Apple: We need front mounted USB and Firewire! [Archive]

stepson

11-16-2001, 11:54 PM

applenut,
we're totally on the same wavelength ... i just posted a similar comment on the '3 things you want to change to the apple lineup' thread ... ;) Maybe they'll listen and come up with something more elegant than what we have now in the PeeCee world ... which is usually either "hide the ports behind an ugly panel" or "leave the ports exposed". not sure i like either, but front mount ports would be an improvement.

What i do with my cube is, i have a dr. bott hub plugged into my keyboard, and i leave a firewire cord dangling for my video camera ... not the best solution, but it works :)

Brad

11-17-2001, 12:19 AM

[quote]Originally posted by applenut:
kinda hard to use the ipod if you have a tower under a desk or something.<hr></blockquote>What?? :eek: How dare you blaspheme Apple in such a vulgar way! :mad: Jobs 3:27 clearly proclaims: [quote]That all Macs be exposed gloriously, shining uncloaked high atop the pillarous altars of Apple, so to reveal the sovereignty that is Apple to thine heathen PC bretheren.<hr></blockquote>Thus, bring out your Macintosh from beneath the shawdows of your berth! We followers of the almighty Apple have nothing to hide!

:cool:

macXusr

11-17-2001, 02:28 AM

what about a front mounted headphone jack too for audio nuts!!

haunebu

11-17-2001, 03:02 AM

Sucks that adding ports to the front makes a machine so ugly. For real tho. Compaq's been doing it, and covering them up with a slide-away door for years. Blech.

Brad

11-17-2001, 03:19 AM

[quote]Originally posted by macXusr:
what about a front mounted headphone jack too for audio nuts!!<hr></blockquote>
Ditto that. I've memorized the "feel" of what and where the ports are in the back of my Mac just from swapping between speakers and headphones.

groverat

11-17-2001, 03:32 AM

I'm surprised that computer companies still don't have this as standard, it just makes sense for devices that are swapped in and out. Permanent deviced connected up front is fugly, but the iPod screams for a convenient FW port.

Apple, with its beaucoup PrettyCase budget can surely come up with an aesthetically pleasing way of making that happen.

(As a personal gripe, I don't think Dell could make it any more difficult to hook things up without chainin attack dogs to the back of the system. grrrr

Dell designer: "Let's see, most people are right handed and it is easier to reach the top back rather than the bottom back, so on our desktops let's put all the ports on the bottom left, and make sure that the USB ports are blocked by the video cord. . .")

[ 11-17-2001: Message edited by: groverat ]

Sinewave

11-17-2001, 04:00 AM

Towers like women.. belong under the desk ;)

naderby

11-17-2001, 04:24 AM

Me too!

Whats worse is that I have Yikes! G4, Dual 450 G4, and a Digital Audio 466 G4 - they have all got different positioned FireWire ports!!

AND, the most recent G4 has squashed the ports between the USB and Ethernet ports making them even worst to fumble. Progress, what progress?

Front FireWire ports would make my life much easier.

userone

11-17-2001, 05:19 AM

The whole concept of connectivity is also what puzzles me. It definitely is a battle between pure form and the ability to connect with wires.

iMac wins because in its original incarnation you can use it in its ‘pure’ form and be quite happy to use it without the need to add that many bits to it.

The Cube ‘fell down’ somewhat because it seemed awkward to connect to the back. It was definitely a computer which when was put in its place - you didn’t really want to interfere with it again, I certainly would not want to disturb its highfalutin majesty!

My G3 seems to just has a mass of stuff coming out the back of it!!!

I think the Hub version of computing is affecting alot of us now - so how can we do this without causing a mess and obscuring the pure forms of the art-like computer?

Solution 1

Make every thing a connected thing. The object looks like it should be connected!!

Solution 2

Create an Annex into which all the connections can be made.

This may be realised at a point where we have very little contact with the computer and the connection experience becomes its own objective - what I mean is that the computer can be philosophically split into 2 parts:

A The part that works and can exist anywhere (above and below a desk or in a rack even).

B The part you connect to: the annex Encourages the New Joy of Computing which is the ability to connect and feed/transfer various material.

