The elements of Apple style

Apple’s computers are elegantly styled by anyone’s measure, and the careful—one might say obsessive—design extends even to the out of box experience. The packaging is ergonomically designed to smooth and guide the setup process. On the newest iMacs, each provided part is snugly wrapped in clear plastic with easy-to-peel tabs for removal. (This contrasts with the fingernail-defying protective film on a lot of other PCs; an HP all-in-one we are testing had six separate peel-off pieces on the mouse alone, and eight on the main unit.)

The manual and system DVDs are cached in two DVD-sized slipcases, one labeled “Everything Mac” and the other “Everything Else.” The silicone power cord unrolls with no kinks, and the back of the system unit is as clean-looking as the front. No brand names, feature lists, or “Designed for Windows 7” or “Intel inside” type stickers distract you from the basic functionality, save for the understated Apple logo. There’s a luxurious feel to the whole package.

That’s not to say there haven’t been notable gaffes in Apple’s designs through the years. The puck mouse on the original iMac was universally derided, and some people don’t like other Apple mice for various reasons. Some Mac laptops got much too hot in use, or had their wrist-rest surface discolor. And before Apple improved their batteries, there were lots of complaints of premature failures or even batteries puffing up like balloons. Their keyboards lack a number pad and have small cursor keys. And the iMac’s minimalistic design places all connections on the rear, making it a bit of a chore to plug in a USB flash drive or an audio headset.

But Apple’s product design is still a tough act to follow, if the industry’s clamor to create Apple-look-alikes is any measure. We have yet to see an MP3 player as coveted as the iPod line, nor have the bulk of iPhone users longed for much besides possibly better cell coverage. And, Mac computers remain the alternative to the Windows PC world that people choose most. —Dean Gallea

Comments

[Michelle]

I was a PC girl all the way until about 2.5 years ago when I walked past an Apple store and was sucked in by the "look" of what I thought were the monitors. When I found out it was the whole guacamole I started drooling I think. My kids had to drag me out of the store because I was becoming an embarrassment. I went back several times just to admire the design but knew I could never leave Windows. I knew Windows and I wasn't exactly young enough to accept change easily any more. But the design of the iMac!!

One day after getting a rather nice bonus check from work I ran into the Apple store and told them to sell me a Mac and fast before I could change my mind. It sat on my desk for 3 weeks before I did anything more than just turn it on to admire the bright display. It was art.

We still have 5 Windows laptops in the house but the Mac is MINE.