The First iMac Introduction

Summary

Apple's iMac is introduced as a consumer product marrying the excitement of the internet with the simplicity of Macintosh. Designed for ease of internet access, it's also suited for education and home use. The iMac boasts a G3 processor at 233 MHz, a 15-inch display at 1024x768 resolution, 32 MB RAM (expandable to 128 MB), and a 4 GB hard drive. It includes 100 megabit Ethernet, a fast modem, 4 megabit infrared, and USB ports. The iMac's standout design is translucent, with a sleek handle, integrated speakers, and a compact form factor, setting it apart as an innovative and user-friendly computer.

Takeaways

• 💻 iMac is introduced as a consumer product that combines the excitement of the internet with the simplicity of Macintosh.
• ⚡ iMac is designed for fast internet access, as it's the number one use case consumers want.
• 🏫 The iMac is also targeted at the education sector, as it's ideal for internet research and instructional activities.
• 🚀 It features a G3 processor running at 233 MHz for speed, and has a half-megabyte L2 cache for improved performance.
• 🖥️ The display is a 15-inch screen with a resolution of 1024x768, ensuring high-quality visuals.
• 📶 iMac comes with built-in 100 megabit Ethernet, supporting high-speed networking, especially for education and emerging home networks.
• 🔌 The iMac is equipped with modern I/O ports, including two 12-megabit USB ports, replacing outdated Apple I/O connectors.
• 🎵 It includes stereo surround sound, a high-quality keyboard, and an ergonomically designed mouse.
• ✨ The iMac design is translucent, allowing users to see inside, and features a stylish appearance with a handle for portability.
• 🌐 The iMac has built-in communication features, such as 4-megabit infrared, for wireless data transfer, including digital photos from cameras.

Q & A

What is the primary target use for the iMac as described in the script?

The primary target use for the iMac is for consumers to get on the internet simply and fast.

What are the additional target markets for the iMac mentioned in the transcript?

The additional target markets for the iMac include personal computer users and the education sector.

What is the significance of the iMac being 'born to network'?

The phrase 'born to network' signifies that the iMac is designed with networking capabilities as a core feature, making it suitable for environments where connectivity is essential, such as educational institutions.

What processor does the iMac come with, as highlighted in the script?

The iMac comes with a G3 processor running at 233 MHz.

How does the script describe the display quality of other consumer products compared to the iMac?

The script describes other consumer products as having 'crummy displays' that are generally 13 or 14 inches with poor quality, whereas the iMac is designed with an Apple quality display that is much better.

What is the size and resolution of the display that the iMac is equipped with?

The iMac is equipped with a 15-inch display running at 1024x768 resolution.

What are some of the memory and storage specifications of the iMac mentioned in the transcript?

The iMac comes standard with 32 MB of memory, expandable to 128 MB, and includes a 4 GB hard drive and a 24x CD-ROM drive.

What networking capabilities does the iMac have according to the script?

The iMac has 100 megabit Ethernet as standard, a fast modem, and 4 megabit infrared built-in for networking capabilities.

How does the script describe the design and build of the iMac's IO ports?

The script describes the iMac's IO ports as part of a new generation, with 12 megabit Universal Serial Bus (USB) and two ports, moving away from the old Apple IO.

What are the unique design features of the iMac's keyboard and mouse as discussed in the script?

The iMac's keyboard is described as nice with two USB connectors on either side for user convenience, and the mouse is referred to as the coolest mouse on the planet.

What does the script suggest about the iMac's overall design compared to other products?

The script suggests that the iMac's overall design is unique and superior compared to other products, looking like it's from 'another planet' with better designers.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Introducing iMac: Fast and Simple for the Internet

In this segment, the speaker introduces the iMac, a product designed to merge the excitement of the internet with the simplicity of the Macintosh. Despite being a full-fledged Macintosh, the iMac is aimed at consumers who primarily want a fast and easy way to access the internet. The product is also designed for educational use, offering simplicity and a wealth of online information. The iMac reflects Apple's mission to create better products by setting new standards in consumer computing with features like speed, high-quality display, networking, and ease of use.

