iMac is too odd to succeed.
(...) Apple will never be the great company it could have been.
Hiawatha Bray
Lakeland Ledger May 17, 1998
May 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of the introduction of the very first iMac. And since in computing, 25 years is an eternity, I thought it would be fun to compare past and present.
I’m comparing the entry-level models of the first iMac (Bondi Blue iMac or iMac G3) with the current one (Apple Silicon iMac or iMac M1).
The iMac was Steve Jobs’ first major achievement since he returned as CEO of Apple after an 11-year absence.
Fortunately the initial name, Macman, was replaced by iMac. A name suggested by Ken Segall, Apple's advertising director. iMac stands for Internet Macintosh. And that ‘i’ has lived on ever since in iPod, iBook, iPhone and dozens of other products.
The iMac G3 received mixed reviews upon release. The computer's appearance, designed by Jony Ive and his team, was generally praised, as was its ease of installation and use.
Criticism focused on the lack of legacy ports and removing the beloved floppy drive. Another major complaint was the original mouse and keyboard; too small and annoying to use, an example of style over substance.
Despite the criticism, the iMac G3 was an instant success. Nearly 300,000 units were sold in the first six weeks. For months, it was the best-selling desktop computer in US shops.
The Mac deserves to cost more because it is more technically elegant and easier to use than a Windows machine.
Peter H. Lewis
The New York Times July 23, 1998
Article and illustrations
by Thijs Geritz
40lb/
17.25kg
9.83lb/
4.46kg
60”
iMac M1
4480 x 2520
pixels
24”
15”
iMac G3
1024 x 768
pixels
iMac G3
4GB HD
Expandable
to 1TB
iMac M1
256GB SSD
The iMac G3 the heaviest iMac ever. The iMac M1, on the other hand, is the lightest.
The display of the iMac M1 has over 14 times as many pixels as that of iMac G3. At the same resolution as the 1998 15-inch display, that would account for a 60-inch screen. Today, with higher image resolutions, all those pixels fit into the iMac M1's 24-inch screen.
The storage capacity of the iMac M1 entry-level model is 64 times that of the iMac G3 and is even expandable.
Only two
USB-C ports.
That’s it.
The floppy drive, ubiquitous and widely used in 1998, was missing from the iMac. It has not returned since then.
With a thickness of
just 0.45 inch / 11.5 mm
the iMac M1 is thinner than the Apple Watch Series 8.
IrDA Infrared port for wireless transmission of data from a handheld computer (PDA) like Apple’s MessagePad or eMate and other peripherals with IrDA capability.
Everything has matching colours, including the power and lightning cables. But also the packaging, user manual and included stickers.
The round mouse got nicknamed the 'hockey puck'. Its non-ergonomic shape and too-short USB cable quickly made it unpopular.
The translucent case was made of a polycarbonate composite also used to make bulletproof glass.
For connecting peripherals, there were only USB ports. A risky choice at that time, as devices that supported USB for the Mac did not yet exist.
How much do you need a computer that complements your office’s paint job or the color of your curtains?
Andrew Cunningham
New York Times May 20, 2021
Over the past 25 years, the iMac has slowly shifted from a consumer computer to a professional workhorse.
In 2017, Apple even presented a black-coloured iMac Pro that, depending on specifications, was 4 to 10 times more expensive than the iMac M1.
In that respect, the iMac M1 is really a throwback to the iMac G3. Back to a simpler computer with minimal specifications, not a machine for the professional user. The campaign videos also show in identical fashion that the M1, like its 1998 predecessor, is available in different colours. Again, a computer meant for the living room and not to be tucked away somewhere in a study or dusty office.
The world's most beautiful desktop. (...) You choose this iMac because of its looks.
Koen van Ekeren
iCreate January 9, 2022
Comparison falls short: RAM is a fast but short-term memory, while Unified Memory combines short- and long-term memory into one big memory pool accessible to all processes in a computer. A fundamentally different and faster technology.
The first iMac with a built-in camera was in the 2005
iMac G5. It also introduced the Front Row media centre interface (precursor to Apple TV) and an
Apple Remote.
iMac G3
Processor
G3 - 233 MHz
RAM
32MB (max 128 MB)
CD-ROM
Connectivity
56 dial-up modem
1x ethernet, 2x USB-1
IrDA Infrared port
No front camera
OS
Mac OS 8.1
iMac M1
Processor
M1 - 8-core CPU 8‑core GPU
Unified Memory
8GB (max 16GB)
No optical drive
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 6 wireless networking,
Bluetooth 5.0
2 Thunderbolt/USB-4 ports
1080p FaceTime HD camera
OS
macOS 12 Monterey
The last iMac with an optical drive was the 2009 Unibody iMac.
Incidentally, the price of the iMac G3 in 1998 and the iMac M1 now, is the same. Even though this is undoubtedly coincidental, it does show how computer technology has evolved and how our expectations have risen in equal measure. After all, the iMac M1 is superior to the iMac G3, but despite this, reviewers found both machines far too expensive for their capabilities. Tough audience.
At the time of producing this infographic, the iMac M1 has been on the market for almost 2 years and is now lagging behind the rest of Apple's line-up.
The wait is on for the next iMac.
Comparing computers that were released more than 20 years apart is pretty silly, but here we are.
Stephen Hackett
512Pixels May 25, 2021
This page was created by me, Thijs Geritz. I’m a Dutch Free-lance Illustrator, animator and infographic maker. Contact me if you’re interested in any of my visualizing skills go to my website or or follow the links below to visit my online accounts.
In Dutch
© Thijs Geritz v.3 | February 23th 2023