Unboxing the most interesting iMac ever made

In 2002 Apple released the G4 iMac, the 'sunflower'. This iconic design was incredibly short-lived, yet it was one of Apple's most innovative and iconic designs. Today we'll explore a pristine example of a 17 inch G4 iMac and see why Apple didn't keep this design going for longer.

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[lukemiani]

Should Apple bring back this iconic design?

[macaddress]

You're absolutely, 100%, right. Hasn't been topped.

[patricks]

Apple should reintroduce this as an “iMac SE” with a 20” monitor and M1 chip.
Add a white key wireless keyboard and white Magic Mouse, done.
I think it would fly off the shelves. I KNOW I’d get one.

[MightyRob]

What made Apple special in the early and mid-2000s was the whimsy in their software and the uniqueness in their hardware. Being different and special is what it took to draw you away from the ubiquitousness and affordability of the commonplace Windows PC. I feel that Apple has lost a lot of that, certainly in their software. The eye-candy of the iLife Suite and the color of OS X 10.6 is what drew me in and I just don't get that as much anymore. It is getting better, a bit, slowly, but overall Apple has become the thing they raillied against for so long, a huge mega-corp churning out cookie-cutter computers. The sunflower iMac is a perfect example of how to stand out in the industry and make people want a product beyond simply what it can do. Supercars are impractical but people dream of them because the represent some special and Apple used to feel that way as well, as shown by their success in the past twenty years anyway. I hope the whimsy and fun come back as the current products are excellent but feel like they work in a cubicle with a tie rather than in a t-shirt and jeans.

[experimental]

This form factor would work excellently with the M1 series of chips as well since this is not much larger than a Mac Mini for the base. Add on the 24" display from the M1 iMac and TaDa!

[oldschooler]

This was my first Mac. I graduated college in 2009 and that was my present. It worked perfectly for what I needed, upgraded it the best I could and was fun to make the display dance. I gave it to my daughter to use as her first computer and she called it “The Dancing Computer” lol. She loved it like I did. I’d love if they brought this design back!

[AndreMoraesDesign]

I love this design. We still have a working one at work. It just sits there as decoration. It's beautiful

[unemployicus]

This design/computer belongs in an art museum. Iconic.

[futc.photography]

I love this thing, even 19 years later it still looks so sleek and modern. Definitely one of the best Apple designs ever

[gznewman]

This is one of my absolute favorite Apple products. My parents’ design studio had a bunch of the 20” ones, and they did NOT like to stand up. The 17” was probably the more reasonable choice.

[GiantSquid]

Ahead of its time for sure. I remember these coming out and was just so fasinated with the style and looks!

[PeteWilson]

That iMac and the G4 Cube are the best looking computers Apple has come out with. They both still look great all these years later. In fact, I would love to see the Mac mini go back into the G4 Cube chassis.

[Herky]

I never had one of these but I definitely remember what I felt when I saw it in a store as a kid. I think it might honestly be the reason I’m a Mac user today. It was just so much more exciting than any of the other computers. Everyone was making essentially the same thing and then there was this beauty. I loved the creativity. Really a shame they didn’t at least try to make another one like it.

[connorlearmonth]

Hey Luke, it would be awesome if you did an M1 internal conversion like you did with the aluminum one you had before. I’m currently trying to convert my 17” g4 iMac to M1 Mac mini internals, while keeping the disc drive and exterior appearance intact. I’ve even seen someone upgrade the display panel as well, but that may be further down the line for me.

[andrewsmactips]

That tilting swiveling mechanism is a glorious piece of engineering and probably cost a fortune to manufacture. It's what got me into Macs, and it's probably what killed it.

[georgegraves]

The reason, I suspect, that Apple discontinued this design, was that the articulated arm mechanism that allowed the screen to float tended to fail so that it would no longer allow the screen to stay where it was put. One would adjust the screen where one wanted it and it would immediately start to sag. Apparently, the only way to fix it was to replace the arm mechanism, and they all eventually failed in this manner.

[alimomen]

One of the most beautiful consumer products ever made. Even after all this time one can't but help be wowed.

[Rex_G_]

This is my all time favorite design !! I really wish Apple would find a way to bring back that articulation for the monitor. Thanks for this video Luke 👍🏼

[arjungandhi]

In my opinion this is definitely one of the most unique and aesthetically appealing computers ever built. Still my favourite imac design. I wish it would make its way back in some form

[leighonigar]

I remember when the 20" models came out. Apple used to have a big stand at the Mac Expo in London each year - they had a big line of them down one side of their demo stand and they made quite an impression. I thought a 20" LCD was incredible. The design of these G4s still holds up beautifully.