iMac | 1998

 The iMac is an all-in-one computer series by Apple Inc. that operates on macOS. It was first introduced by Steve Jobs in August 1998, during a time when the company was financially struggling. This computer was designed as an affordable, consumer-oriented device that made internet connectivity easy. Since then, the iMac has played a significant role in Apple's consumer desktop lineup and has evolved through seven distinct forms.

The iMac’s design has been controversial but also seen as trendsetting. From the outset, it excluded many traditional technologies, particularly becoming known as the first computer to introduce USB ports, while removing floppy disks and later optical drives.

The original iMac G3 had a design reminiscent of a rubber ball, ADM-3, or egg shape, with a CRT monitor enclosed in a colorful, translucent plastic case. The second major revision, the iMac G4, changed to a design with an LCD monitor attached to a moving arm, supported by a hemispherical base housing all the major components. The third and fourth revisions, the iMac G5 and Intel iMac, placed all components directly behind the display within a plastic case, resulting in a slim, integrated form supported by a simple metal stand that allowed tilting. The fifth, sixth, and seventh revisions transitioned from plastic to metal exteriors and became increasingly thinner.

The most recent revision, the Apple Silicon iMac, uses Apple’s own processors and is only 11.5mm (0.45 inches) thick. Between 2017 and 2021, a workstation-grade version called the iMac Pro was also sold.

Historically, Apple was on the brink of bankruptcy in the mid-1990s, losing market share to Windows PCs and Macintosh clones. During that time, Apple sought to acquire external products rather than developing new hardware, which led to the acquisition of NeXT, Inc. in 1996. This acquisition included NeXT’s products and software, and Steve Jobs rejoined Apple. Jobs began as an advisor and became interim CEO in 1997, where he restructured the company. He simplified Apple’s complex product lines into two categories: consumer and professional. The iMac was part of the effort to develop consumer desktop products.

Apple’s design lead, Jony Ive, and his team envisioned a unique all-in-one computer focused on internet connectivity and ease of use. This design featured a colorful, translucent plastic case around the CRT monitor. Advertising director Ken Segall suggested the name “iMac,” which was seen as simple and included “Mac,” with the "i" prefix suggesting internet. Initially, Jobs disliked the name, but it was eventually adopted, and Apple later used the "i" prefix across various consumer hardware and software lines.

Although the iMac received mixed reviews in the tech press, it became a commercial success, selling over six million units and going through several revisions with 13 different colors and patterns. The iMac was marketed as “designed to make it easy for users to connect to the internet at home.” In the “Simplicity Shootout” commercial, 7-year-old Johann Thomas and his Border Collie, Brodie, set up an iMac in 8 minutes and 15 seconds, while Stanford MBA student Adam Taggart struggled to set up his HP Pavilion 8250 until the commercial ended.

As flat LCD screen prices dropped, Apple began developing updates for the iMac. The iMac G4’s design was inspired by a sunflower, with the display mounted on a stainless steel arm that allowed it to move freely above a hemispherical base. The previous vibrant colors were replaced with white.

With larger screen sizes, the iMac G5 adopted a more conservative design, with components placed behind the display and supported by an aluminum leg.

In 2005, as IBM’s PowerPC desktop development was discontinued, Apple announced it would transition to Intel’s x86 architecture. On January 10, 2006, the first Intel-based Macs were unveiled, and the iMac adopted a new design. In 2007, the iMac switched to an aluminum exterior and gradually became thinner. In 2014, a high-resolution “Retina” 4K and 5K display was added, and in 2017, the iMac Pro, a professional model, was introduced.

In June 2020, Apple announced its transition from Intel processors to its own Apple Silicon. In April 2021, a new 24-inch iMac featuring the Apple M1 chip was released with a refreshed design, available in seven colors, reminiscent of the colorful iMac G3. In 2023, the iMac was updated with the Apple M3 chip.

The original iMac was the first “legacy-free” PC. It was the first Macintosh to adopt USB ports and remove the floppy disk drive, a move that was later adopted across all Macs. USB ports allowed hardware manufacturers to create products that worked with both x86 PCs and Macs. Before this, Macintosh users had to find keyboards and mice compatible with ADB interfaces, and printers and modems that supported the MiniDIN-8 serial port, which were usually expensive. With the introduction of USB, Mac users could now choose from a variety of devices designed for the Wintel PC platform. After the iMac, Apple continued to remove legacy peripheral interfaces and floppy disk drives from its other product lines.

The LCD-based iMac design continued the all-in-one concept originally envisioned for the Macintosh. The iMac’s success helped Apple focus on the high-end Power Macintosh line, which was a precursor to strategies like the 1999 iBook launch. Apple continued to distinguish between consumer and professional product lines and made design a central focus, giving all their products a unique identity and avoiding the beige designs common in the PC industry.