[Zoidberg]

Y'know, I love my MS Natural Pro Elite Whatever 4000 keyboard, but I sure wish Apple'd make an ergonomic (split, contoured) keyboard. Typing 5 to 8 hours a day, I have to use an ergo and I'd love the chance to use an Apple-made (or branded) one.

[fribhey]

Quote:

---

WOW I told my wife about the new iMac without seeing it and she actualy said mybe I should get one (She never says that), but all of the pictures I have seen show the glaring (Pun intended), reality that Apple finaly has an iMac dud on there hands, the screen is usless unless all you want to do is watch movies in a dark room.
To bad my G5 iMac is starting to show its age. Good thing I just got a new Mac Pro at work.
I'll have to look at this in the Apple store but from the images on this an other WEB sites my guess is it is a non starter.

---

so you are making a blind statement without even seeing it in person? an iMac dud? are you kidding me?
i played with it at the apple store last night and the screen was absolutely GORGEOUS! i didn't notice any glare. it's just like the iphone, once you turn it on you don't see any glare.

[fribhey]

Quote:

---

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.

---

you are comparing 2 different glossy screens. the macbook has a plastic glossy screen and the new imac has a glass glossy screen.... i played with a new imac in the apple store and glare was a non issue, i didn't even notice it. like i mentioned in my other post, it's just like the iphone, when it's off you can see glare but once you turn it on the glare disappears.

[polyfade]

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

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

---

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.

---

Did you see my posts regarding the new 20" iMac display?
http://www.macworld....true#Post523252
http://www.macworld....true#Post523501
I think the 24" display is a probably a good one, though. Also, see Apple's discussion board regarding this issue. Yes, I've also added by 2 cents there. http://discussions.a...073705&tstart=0

[icerabbit]

Thanks for bringing that up /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I have been curious about the type of LCD used as well.
I've seen the prices on 20", 24" and up panels drop pretty rapidly and it has sparked my interest to have an HD 24" or 28" master and the 20" cinema as a secondary. However, the web is littered with reviews and complaints about 6-bit TN screens - generally the faster ms response ones - and their limited color accuracy (260k colors and dithering beyond that). Without manufacturers being forthcoming in their specs about how many bits their panels are. I guess before long we'll see the 8-bit displays marked as such to cater to pro-sumers and pros.
I second the macbook viewing angle comment above. My wife and I periodically will watch a movie on the macbook and two viewers have to sit at practically the same viewing height and pretty close together to enjoy a quality picture. This was not an issue with the older powerbooks (haven't used a new one) or other notebooks ... for several years back, back to when LCD were color notebook LCDs were 800x600 and there weren't any wide angle ones out yet.

[mretondo]

When you do your review can you please check out one thing in iPhoto for me. All I care about is that they have fixed one bug that has been there since the start. The share to disk feature that puts the selected photos on a disc so you can take it down to the local Walgreens and have them printed is worthless. It doesn't do what you expect i.e. put just ONE copy of each photo on the disc. Instead it puts the originals and the thumbnails too. Like I want my thumb nails and originals (unmodified) photos printed.
This feature is so confusing to people. You select 20 photos and burn a disc. Plug the disc in Kiosk at Walgreens and say print all photos. What do you get back, 68 photos, WHAT!!!!. I only wanted the 20 photos I selected printed what the hell.
Try explaining this to a switcher. Oh iPhoto is great, the Mac is so intuitive, and Apple makes great application. Oh, but don't ever burn a disc from iPhoto you wont get what you want. Then you try to explain the wacky steps you have to go though to get what you want. Then they look at you with glassed eyes and say "but I bought a Mac so I wouldn't have to do things like that". That's when I want to find a hole to crawl into.
PS If the bug is still there please chastise Apple for it, this has to get fixed before they put in any new features.

[tony_d]

So much for everyone who have been claiming FireWire is dead. Now all the iMacs have FW800.
Long live FireWire.

[kyle988]

Guys when Apple first introduced the Core Duo macbook all I heard was OMG its glossy ill never buy that no one will buy that etc.
Today the MacBook is their Best selling computer /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[owenink]

Quote:

---

I do have a question for you but not regarding the new iMac. I noticed you have a split keyboard. I'm having some hand issues and was wondering if you like what you are using and what kind it was. Please don't tell me it's a MS keyboard. Thanks.