The Annex therefore is a connection machine not in the parallel computing sense but in the physical sense - to compute is to connect. I think this is visualised well in the ‘Rio’ iBook Ad, where its not about the iBook per se but how you connect.

What will the Annex look like?
It could just be like the iBook - a plush line of connectors on a solid base.
It could be on your keyboard or working input device.
It could be visually like an AirPort Base station
Or the monitor continues to evolve and take on more responsibility.

It might be also worth considering the tactile nature of making a physical connection... like do you want to be able to move the thing your connecting to and how does it feel? Is it rubberised to give you some purchase or grip?

It would be interesting to see any ideas as renderings or drawings...

userone

[ 11-17-2001: Message edited by: userone ]

Matsu

11-17-2001, 07:43 AM

How 'bout a cheap live drive type thingy for the rather useless zip-bay???

jwdawso

11-17-2001, 07:50 AM

My iMac IS way more convenient with the ports on the side. Probably Powerbook/iBook owners think the same. How about ports on the side, or firewire ports incuded on the display?

Borborygmi

11-17-2001, 08:13 AM

Hey, do they PowerMacs still have those internal firewire ports? You could drill a hole in the front of the case and run an extension lead from it to the hole and then work out some way to make a face plate. Probably look like hell, though.....

Aphelion

11-17-2001, 08:54 AM

[quote]Originally posted by userone:
The whole concept of connectivity is also what puzzles me. It definitely is a battle between pure form and the ability to connect with wires...
... The Cube ‘fell down’ somewhat because it seemed awkward to connect to the back. It was definitely a computer which when was put in its place - you didn’t really want to interfere with it again, I certainly would not want to disturb its highfalutin majesty!...

Solution 1

Make every thing a connected thing. The object looks like it should be connected!!

Solution 2

Create an Annex into which all the connections can be made.
A The part that works and can exist anywhere (above and below a desk or in a rack even).
What will the Annex look like?
[list] It could just be like the iBook - a plush line of connectors on a solid base. It could be on your keyboard or working input device. It could be visually like an AirPort Base station Or the monitor continues to evolve and take on more responsibility.

... It would be interesting to see any ideas as renderings or drawings...

userone

[ 11-17-2001: Message edited by: userone ]<hr></blockquote>

Most Interesting userone.

On a personal note, my Cube sits as Art on my desk, positioned directly over a 2 inch "knock out" hole put there to run wires. All connections, save video, go right down that hole in a nice bundle. I have a Sony CD burner (on a shelf above my monitor) and a Sony DV Cam (doing double duty as a Web Cam) firewired to the Cube. USB to my Pro speakers and to a 7 port USB hub conveniently located, yet out of sight under my desk.

In a sense my Cube will become my "Annex" when I get a TiBook, as it will become my broadband firewall and file/web server. I'll use my TiBook from anywhere on my property - wirelessly.

Belle

11-17-2001, 10:28 AM

[quote]Originally posted by applenut:
How do expect to be the digital hub when its just hard to hook up a device?<hr></blockquote>
I couldn't agree more, applenut. I have a feeling we'll get revised Apple displays in January which will include a handful of easily accessible USB and FireWire ports.

I would assume a revised iMac would also be made a bit more suitable for it's role as a "digital hub".
[quote]Sucks that adding ports to the front makes a machine so ugly.<hr></blockquote>
I don't know, I like the open ports on the iBook. It makes it look, um, kind of techie and gadgety. It's certainly prettier than a strip of serial, parallel and VGA ports.

wormboy

11-17-2001, 10:49 AM

Why not just buy a hub? More ports. Easy access. Simple.

Belle

11-17-2001, 11:00 AM

[quote]Originally posted by wormboy:
Why not just buy a hub? More ports. Easy access. Simple.<hr></blockquote>
I think applenut's point is that if Apple is selling it's hardware as a "digital hub" for your USB and FireWire devices, it would be kind of sensible for them to provide a clutch of easy to find ports.

BRussell

11-17-2001, 11:41 AM

Whaddya think about this - aren't those all ports on the front? This machine is a digital hub.
http://www.sonystyle.com/vaio/images/desktops/mx_240.jpg

Nebagakid

11-17-2001, 11:42 AM

It is true, my G4 has an internal FireWire port...i am thinking of getting an internal FireWire HD, considrun i dont want to upgrade to another card (SCSI or ATA/100)

this birds gotta fly <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />

Logan Cale

11-17-2001, 01:44 PM

What IS the point of that internal FW port?

