PowerMac G5 Power, cooling, and case design...
Okay, I know a lot of people aren't thrilled about the new case design, and I have to admit that I'm less than enthusiastic about the "cheese grater" design, but there are concerns greater than pure looks that necessitate the new look.
First of all, I was hoping a G5 laptop with a 15.4" screen would be introduced this morning, but, after seeing the cooling solution in the case, I fear that a portable G5 is a LONG way off. The heat sinks are huge, and the fans giant. I don't like the cooling solutions of PC's, with the P4 coolers having to dissipate over 84w. Water cooling is definitely an option but several months, if not years, from standardized adoption by major vendors of PC's.
So, that leads to my opinion about the new G5 aluminum case design. While not as "un-pc" like as I had hoped, it certainly is well planned and engineered. There are still major differences between PC and Apple cases (even with the addition of the G5 case). The most obvious thought of PC case designers is "well, we have to shove all this hardware somewhere...let's just throw some metal and plastic together and see if people will buy it". Apple's is much different, seeming to scream, "Okay...we've got a great system, but what will it LOOK like? It has to be easy to use, have solid construction, be scalable, cool the components properly yet still maintain a low noise level, and be similar to the products we already offer...oh, and have enough style to make PC's say uncle."
Okay, probably not a fair assessment, but I think it's close.
Even though it looks cool, it doesn't have that instant "I HAVE to have it!" look of the iPod (2nd generation) or the sex appeal that has afforded Apple so much leway in the speed arena. The translucent white with ovetones of gray and silver are getting old, but thankfully, they didn't introduce new displays with the aluminum styling!
This is a bad thing to say, but the new case design seems rather limited in the expandibility area. One optical drive? Serial ATA is cool, but I still like having everything INSIDE the case. 3 PCI slots seems rather limited, even with the extensive integration of firewire, usb, and ethernet.
I applaud the use of serial ATA though. A full scale factory standard is exactly the kind of push people need to upgrade and help serial ATA become standard.
What about the cheese grater? Well, honestly, I don't like it one bit. It looks like a PC. It looks like a Liani-Li case. It looks like those wire mesh trash cans you see in post modern designed office spaces only squashed and turned on its side. But, I could be jumping the gun and it may grow on me over time.
Here's the honest truth from my point of view: they did great incorporating cooling with apple design, but it isn't as immediately lovable. When I saw my current Mac for the first time in the store, I immediately had to touch it and see if the outside of the case was real. It was sleek and muscular. I also bought my PC because the light on the front of the case was blue and there were cool blue lights on the keyboard (well, does it count if you built your own?). This new G5 case almost repells me. The slick, seemless design of the G4's made me think, "this is truly revolutionary". These seem like a step backward...
Just my 2 cents, I don't love it, but I really think they always do a good job at designing their products.
First of all, I was hoping a G5 laptop with a 15.4" screen would be introduced this morning, but, after seeing the cooling solution in the case, I fear that a portable G5 is a LONG way off. The heat sinks are huge, and the fans giant. I don't like the cooling solutions of PC's, with the P4 coolers having to dissipate over 84w. Water cooling is definitely an option but several months, if not years, from standardized adoption by major vendors of PC's.
So, that leads to my opinion about the new G5 aluminum case design. While not as "un-pc" like as I had hoped, it certainly is well planned and engineered. There are still major differences between PC and Apple cases (even with the addition of the G5 case). The most obvious thought of PC case designers is "well, we have to shove all this hardware somewhere...let's just throw some metal and plastic together and see if people will buy it". Apple's is much different, seeming to scream, "Okay...we've got a great system, but what will it LOOK like? It has to be easy to use, have solid construction, be scalable, cool the components properly yet still maintain a low noise level, and be similar to the products we already offer...oh, and have enough style to make PC's say uncle."
Okay, probably not a fair assessment, but I think it's close.
Even though it looks cool, it doesn't have that instant "I HAVE to have it!" look of the iPod (2nd generation) or the sex appeal that has afforded Apple so much leway in the speed arena. The translucent white with ovetones of gray and silver are getting old, but thankfully, they didn't introduce new displays with the aluminum styling!
This is a bad thing to say, but the new case design seems rather limited in the expandibility area. One optical drive? Serial ATA is cool, but I still like having everything INSIDE the case. 3 PCI slots seems rather limited, even with the extensive integration of firewire, usb, and ethernet.
I applaud the use of serial ATA though. A full scale factory standard is exactly the kind of push people need to upgrade and help serial ATA become standard.
What about the cheese grater? Well, honestly, I don't like it one bit. It looks like a PC. It looks like a Liani-Li case. It looks like those wire mesh trash cans you see in post modern designed office spaces only squashed and turned on its side. But, I could be jumping the gun and it may grow on me over time.
Here's the honest truth from my point of view: they did great incorporating cooling with apple design, but it isn't as immediately lovable. When I saw my current Mac for the first time in the store, I immediately had to touch it and see if the outside of the case was real. It was sleek and muscular. I also bought my PC because the light on the front of the case was blue and there were cool blue lights on the keyboard (well, does it count if you built your own?). This new G5 case almost repells me. The slick, seemless design of the G4's made me think, "this is truly revolutionary". These seem like a step backward...
Just my 2 cents, I don't love it, but I really think they always do a good job at designing their products.
Comments
how many years have we been moaning and groaning about speed and fp specmarck and now we have the fastest desktop on the planet and people moan about a cheese grater look to it.
good quality pictures, it looks pretty cool
i can'tg get the inside picture to work, if you can pleez let me know cuz i think its an awesome design, it doesn't look that bad either
This will take time to get used to, and as always, I still love the design of my G4.
Originally posted by jvandergriff
It would have really impressed me if the Apple logo on the side lit up and glowed like the ones on the iBook and Powerbooks.
I can't really see from the shots I've seen, is the logo screen printed on the side, is it inset plastic like the PowerBooks, or what?
he was right! this person obviously has insider info!
I'm missing the problem.
My biggest issue is that you burn up a USB 2.0 port with the frikkin' keyboard. Wha's up with dat?
Originally posted by CosmoNut
My biggest issue is that you burn up a USB 2.0 port with the frikkin' keyboard. Wha's up with dat?
Not really, since you'll have more on the monitor.
Originally posted by jvandergriff
Do your research! Duron is a brand of condom!
I thought that was Durex.
Originally posted by rageous
Not really, since you'll have more on the monitor.
Ah, that's right. I forgot that the monitor...yeah. Forget it.
Is there any technical reasons why an additional optical drive could not be included. It seems Apple took a step backwards from the "Mirror-Drive" PowerMac's, since users apparently wanted more than one optical drive. Seems odd to design a case with only one optical drive.
Since Apple decided on including only optical drive, it would be nice if they offered a nice case matching FireWire external drive enclosure for users that need more than one optical drive.
Too bad that the case couldn't be designed so that RAM and PCI cards could be installed from the top of the computer instead of the side. I hope its design isn't too much like PCs where you almost have to flip the computer on its side to install memory and PCI cards.
All nitpicks aside, it is a great looking case.
BTW: Can anyone confirm that these new G5's are sitting on the floor at WWDC for people to see and use? Judging from the keynote, the don't really seem to be completed as August shipping products should be. Curious.
How long do you think it will be before someone comes out with a plexglass replacement door for the G5?
But one caveat is, dust build-up in the case. Peopl better think twice before they put this thing under the desk or on the floor?
Then you can add in the cold cathode lights and.........
Originally posted by jvandergriff
It would have really impressed me if the Apple logo on the side lit up and glowed like the ones on the iBook and Powerbooks.
This just might be possible. Read the last paragraph.