---

The best ergonomic keyboard I have ever used is the Comfort Keyboard. You can rotate and angle its three pieces in all directions, and slide them apart to comfortable distances to reduce pronation. Highly recommended. http://www.comfortkeyboard.com/

[Dan Frakes]

Quote:

---

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

---

To be fair, my matte display is just as unusable from a 30- to 40-degree angle with a window on the other side on a sunny day /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Dan Frakes]

Quote:

---

I understand Apple having two different keyboard configurations. Makes sense for those that want portability. But why only have the smaller keyboard in wireless?

---

My guess, assuming that production costs dictate offering only one size in each style? Because wireless keyboards are often used on laps, and a no-numeric-keypad keyboard is easier to use in that scenario -- when balanced on your lap, the main typing area is centered.
I personally would like to see a full-size, wireless version, just to reduce cable clutter at my desk. But having used several wireless keyboards on my lap, I can see the appeal, in that scenario, to a smaller version without the keypad.

[swokm]

Wow. I guess I am your opposite! Hello, bizzaro-self! Spooky.

THE GLOSSY SCREEN:
I hear you on this one--glare can be pure evil. However, I wanted a glossy screen for contrast and apparent brightness, and there are a TON of anti-glare films (3M for example) that will do a BETTER job of reducing glare (or reducing viewing angle for privacy) than the current coating. I think it makes perfect sense to start with a glossy screen that most users will prefer and have the option of a cheap overlay for anti-glare/privacy. You simply cannot got the other direction, from coated to un-coated. Even better you can switch between solutions very easily this way to suit your own changing needs. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

THE NEW KEYBOARD:
Finally! I've been waiting for a long time for a nice cheap "happy hacker" type keyboard that lets me position my keyboard and mouse (or small Wacom tablet) in an ergonomic position, instead of "mousepad way right of center". I don't know about you, but I am right-handed. That means I use the mouse with my right hand. Why on earth does do I have to fight the useless "help block" of keys and number-pad to get to it? A separate number pad with built in calculator can be had for $10, has better action, and can be used by my LEFT hand on the LEFT side, while mousing between cells for data entry. See how efficient that is? (Well, try it first.) Otherwise your right hand is flopping back and forth like a dead fish to enter and navigate non-linear data.
I find that games also benefit from having a separate, springier, position-able keypad on the LEFT of the keyboard for right handers... the spread feels much more natural to me and can even "toe-in" at the top so your wrists are properly straight when elbows are spread, but the keyboard remains aligned when elbows are in and wrists are center. Kudos to Apple for finally seeing this, but points subtracted for not offering a matching bluetooth keypad with backlight LCD calculator (and "Send result" functionality) separately from the Apple Store for $20. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

MISC:
Personally, I think it is odd that the front bezel is white instead of the nice matte black of the back. But functionally, my only problem with the new unit is the (infuriating!) lack of just a bit higher-end video option for the 24". Come ON!" 4GB RAM 1TB HD 2.8Ghz Extreme CPU is $3000... video? Oh, that's a low end laptop part only, sorry. You'll have to pony up another $1000 for the Mac pro. But hey, it's just money right?" Grrr... They over-clocked the Nividia solution for the 17" Macbook Pro, why the heck not at LEAST do that for us here. 3D/shaders are not just for games anymore, the new photoshop, even 10.5 make heavy use of acceleration. I need this iMac to last at least 3 years, thank you very much, and it's not like I can swap the card out. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif
I agree that Apple needs to get the word out particularly on the Aiport w/gigabit. The more geek centric press had a field day with that and Apple would surely garner a lot more sales if the new specs get widely publicized.
EDIT: Hrm. The above "cheap overlay" should read just "overlay". Apparently the cost to produce a thin piece of plastic for a desktop monitor has risen $200. If you have a notebook, however, the same size of plastic in the notebook model is the same $30. Huh? Bad 3M, or maybe we "lost" the technology sometime in the late 90s during the Great War... oh wait... sheesh. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[sevdogmac]

How is it that MacWorld couldn't give me a clue that a new iMac is coming out? Two weeks ago I ordered mine and now I could get more for less. I searched everywhere but really felt I could trust MacWorld to give a heads up on any upcoming iMacs or iLife offerings. Same thing happened to me with my iBook and the MacBook.