[lwdesign]

It certainly is a different-looking beast to the previous iMac. I'm really interested to know what the keyboard feels like, and if this will be the new standard keyboard replacing the $29.00 white key/clear plastic versions that shipped with all Macs.
Any news on whether the new keyboard will be available as a separate item to be bought on its own? It looks very modern, and so thin! I won't need my wrist rest with this, unless it's a very thin one.
I have mixed reactions to the glossy screen. I'll have to check these out at my local Apple store in Tampa to see how they look. I do graphic design, and color accuracy is the most important consideration. Hopefully the glare won't be a problem.
I'm a bit shocked at how many of the details of the new iMac were leaked prior to the announcement today. I saw the keyboard on engadget.com a couple of days ago, and the fact that the iMac would be all aluminum has been discussed for weeks. Was this Apple's sly marketing or was this a real product leak that Apple should be worried about?

[hiredgun469]

Thanks Jon for the link. I looked at both the keyboard and the funky vertical mouse (nice-to-meet-you-style). I'm going to look in my collection of magazines I can't seem to throwaway and read about it and others again. I wish companies would put more of their heart into the look also, like Apple does. This thing looks dated as far as color goes (unless my eye's need adjustment). At least make it match the mouse. Anyway, thanks again.

[JakeT]

Aluminum color had been standard for TVs for a while. Fortunately that's going out of style. I guess Steve likes it still.
Oh, well. I wouldn't get one anyway. I'm waiting for them to upgrade the Macbook Pro. It's been around for a long time now.

[hillstones]

I will definitely keep my existing wireless Apple keyboard. What a mistake they made by ditching the number pad on the wireless keyboard! Also, I don't want to type on a MacBook-style keyboard when I am working at my desk. Since it is so thin, wrist-rests would be useless, causing your wrists to be in pain on a hard surface. Probably not the best design for a keyboard.
The best keyboard Apple ever made was the Apple Extended Keyboard II. There has never been one like it.

[LeeSF]

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the screen is usless unless all you want to do is watch movies in a dark room.

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I don't get the complaints about glossy screens. I have the glossy MacBook and really like it. The glare is no more noticeable than with my previous PowerBooks, and the crispness is great.
The real issue with the MacBook LCD is that the viewing angles are limited vertically and horizontally. Images change tone from top to bottom, and watching a video with a friend can be frustrating- you either need your ears touching while you watch, or one (or both) of you will get color artifacting on part of the image.

[Luke_Macwalker]

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Any news on whether the new keyboard will be available as a separate item to be bought on its own?

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Check the Apple Store online: it is available for US$49.00
(and the wireless-keypadless model is available for US$79.00)

[Luke_Macwalker]

Quote:

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the screen is usless unless all you want to do is watch movies in a dark room.

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I don't get the complaints about glossy screens. I have the glossy MacBook and really like it. The glare is no more noticeable than with my previous PowerBooks, and the crispness is great.

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I don't own a glossy screen but I used one on a MacBook for a short time: the glare was definitely very noticeable and a little disturbing though less than what I feared. What I don't know is whether I would adapt to this or not. But I have to admit I'm not really eager to adapt to a machine: with Apple, I was more used to the machine adapting to me... /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Also, on a bigger screen (the 24" screen is almost 3.5 times as large as the 13" screen of a MacBook), there are many more occasions for reflections to occur. And even if the iMac is quite easy to swivel, it's not a portable computer that you can always turn away from the light sources.

[Brettcamp]

I'm not surprised to see that Apple went to all aluminum cases, given the heat-dispersing ability and easier recycling. But I think it's less distinctive than the white plastic that had been used for consumer Macs up till now. OTOH, maybe this bodes the eventual, long awaited (by some of us) return of colored iMacs , using colored brushed aluminum. They'd have economy of scale, as they're already using it in the iPod nanos.

[telekon]

Why does no one seem to have an issue with the White mouse. Surely now that the Mac Pro and iMac are "silver" Apple should introduce a "silver" mouse to compliment them. For a company which bases it's products just as much from a design perspective as a technical one, I think this mis-match is a real BAD! Come on Apple, get it together. Of course, I will just buy a silver third-party mouse when I get mine.

[jpmuk]

I think we're seeing Apple hitting a brick wall now. When you go for super minimal sometimes you cut things back so far there's nowhere else to go. For an all in one model like the iMac you need the weight at the bottom for balance, therefor the chin must stay. How else can it be changed? Glossy screen? Check. New material? Check. Mmmm... Ahhh, slick new keyboard design? Check. Bugger, there's nothing else to change.
I fear that the next new iMac will be some kind of reverse with the computer actually in the keyboard and some kind of amazing wafer thin monitor. Basically a laptop with a seperate 24" or 28" screen. Beyond a super mouse there's really nowhere else to go.

[icerabbit]

I would be extremely hesitant to buy this due to the glossy screen. Whatever their research shows about consumers wanting glossy screens, many are just the opposite.
I have one LCD TV with a glossy black border, and it is very distracting because it catches light (windows) from behind the viewer. Compared to the other LCDs (tvs & monitors) which are matte silver or black.
I had one tablet notebook (obviously not Apple) with a glossy screen. I returned it due to being utterly useless. Indoors it reflected every light, every window, every well lit object ... with brightness all the way up it would get better, but not to the point where glare was not present. Outdoors or in the car it functioned like a mirror. This all while the old tablet with matte screen did not have this glare problem and is perfectly usable in all conditions.
I have a pc notebook with glossy screen. The screen is the only thing I dislike.
We have a macbook. The first thing I see is the glare. As others said, the viewing angle is limited when you try to eliminate glare.
So, to me a glass tube and/or glossy screen will push me away to another product. I'm in the market for a MMMM, not an iMac, because I believe in separation of CPU & monitor.
Anyhow, glare is a serious issue for some people. It depends on your personal sensitivity and the environment you use it in.
Good news is that some notebook manufacturers are returning to optional matte screens. There is still hope.
PS: I do hope a lot of people will give feedback regarding the pros of matte screens.

[icerabbit]

Some images posted on flickr:
http://www.flickr.co...how/1043711648/
http://www.flickr.com/photozoom.gne?id=1042747811&size=l
http://www.flickr.com/photozoom.gne?id=1047320849&size=o
http://www.flickr.com/photozoom.gne?id=1043670618&size=o

[derbazooka]

Thanks for the photos. Very first picture indicates the potential glare problem.

[Edgejr]

I understand Apple having two different keyboard configurations. Makes sense for those that want portability. But why only have the smaller keyboard in wireless? Am I the only person in the world who wants a full-size keyboard with a numeric keypad AND no wires? I just do not understand why Apple does not have a full-size wireless keyboard with all the bells and whistles. What marketing moron had that idea? I would like to see MacWorld really pan this in a review!