05:06

💻 iMac's Revolutionary Features: Speed, Display, and Connectivity

This paragraph focuses on the key features that set the iMac apart from other consumer computers at the time. The speaker emphasizes its fast performance, thanks to the G3 processor running at 233 MHz and a half megabyte of L2 cache. The iMac boasts a 15-inch display with 1024x768 resolution, providing an Apple-quality viewing experience. The iMac comes with 32 MB of memory (expandable to 128 MB), a 4 GB hard drive, and a 24x CD-ROM. In terms of communication, it includes 100 megabit Ethernet, a fast modem, infrared capability, and two Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports for next-gen connectivity. Other features include stereo surround sound, a high-quality keyboard, and an innovative mouse design.

🔍 iMac's Cool Design: Translucent, Stylish, and Functional

The speaker transitions to showcasing the iMac's sleek, futuristic design, emphasizing its translucent case that allows users to see inside the device. The iMac features stereo speakers on the front, an infrared port, a centrally located CD-ROM drive, and dual stereo headphone jacks. The mouse is highlighted as being especially cool, while the rear handle and well-organized ports add to the aesthetic appeal. The iMac is described as looking better than its competitors, even from the back. The speaker reinforces that the device looks like it's from another planet, specifically a 'planet with better designers.' The keyboard and mouse, with dual USB ports for customization, are also praised for their functionality and innovative design.

Keywords

💡iMac

iMac is a line of personal computers designed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is known for its all-in-one design, where the monitor and the computer are integrated into a single unit. In the context of the video, iMac is presented as a consumer product that combines the excitement of the internet with the simplicity of Macintosh. The speaker emphasizes its suitability for internet use, making it a primary selling point.

💡Internet

The internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the Internet protocol suite to communicate. In the video, the internet is highlighted as the primary use for which consumers want a computer, indicating that the iMac is designed with this in mind, aiming to provide a simple and fast online experience.

💡Macintosh

Macintosh, often abbreviated as Mac, is a family of personal computers designed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is known for its user-friendly interface and robust hardware. The video script mentions Macintosh to emphasize the heritage of the iMac, suggesting that it inherits the simplicity and reliability associated with Macintosh computers.

💡G3 processor

The G3 processor refers to the PowerPC G3, a series of microprocessors designed by Apple, IBM, and Motorola. In the video, the inclusion of a G3 processor at 233 MHz is highlighted to show the iMac's commitment to performance, contrasting it with slower processors used in other consumer products at the time.

💡Display

In the context of the video, 'display' refers to the screen of the iMac, which is described as a 15-inch screen with a resolution of 1024x768. The speaker emphasizes the quality of Apple's displays, positioning the iMac's display as a key feature and a point of pride for the company.

💡Memory

Memory, in computing, refers to the hardware used to store data temporarily. The video mentions that the iMac comes with 32 MB of memory standard, which is expandable to 128 MB. This is an important feature for consumers who require the ability to run multiple applications or handle large data sets.

💡CD-ROM

CD-ROM stands for Compact Disc Read-Only Memory, a data storage format that was commonly used for distributing software and multimedia content. The video mentions a 24x CD-ROM drive as a standard feature of the iMac, indicating its ability to read CDs, which was a significant consideration for consumers at the time.

💡Ethernet

Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies commonly used in local area networks (LAN). The video script mentions 100 megabit Ethernet as a standard feature, emphasizing the iMac's capability to connect to high-speed networks, which was particularly relevant for educational institutions and early adopters of home networking.

💡Universal Serial Bus (USB)

Universal Serial Bus, or USB, is an industry standard that defines the cables, connectors, and communications protocols used for connection, communication, and power supply between computers and electronic devices. The video highlights the inclusion of USB ports as part of the iMac's new generation of IO, indicating the computer's ability to connect with a wide range of peripherals easily.

💡Design

Design, in the context of the video, refers to the aesthetic and functional aspects of the iMac. The speaker describes the iMac as 'translucent' and 'from another planet,' suggesting a futuristic and unique design that sets it apart from other computers. The design is a key selling point, aiming to appeal to consumers who value both form and function.