I think instead of having them on the very front of the machine, how about the side or bottom somehow? I'm thinking the side, because it's not hard to plug in and it's not as ugly either.

Although, someone else had a point, they should just be on Apple's displays. Yeah. That's a good idea.

KidRed

11-17-2001, 01:53 PM

You got me thinking about the ports on the front and I remebered I found a G5 protype pic on hotline about 1-2 years ago. Not that I think this will ever see the light of day and I'm not saying look for this but notice the front ports-

http://www.kidredproductions.com/pics/G5%20Prototype.jpg

apple.otaku

11-17-2001, 02:06 PM

[quote]Originally posted by BRussell:

Whaddya think about this - aren't those all ports on the front? This machine is a digital hub.
http://www.sonystyle.com/vaio/images/desktops/mx_240.jpg<hr></blockquote>

This is where Apple should be. Sony clearly has Apple beat in the Digital Hub arena. Take a <a href="http://www.sony.co.jp/sd/products/Consumer/PCOM/PCV-MXS1L5/parts.html" target="_blank">look</a> at this Sony Vaio. I want one and I hate Windows.

apple_otaku

apple.otaku

11-17-2001, 02:23 PM

Its available in the US as well. Take a <a href="http://www.sonystyle.com/vaio/mx/index.shtml" target="_blank">look</a> at it. It has everything. It even has a TV tuner with Tivo functionality. It records video in MPEG-2 and you can save it to the DVD-R/RW drive if you want. You also get MiniDisc and Memory Stick slots and more imputs/outputs than you can imagine. Dammit Apple, why can't you come out with something like this? This is the perfect Digital Hub computer, except for that Windows XP thing...

apple_otaku

Mediaman

11-17-2001, 02:38 PM

I've just took a look at that Sony. Apple R&D better had be looking at that machine very hard . That IS the type of machine the G5 [b]needs[b/] to beat, if Apple wants to become no1 withe the 'Digital Hub' idea.

Front mounted USB/FireWire ports are a must, my USB camera isn't recognized by the capture app unless it's plugged in to the USB on the back. The idea on that mockup above is a good one, use the cool 'soft eject' tec that is used on tape decks and it's a winner.

[ 11-17-2001: Message edited by: Mediaman ]

EmAn

11-17-2001, 03:27 PM

That Sony is amazing. I wish Apple would make something like it.

I also agree that Apple either need USB and FireWire in front or on the side. It would make life easier with things like the iPod and other MP3 players and Digital Cameras.

wired

11-17-2001, 04:59 PM

I agree, Apple needs to put some ports on the front, at least on the towers. I know it's not the best-looking thing in the world, but this is Apple, so I'd think they could find a way to make it work and make it look good.

Michael Grey

11-17-2001, 05:44 PM

Okay, so the appeal of this Sony is kinda lost on me, but we may be forgetting something pretty important....cables.

All our periphs have cables..some have two each, and they're pretty much all oriented the same as our Macs; business end up front, cables come out the back. So if I hook my scanner or CD-RW to a front or side port, then I'm left with cables that are bunching up along side my Mac.

Sad to say it but having cables come out the back of the Mac is the best thing for hiding them, since they can be run neatly off the back of your workstation. The break-out box that userone described sounds like it has real potential, but I doubt we'll see it anytime soon since Apple is all for combining cables instead of adding to them (think ADC).

Still I agree with applenut about the need for easier access, but if we're gonna have side-mounted ports, I think they have to be at least near the back. And maybe they don't have to be ugly. I think a nice wide groove could make a good design element while concealing some I/O ports. I did a quickie below, based on an old (but still very cool) mock-up from <a href="http://www.applele.com" target="_blank">Applele</a>. I know, it's not really to scale or anything, but you get the idea.
http://www.mras-usa.com/media/groove.jpg

Anyway, glad to see the boards are back.

cdhostage

11-17-2001, 06:18 PM

The only ports on the frot of my iMac are two headphone polrts :mad: hateit I want USB in front!

