 to FW800.

[montgomery_burns]

Many LCD monitors from Viewsonic, NEC, Mitsubishi, Sony, and Planar come with dual inputs for connecting 2 computers. Since this new iMac is basically an LCD monitor body on the outside, adding an extra DVI input to the iMac does not seem so unreasonable. I also wish Apple would provide dual inputs on their Cinema displays too.

[smumac]

I would have to disagree on the whole computer in a keyboard idea.
The nice thing is this does not need a fixed keyboard, it can be remotely administered via Remote Desktop or using a Bluetooth keyboard. Plus, chances are you are going to need a display more often than a keyboard. I believe, the monitor/computer gives the unite more versatility then the keyboard/computer combo.
If you can take the stand off, it can be wall mounted for dynamic picture frame using iPhoto or iTunes visualizations or even the built-in screensaver. Get a couple of them and you have one awesome video wall.
It can be nicely mounted into a desk for a board room or class room.
It can be used as a replacement for a PowerBook on long video shoots; Capture and edit in your hotel room.
And so on and so on...
I just wish they made one that had a touch screen. It would be the ultimate kiosk.