Highlights

Introduction of iMac as a consumer product

iMac is designed for internet use and simplicity

iMac targets consumers' primary computer use

iMac is also suitable for educational purposes

iMac's design philosophy includes both networking and standalone use

Consumer products are typically slow and have poor displays

iMac features a fast G3 processor at 233 MHz

iMac includes a half-megabyte L2 backside cache

iMac boasts a 15-inch display at 1024x768 resolution

32 MB RAM standard with expandability up to 128 MB

Built-in 4 GB hard drive and 24x CD-ROM

iMac includes 100 megabit Ethernet for high-speed networking

Fast modem and 4 megabit infrared for data transfer

New generation IO with 12 megabit Universal Serial Bus

Stereo surround sound and a redesigned keyboard and mouse

iMac's innovative translucent design

All connectors are integrated into a single door for a clean look

iMac's handle and back design is more aesthetically pleasing than competitors

Wireless camera demonstration of iMac's unique design

Transcripts

well

today I'm incredibly pleased to

introduce iMac our consumer product and

iMac comes from the marriage of the

excitement of the

internet with the Simplicity of

Macintosh even though this is a

full-blooded Macintosh we are targeting

this for the number one use that

consumers tell us they want a computer

for which is to get on the internet

simply and fast

and that's what this product is targeted

for I also means some other things to us

we are a personal computer company and

Al this product is born to network it

also is a beautiful Standalone

product we're targeting it also for

Education they want to buy these and

it's perfect for most of the things they

do in instruction it's perfect for

finding tremendous source of information

over the internet and we hope as you see

the product it will inspire us all to

make even better products in the future

so we think iMac is going to be a really

big deal now what should it be well we

went out and we looked at all of the

consumer products out

there this is a picture of one of the

better

ones and we noticed some things about

them pretty much universally the first

is they're really slow they're very slow

they're all using last year's processor

very very slow second is they've all got

pretty crummy displays on them they're

generally 13in a few 14in and the

quality of them is very poor uh Apple

designs all its own displays so we're

used to something much better but these

are pretty bad likely no networking on

them some have it most

don't old generation IO devices and what

that means is they're lower performance

and they're harder to use and most of

them aren't so plug and playay and these

things are

ugly so

let me tell you about

iMac we decided to make this thing fast

so we decided put in a G3 processor

running at 233 MHz we debated this quite

a bit because there were cheaper slower

things we could have used and we said no

this has got to be the computer that we

want on our desk too a G3 running at 233

and we didn't forget the cash it's got a

half a megabyte L2 backside cash on it

this thing screams as you'll see in a

minute on displays we said what is the

largest display that you'd ever want in

one of these cons in a consumer computer

and the answer to us was a 15inch

display running at 1024x 768 let's go

ahead and build in the best in every

product and let's have our display

Engineers engineer it and it's gorgeous

it is an apple quality display that we

are very proud

of let's go ahead and put a lot of

memory in this thing thing 32 mbes

standard it's expandable to 128 4 GB

disc drive 24x CD

ROM and let's build in a lot of

communications this thing's got 100

megabit ethernet as standard now why

because a lot of our education customers

want to put these high-speed networks in

and because we're seeing it in homes

approximately 10% of the homes in

Silicon Valley now have class five

wiring in them we're starting to see

lots of home networks emerging

a fast modem and also 4 megabit infrared

built in you want to beam your digital

photographs in from your digital camera

built into every

product we are going to the new

generation of IO 12 megabit Universal

serial bus two ports we're leaving the

old Apple IO

behind stereo surround sound built into

every product and a great great keyboard

and

mouse now

this is what they look like today and I

would uh like to take the privilege of

showing you what they're going to look

like from today

on

this is

[Music]

iMac

[Music]

[Applause]

so can you go back there and do that

again go back and come back

thank

you so if I can get this screen switched

over we've got a wireless camera here

and I'd like to show you what this thing

looks like come on

in you got to see this thing in person

but I'll do the best I can with video

this is iMac the whole thing is trans

ucent you can see into it it's so cool

we've got stereo speakers on the front

we've got infrared right up here we've

got the CD ROM drive right in the middle

we've got dual stereo headphone Jacks we

got the coolest mouse on the planet

right

here come on around all of the

connectors are inside one beautiful

little door here the ethernet the USB

stuff around the back we've got a really

great handle here the back of this thing

looks better than the front of the other

guys by the way and then around the side

so let's take one more one more swing

around it so you can see this is what it

looks like and again you've got to see

one of these things in

person

great yeah I've got some slides of what

looks like too I mean this is incredible

compared to anything else out there it

looks like it's from another planet and

a good

Planet a planet with better

designers look at this keyboard it's so

nice two Universal serial bus connectors

on either side so you can plug the mouse

into whichever one you want whether your

right or left-handed and you have the

other one for peripherals look at this

mouse it's the most it's the it's the

most wonderful Mouse you've ever

used