WSJ: A new gold standard for PCs

December 1 2005

Walt Mossberg and Katherine Boehret on the iMac G5:

When Apple Computer launched its video iPod last month, the hype was so great that another important Apple product announcement was lost in the shuffle. The company also released that day a new, improved, and yet cheaper, version of the already excellent iMac G5, its flagship consumer desktop computer.

At the same time, Apple Computer also introduced a new software program called Front Row -- embedded in the improved iMac -- that, like Microsoft's Windows Media Center, allows users to play music and to view photos, videos and DVDs from across a room, using an included remote control.
 
We've been testing this new iMac, and our verdict is that it's the gold standard of desktop PCs.
Can I just pile on for a moment?  Front Row is the software that should be on full-time demo in the Apple Store.  I never saw it until Bruce told me to push the menu button on the tiny little remote control that came with my G5.  One click and I was in awe.  This extends my Macintosh investment into a piece of the home entertainment system, and is so visually slick and easy to use.  I can't ever imagine a Windows PC having the kind of ease-of-use, eye candy, and function that this one piece of software does on the Mac.

Link: Wall Street Journal: A new gold standard for PCs >

Ed Brill | packing Category:  Machead  Add/View Comments [23]

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  1. 1  Bob Obringer http://bob-obringer.com | 12/1/2005 11:21:29 AM

    Can't wait until I pick up a new iMac. Waiting for the Intel iMac though, as I'm going to have to run Windows on it...

    Hmmm... wonder why I'd have to do that (hint, hint)???

    Heard the rumors about Front Row 2.0 possibly coming out next month with Apple's "Tivo Killer"?

    { Link }

  1. 2  Simon Barratt http://apps.fmc.com/blog.nsf | 12/1/2005 11:26:51 AM

    Front row is really nice. My 5 year old, just picked up the remote and figured out how to watch the movie trailers by herself! The movies trailers are a great addition to it. They sometimes pause, but overall work well.

    My only other niggle, is the 2-3 second delay for it to load the first time. Sometimes I press the Menu button twice, which gets buffered and, effectively, turns front row off again.

    The music piece needs to catch up with what the iPod can do. But you know that will come, and the updated s/w will just trickle down when it is released! - Nice!

  1. 3  Rory Wohl www.rorywohl.us | 12/1/2005 12:18:18 PM

    If the rumored MacMini/Front Row/DVR machine comes out at January's MacWorld, it should just put the MS Media Center PCs to shame.

  1. 4  Chris Whisonant http://cwhisonant.blogspot.com | 12/1/2005 1:15:52 PM

    Ed, why don't our IBM Lenovo desktops (US-branded Chinese computers made in Mexico: { Link } come with a remote control.

    Sounds like you're having a blast with the iMac!

  1. 5  MarvinK  | 12/1/2005 3:32:08 PM

    "I can't ever imagine a Windows PC having the kind of ease-of-use, eye candy, and function that this one piece of software does on the Mac."

    Maybe the Hannover team could take it up as a challenge... straight from Ed Brill himself!

  1. 6  Neil Wainwright http://www.nexonia.com | 12/1/2005 4:29:25 PM

    Hi Ed,

    As a Mac user since '84, an ex-Apple dealer owner ('88-'93) and a Notes Mac user since '93, welcome to the cult. ;-) I even got invited to a couple Iris parties at LotusSphere thanks to my sleuthing to assist with finding a nasty bug in Mac Notes back in '98/'99.

    I personally am dying under the weight of my PowerBook 15" and Thinkpad, both carried in a backpack (I do a lot of Domino development after all). Before Steve's keynote announcement is over (whenever it is), I'm going to order the first Intel PowerBook announced and then start peppering the boards with offers of my credit card to the first software vendor that allows me to hot-switch between OS X and XP on my Intel PowerBook. Of course, Wine development is rumoured to be moving along nicely on MacTel, and if that's the case I can run Domino Designer in OS X as an alternative. Either way, I get to cut my backpack weight in half! Yes!

    ...Neil

  1. 7  Neil Wainwright http://www.nexonia.com | 12/1/2005 4:33:49 PM

    Hi Ed,

    I use DragThing, and for $29 it's amazing. I don't use it the stock way...I have it as a slide-out tab labeled "Shortcuts" in the top right of my screen. It has links to all my applications, because I have more than can comfortably fit on the dock. I never use the dock, except to jump to an open application.