Aphelion

11-17-2001, 06:22 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Mediaman:
I've just took a look at that Sony. Apple R&D better had be looking at that machine very hard. That IS the type of machine the G5 needs to beat, if Apple wants to become no1 withe the 'Digital Hub' idea.<hr></blockquote>

So True Mediaman. Apple had better soon include the features that Sony put in this MV series. Sony even uses the term "Digital Lifestyle" with these new machines. Without incorporating TV and FM tuner capabilities into the platform, not to mention TiVo capabilities, Apple will never be a true "Digital Hub". Apple needs to walk their own talk.

[ 11-17-2001: Message edited by: Aphelion ]

Michael Grey

11-17-2001, 07:09 PM

Ummm....did Apple ever say it wants its desktops to be a digital hub? I mean, I know it is marketing the iBook with the whole 'digital hub' thing...but I thought the pro-line of desktops were for...well..pros. Do pros really need Tivo?

BRussell

11-17-2001, 07:57 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Michael Grey:
[QB]All our periphs have cables..some have two each, and they're pretty much all oriented the same as our Macs; business end up front, cables come out the back. So if I hook my scanner or CD-RW to a front or side port, then I'm left with cables that are bunching up along side my Mac.<hr></blockquote>But the digital hub concept really applies to more temporarily connected devices such as cameras, camcorders, mp3 players, and the like. Not as much CD-RW drives and scanners. But I agree that there should be some in the back, too, for those types of devices.

I hope wireless has a bigger role in the future, so we won't need those ports at all! Maybe just an out-of-the-way Airport basestation.

applenut

11-17-2001, 09:20 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Michael Grey:
Okay, so the appeal of this Sony is kinda lost on me, but we may be forgetting something pretty important....cables.

All our periphs have cables..some have two each, and they're pretty much all oriented the same as our Macs; business end up front, cables come out the back. So if I hook my scanner or CD-RW to a front or side port, then I'm left with cables that are bunching up along side my Mac.

Sad to say it but having cables come out the back of the Mac is the best thing for hiding them, since they can be run neatly off the back of your workstation. The break-out box that userone described sounds like it has real potential, but I doubt we'll see it anytime soon since Apple is all for combining cables instead of adding to them (think ADC).

Still I agree with applenut about the need for easier access, but if we're gonna have side-mounted ports, I think they have to be at least near the back. And maybe they don't have to be ugly. I think a nice wide groove could make a good design element while concealing some I/O ports. I did a quickie below, based on an old (but still very cool) mock-up from <a href="http://www.applele.com" target="_blank">Applele</a>. I know, it's not really to scale or anything, but you get the idea.
http://www.mras-usa.com/media/groove.jpg

Anyway, glad to see the boards are back.<hr></blockquote>

perhaps you missed the point. the front accessable ports are not for devices that will be stationary or never unplugged like a scanner or printer. leave the back ports for that the front ones are for a digital camera or camcorder or iPod which is constantly unplugged and moved.

[quote] posted 11-17-2001 07:09 PM *** ** * * * **
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ummm....did Apple ever say it wants its desktops to be a digital hub? I mean, I know it is marketing the iBook with the whole 'digital hub' thing...but I thought the pro-line of desktops were for...well..pros. Do pros really need Tivo? <hr></blockquote>

1.) Apple means for the hub to be every product. or is iDVD not part of the hub now? or iTunes? or iMovie? they al ship on the pro products
2.) the PowerMac G4 is NOT a "pro product" even though it may be called one and priced like one. Example: look at me. I'm far from a pro user. But anything less than a PowerMac or Powerbook would not be suitable for me. And to say a "pro user" would not want added multimedia features such as Tivo is wrong.

apple.otaku

11-17-2001, 09:34 PM

Its an example of how Apple is falling behind. Look at what all you get with that Sony Vaio MX for the same price as a PowerMac G4. I mean, take a long hard look at the specs for this Sony. I think a lot of people would like the idea of Tivo functionality in their computer, especially when it doesn't require a service to do so. You also get digital optical in/out with Dolby Digital support. I believe you can even listen to the radio, cd, mp3 and minidisc all with the computer off. Not sure. This could be the perfect media computer, the perfect digital hub.

