iMacs `Cute,' Cheap but Hard to Use

First, Apple told us to "Think Different." Then they offered us the iMac, forcing us to re-evaluate what a computer is and should be.

The iMac is certainly different--even its opponents would agree. Reactions to the revolution, however, are varied. While many embrace the "bondi" blue and white exterior as cute, others say it as ugly and unprofessional.

The premise behind the iMac was to build a computer for the average American consumer. The iMac product team writes, "We think of consumers not just as the people who want to use a computer in their home, but also as the students and teachers in the K-12 and higher education community as well." With the arrival of Windows 95 (and now 98), Apple began to lose its share of this market and seeks to gain it back.

To meet the requirements of the target group, the iMac is inexpensive, durable and powerful enough to last.

At $1,299, the iMac is one of the cheapest complete computing solutions on the market. The package includes a 4 GB hard drive, 24X CD-ROM drive, 32 MB RAM, 2MB of video RAM, a 10/100 Base-T Ethernet card, 56Kbps modem and a keyboard, mouse and monitor.

The iMac is also among the fastest consumer computers available.

According to BYTEmark integer test scores, the G3 Processor in every iMac is over 40 percent faster than a 400 MHz Pentium II. The iMac also integrates the Universal Serial Bus (USB) for connecting peripherals such as keyboards, mice and disk drives. This technology, now standard in many PCs, is over 50 times faster and more user-friendly than its predecessors.

It may seem excessive to include such leading-edge technology in a consumer-oriented computer. Yet, given the fast pace at which computers become outdated, using such hardware inside the iMac should help it last longer than most in its price range, and therefore make it a better value for the consumer.

To provide such a powerhouse at such a low price, Apple had to make some sacrifices. The iMac lacks a built-in floppy disk drive. Without such a form of writeable media, installations can become difficult. However, in the college dormitory environment, where high-speed networks are more efficient than floppy disks, the latter is becoming obsolete. In creating a cheap computer, Apple decided to forgo the drive and to offer it as an external option--leaving the ultimate choice up to the consumer. Imation and Iomega both offer 100+ MB disk drives (the former also offering compatibility with current floppy disks) for less than $150.

The ergonomic design of the iMac is also faulty. The round mouse, while innovative, is uncomfortable. It does not fit in the palm of the user's hand and is therefore harder to control. The keyboard also has problems. The keys seem too crammed together, and the arrow keys are too small. Furthermore, the keyboard does not have all the keys of the more-standard extended keyboard. A user may adjust to these differences quickly and possibly even find them comfortable. However, most first-time users grumble about the unfortunate design.

Despite these problems, it is hard to mask the iMac's low price and host of features and technology. And while there are many environments for which it would not be appropriate, the iMac is certainly a viable option for a home or a college dormitory. What's Included: 4 GB Hard Drive 24x CD-RAM Drive 32 MB RAM 2 MB Video RAM 10/100 Base-T Ethernet Card 56Kbps Internal Modem Built-in Monitor Keyboard and Mouse