Turning a dead iMac G4 into an M1 Mac

Noted gadget repairer Hugh Jeffreys came into three disused (and abused) iMac G4 and went to work to restore one of them by using a display from an Intel MacBook Pro and a newly purchased M1 Mac mini.

Most people would just buy the Mac mini and grab an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse and they’ll end up with a perfectly fine desktop computer but obviously Jeffreys is no ordinary consumer.

He went to work by replacing the dead 17″ screen with one from an old 17″ Intel Core MacBook Pro with an anti glare or matte display (you can tell from the metal or silver bezel around the screen instead of a black one) circa 2009-2012. He then cannibalized the M1 Mac mini and rearranged the components to fit inside the iMac’s dome base.

It took him about 9 hours to complete the Frankensteined iMac which now identifies itself as an M1 Mac mini. Definitely not for the faint hearted and requires expert hands, resources, and patience.

I don’t know why people are making such a big fuss on whether Apple will release a brand new redesigned iPhone. The current models are fine as they are. If they’re gonna release a new phone, the design doesn’t have to be changed.

Apple didn’t change the iMac’s design for years at a time. The MacBook went through several revisions over two years without a new design. Same with the transition from PowerBook to MacBook Pro. Oh, and don’t get me started on the Power Mac G5 to Mac Pro.

The design of the iPhone 3G was maintained over two versions, so why not maintain the current form for the next release? iPhone 4 is still the top selling phone in the US, followed by the 3GS despite being more than 15 months old and in the case of 3GS, more than 24 months old. That tells you that the designs work pretty well. It’s never form over function.

Apple. 10 years on.

Source: Flickr / x1brett

New Apple stuff at iBox Plaza Indonesia

Apple’s 2009 lineup is almost complete at iBox APR at Plaza Indonesia. The 27" beast of an iMac has just arrived, Magic Mouse is in stock, as well as the new aluminum Apple Remote. No sign of the 21.5" iMac yet. I wonder why they didn’t just activate the screensaver with a password or lock the screen from Keychain Access on that iMac.

Btw that remote is BIG. Humongous compared to the old white Apple Remote.