apple_otaku

KidRed

11-17-2001, 09:57 PM

[quote]Originally posted by apple_otaku:
Its an example of how Apple is falling behind. Look at what all you get with that Sony Vaio MX for the same price as a PowerMac G4. I mean, take a long hard look at the specs for this Sony. I think a lot of people would like the idea of Tivo functionality in their computer, especially when it doesn't require a service to do so. You also get digital optical in/out with Dolby Digital support. I believe you can even listen to the radio, cd, mp3 and minidisc all with the computer off. Not sure. This could be the perfect media computer, the perfect digital hub.

apple_otaku<hr></blockquote>

Well, not
perfect because it runs windows :)

apple.otaku

11-17-2001, 10:39 PM

True enough. Here is a picture:

http://db.ascii24.com/db/review/pc/desktop/2001/11/08/images/images667896.jpg

apple_otaku

[ 11-17-2001: Message edited by: apple_otaku ]

apple.otaku

11-17-2001, 10:45 PM

A couple close-up pictures:

http://db.ascii24.com/db/review/pc/desktop/2001/11/08/images/images667897.jpg

http://db.ascii24.com/db/review/pc/desktop/2001/11/08/images/images667898.jpg

apple_otaku

[ 11-17-2001: Message edited by: apple_otaku ]

Jonathan

11-17-2001, 11:20 PM

god, that's hideous.

Jonathan

11-17-2001, 11:22 PM

god, that's hideous.

applenut

11-17-2001, 11:56 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Jonathan:
god, that's hideous.<hr></blockquote>

I think it looks great.

a bit better than the useless and boring front on current Apple towers

Jonathan

11-17-2001, 11:59 PM

that thing could be so much better designed and proivide the same utility.

bradbower

11-18-2001, 12:11 AM

Jonathan, could you give us some reasons why you think it is so "hideous"? I think it looks good. The buttons are a neat idea, the port door covers the unsightly ports, and the design is overall very clean. What's not to like (besides the Windows XP logo)? I think you're just criticizing it because it isn't covered with swirly colored iPlastic. :rolleyes: Typical Mac zealotry.

curmi

11-18-2001, 12:18 AM

The Apple Keyboard has 2 USB ports. How about an Apple keyboard with 2 firewire ports too? Cable from the keyboard would be slightly thicker, but I could live with that.

Wouldn't that solve the problem? No need to make the machine look ugly, and more convenient because you don't have to bend down under the desk to plug in your cables (even if ports are at the front, you still need to bend).

Doesn't solve the port problem on powerbooks and iBooks, but then I don't see the ports as much of a problem on those machines...

pscates

11-18-2001, 12:37 AM

I'm not a G4 owner, so I don't really give a flying damn when it comes right down to it.

However, on principle alone, Apple, as long as they're screaming about this whole "digital hub" thing and talking about how their Macs and OS "add value" to all these gadgets everyone seems to be toting around, really needs to make it easier for those devices to be connected to your Mac.

It's funny: the iStuff has always gone for the "ports on the side" approach, which is SO nice (I would HATE to have to spin my iMac around anytime I wanted to insert or remove a cable, like I have to on my G4 at work).

But the pro stuff? Everything is in the back. Maybe Apple thinks pro users get paid enough to reach further back and screw around with cable and feeling blindly for the proper port?

:p

Yes, for things like scanners, printers, etc. the ports in the back ARE nice because it hides cable clutter and so forth. However, how hard could it possibly be to put one of each (one FireWire, one USB) port somewhere on the front of these Quicksilver towers? Especially with as much open, flat, dead wasted space as is available. That front panel of the Quicksilver G4, now that the pin striping and drive bezels are gone, is like looking at Montana or something!

There's no reason or excuse NOT to, especially in the era of digital cameras, camcorders, PDAs and Apple's OWN iPod! They're the beating us over the head with the whole "digital hub" philosophy, but they make it a pain in the balls to hook those very devices to half their product line.

Another example of Apple being supremely cool and ground-breaking and ahead-of-the-game in certain areas, only to look like clueless, drugged monkeys in so many others.

siletz

11-18-2001, 01:09 AM

[quote]Originally posted by applenut:
How do expect to be the digital hub when its just hard to hook up a device?

every desktop mac should have a USB and firewire port mounted on the front and the powerbook should have at least 1 usb on the side somewhere.

powermac especially. kinda hard to use the ipod if you have a tower under a desk or something.<hr></blockquote>

I have a belkin hub on mty desk top, works for me. :)

Morte

11-18-2001, 01:11 AM

The problem that Apple has is that they don't coordinate the updates of their product lines, so while most of their products have adapted to the digital hub idea, with easily accessable ports, the PowerMac case has unchanged, save for the occasional cosmetic adjustment, for years.