    { Link }

    ...Neil

  1. 8  Neil Wainwright http://www.nexonia.com | 12/1/2005 4:36:56 PM

    I know iChat is the way to go for the cool video chats, but for MSN, Google Chat, ICQ and all the other main ones, I use Adium. It's very "Mac" and very free.

    ...Neil

    { Link }

  1. 9  Chris Reckling http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/blogs/dw_blog.jspa?blog=416 | 12/1/2005 9:27:12 PM

    Ed - you're starting to sound like one of those Mac zealots! I saw that Frontrow demo in the Apple Store in Cambridge - very impressive.

    Chris

  1. 10  Ben Poole http://www.benpoole.com | 12/2/2005 10:50:54 AM

    FrontRow's very cool -- I've see it on a non-G5 iMac. AHEM.

    However, it will only become REALLY good when you can use it with a video-enabled equivalent of AirTunes. i.e. what I really want to be able to do is beam my Mac-stored content to my TV / stereo in the living room. And I'm sure tha this is just round the corner. THEN we will have that "media centre done right" thing.

  1. 11  Paul Robichaux http://www.e2ksecurity.com | 12/2/2005 1:56:53 PM

    @3: in fairness, Windows Media Center Edition does a ton of stuff that Front Row doesn't, and won't. Front Row's not extensible; it can't remote content; it can't act as a PVR; it can't handle HDTV content, and so on. I don't have an MCE machine because I'm happy with the appliance-like nature of my TiVos, but I don't think it's exactly accurate to bash MCE for lacking functionality.

  1. 12  Dante Cantalever  | 12/2/2005 4:27:41 PM

    (a) Dont think IBM\Lenovo is fair comparison, as this is an OS utility.

    (b) Windows Media Center does much more - though is a bear (I used it and stopped). From the online demo this looks much cleaner and easier to use.

    Since I cant give up my Windows PC, can I buy a MacMini for this and have a shared set of music\video\photos that both machines use\access?

  1. 13  tonyo  | 12/2/2005 5:04:42 PM

    and... I remember you justifying this because your "daughter" needed a computer.

    good try...

  1. 14  Bob http://www.bobcongdon.com/blog | 12/2/2005 5:06:01 PM

    As Paul and Dante have mentioned, Media Center does much more than FrontRow especially being able to work as a PVR. Also Xbox 360 includes Media Center integration which may be a more compelling interface for many people.

  1. 15  vowe http://vowe.net | 12/2/2005 5:30:30 PM

    Yes, it is true. A media center does many more things. But there is one thing easily overlooked:

    Apple gear does, whatever it does, in a much better way then the competition. Look at the iPod since that is something non-Mac people have seen. There are lots and lots of devices that have more functions than the iPod. But the iPod does it better. It has a better integration with the desktop, it has a better integration with the music store.

    Going back to the FrontRow app (which I have no use for): This is version 1. Expect this thing to rev really quickly as devices pick up more capabilities. PVR and playing stored videos is a very natural extension.

    Today, you plug in your camera, and then all your photos automagically show up in iPhoto. You organize them, delete a few, pick favorites. Then you sit back on your sofa, grab the remote and show them to your friends. Very naturally, no need for any training.

    I never saw this before I got a Mac 3 years ago.

  1. 16  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 12/2/2005 6:43:10 PM

    LOL - I go offline for 24 hours and the 'softies can even turn this discussion into a "vs. Microsoft" one. I guess I'm expanding my repetoire.

  1. 17  vowe http://vowe.net | 12/2/2005 7:01:49 PM

    Ed, I have a feeling you should be doing something else. :-)

  1. 18  Paul Robichaux http://www.e2ksecurity.com | 12/5/2005 8:38:04 AM

    @16: Rory started it :) And FWIW, I'm typing this on my main machine, which is a Power Mac G5.

  1. 19  Charles Arthur (yes, that one) http://technology.guardian.co.uk/ | 2/14/2006 9:18:38 AM

    @10 (I could get used to this)

    The product you would want is the EyeHome from ElGato. Does what you described. As for the PVR functionality, that would be the EyeTV product. Also from Elgato.

    Interestingly, Apple recently hired the head of ElGato to be their German managing director, though I don't - yet - think that indicates they're going to buy the company. Even though it would be a smart buy.