None of the pictures posted of the VAIO MX case do it justice. I used a few of them at Comdex, and I was impressed. The problems that it has is that it doesn't do CD-R/RW (in favor of using minidiscs, which I dislike), it only has a GF2 MX, it has no internal and external expandibility (one PCI slot and one internal 3.25" bay is all you get), its face picks up fingerprints like crazy, the front slots are way too low, and its tied to a nasty OS. Still, I think that Sony is going in a very good direction, and the price of the unit represents some real added value. On the other hand, the current PowerMac looks okay, but aside from the SuperDrive, the hardware itself isn't much different from a typical PC's, so you get most of the added value on the software side, which doesn't immediately justify the premium price.

I don't think that Apple needs to go in that direction with the next PowerMac. Sure, the MX has some spiffy features, but its utter lack of expandibility kills it. Also, its Memory Stick and MD features tie one too closely to Sony. That being said, some kind of easily accessable ports are needed in the next PM case, and they should be in the top of the case, towards the front, in an enclosure that can slide into the case when the ports are not in use.

Aphelion

11-18-2001, 01:31 AM

[quote]Originally posted by Michael Grey:
Ummm....did Apple ever say it wants its desktops to be a digital hub? I mean, I know it is marketing the iBook with the whole 'digital hub' thing...but I thought the pro-line of desktops were for...well..pros. Do pros really need Tivo?<hr></blockquote>

When I said that Apple needed to integrate the features of the Sony MX into the platform I wasn't thinking inside the box. The image you photoshoped from the Applele site would be a good starting point for the "Apple Digital Hub". Make it fit the stereo component form factor (Rack Mac?) 1.75" high by 18" wide. Rails for a 5.25" drive (SuperDrive in the high end, DVD/CD-RW standard) as well as mounts for a 3.5" hard drive. License TiVo technology, just like Sony does. Oh, and one more thing, license the Nintendo Game Cube technology as others are doing (Panasonic) and use the IBM "Gecko" iteration of the G3 to power it.

So there you have it, the "Apple Digital Hub" link it via firewire to any Mac and have standard connections for the TV and Stereo. Cool Apple Design remote control included.

[ 11-18-2001: Message edited by: Aphelion ]

Retrograde

11-18-2001, 06:48 AM

[quote]Originally posted by curmi:
The Apple Keyboard has 2 USB ports. How about an Apple keyboard with 2 firewire ports too? Cable from the keyboard would be slightly thicker, but I could live with that.<hr></blockquote>

I think that is a super idea and should solve the problem fairly well without having to compromise Apple's arty designs. Another answer, which I believe someone mentioned earlier, would be to add firewire ports to Apple's monitors. These two ideas seem the best to me.

neutrino23

11-18-2001, 08:14 AM

The Sony doesn't look all that great in real life but the idea is kind of nice. I would like to see Apple come out with a consumer device somethign like this - wide LCD with a minitower with one PCI slot and one bay. Kind of a high end iMac.

I like the way the little panel drops down to reveal a couple ports. On the other hand, why did they stick that display in the front panel? Can't they handle it on the main display? Also, I think there is a minidisk there just because Sony makes them. My guess is that MD is about at its peak now and will decline from here on out.

Michael Grey

11-18-2001, 01:54 PM

Sorry dude, it's definately hideous.

applenut I hate to say it but you're exactly the kind of user to which Apple does not need to market. You may buy their stuff, and they are glad that you buy their stuff, but I doubt they are out there beating the bushes trying to sell Macs for guys to set up in their bedrooms.

I think Apple is trying to sell its "pro" line (yes, they are professional machines) to every advertising agency, recording studio, web developer, print publisher and video production house in the world. That is where its "pro" market is. And saying that you think TiVo is a "multimedia" feature shows how far you removed you are from the pro-world. That's like saying Quake3 is a 'training tool.' TiVo is for recreation: period.

Editor's note: The main reason that Sony is offering TiVo in its PCs at all is because Sony has equity staked in TiVo and if that company fails Sony loses money. So Sony is trying to prop it up by putting TiVo in its computers the same way it is trying to keep Memory Sticks alive by putting them in its digital video cameras.

ANYWAY, back to applenut's original (and very valid) point. I understand what you mean now about having ports both in the back and in the front. So it's worth noting that the mock-up I originally ripped off above looks like it actually has a USB port and a Firewire port in the front. Is that what you're talking about?

http://www.applele.com/powerfulmac4_b.jpg

EmAn

11-18-2001, 02:46 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Jonathan:
god, that's hideous.<hr></blockquote>

It's not as good looking as Apple's stuff, but it's not so bad.

Fran441

11-18-2001, 02:55 PM

USB is already on Apple Monitors. If they add Firewire, what are you complaining about?

Nebrie

11-18-2001, 02:57 PM

[quote]Originally posted by bradbower:
Jonathan, could you give us some reasons why you think it is so "hideous"? I think it looks good. The buttons are a neat idea, the port door covers the unsightly ports, and the design is overall very clean. What's not to like (besides the Windows XP logo)? I think you're just criticizing it because it isn't covered with swirly colored iPlastic. :rolleyes: Typical Mac zealotry.<hr></blockquote>

you != world

murbot

11-18-2001, 03:03 PM

It actually doesn't look too bad. I suppose I didn't really give it much thought, because I didn't have a digital camera or an MP3 player when I had my tower. It's only since having a portable I've had these other things... as much as I am plugging and unplugging these devices, it would be a real pain in the ass with a tower.

It saddens me to say this, but Apple should really take a look at this Vaio. It's pretty sharp.

macaddict

11-18-2001, 03:30 PM

I don't like the looks of the Vaio.

I don't like the looks of the iMac either though.

The reason I think the Vaio looks horrible is because it's short, wide, and dull colored.

[ 11-18-2001: Message edited by: MacAddict ]

applenut

11-18-2001, 03:59 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Fran441:
USB is already on Apple Monitors. If they add Firewire, what are you complaining about?<hr></blockquote>

it should be on the computer itself, not the monitor or keyboard.

people may have third party displays or keyboards but they won't have third party computer cases :mad:

it's not that difficult. everyone else does it, Apple NEEDs to do it. Apple's desktops are a joke. a joke in performance, a joke in price, a joke in competitiveness, a joke in elegance, a joke in innovation, and a joke in ease of use.

it's sad.

Matsu

11-18-2001, 04:10 PM

That sony isn't too bad. Chop it down to half it's height. Leave only one PCI and 1 AGP slot. PPC, of course. Only two drive bays (one with a Combo unit, the other with the HDD). Airport, TV out, ADC/VGA out. and a 1bit display (twice the iPods width) under the plastic fascia. No buttons on the front except for a nice power-button. The display is touch sensitive and controls a pure MP3/CD/DVD player-jukebox home-entertainment HD-recorder mode. Alternatively you can boot into a full macOSX environment displayed either on a monitor or TV.

Say hello to iMac 2:

DVD/CDrw Combo drive
PPC G? @ 1Ghz
3 ram slots
1 full AGP slot
1 full PCI slot
40-80GB HDD's
$999-1299-1499US (Monitor not included)
15" LCD available for $300 with purchase.

pscates

11-18-2001, 04:12 PM

Well, you ain't seen nothin' yet...just wait until MWSF when no G5 is announced and NONE of the things talked about above are implemented to the G4.

:)

Wanna talk about "sad"...

We'll bitch and moan, then lick our wounds and get ourselves set up for the summertime letdown that is MWNY.

One step forward, two steps back. Apple is the kind of company that would redesign the motorboat as we know it, taking it to new heights of cool looks and features. Then they'd stick a chainsaw motor on it...backwards, no less.

And for a premium, you could upgrade to a dual minibike motor, so even though you have the coolest-looking boat on the lake, all your buddies are jetting by in tricked-out models with ski tows, access ramps, life jacket compartments, drink holders, horns, etc. You know, USEFUL, practical stuff.

And there you are, going 25mph with last year's fish finder and an anchor that costs too much and isn't interchangeable.