Cwtfozzy rescued this old iMac G4 from eBay for £50 (~$80 USD). He basically gutted the iMac G4 and then fiddled with it so that his iPad would fit into the screen area. It’s surprising how good this looks.

He didn’t spend too long customizing it and the results speak for themselves. If you want to try this for yourself, you can probably find a cheap, broken one on eBay, like cwtfozzy did.

[via Cult of Mac]

According to Ken Segall’s new book Insanely Simple: The Obsession That Drives Apple’s Success, Jobs pitched a contest to other people at Apple that had to do with a special Willie Wonka style event for the one-millionth iMac sold. Jobs wanted to stuff a golden ticket inside the box with the actual one-millionth iMac. The person who found that millionth iMac would get the purchase price of the machine refunded and a trip to Cupertino to meet Jobs.

Steve was going to go the full Monty, dressing up in Willy Wonka clothes and all. I wonder if he would’ve passed out everlasting gobstoppers. Unfortunately, the legal eagles at Apple rained on Steve’s parade though noting that in California any sort of sweepstakes required the ability for people to enter without a purchase.

[via MacRumors]

At the core of the build is an old pump organ, with an iMac integrated into the top, and surrounded by an antiqued frame. The keyboard is placed neatly in the center alongside some brass vent registers which look perfectly at home on either side.

The analog voltage gauges have even been rigged up to display pertinent stats from the computer as well, though I’m not sure if that old phone or camera above the screen actually are functional or not. Though he does mention something about being able to use the phone as a gaming headset, and I’m betting that camera is a webcam.

The images you see here are of David’s own Difference Engine, but for $3,000(USD) he’s willing to build you one of your own – assuming you provide the PC or Mac, and are willing to come to Gloucester, Virginia to pick it up. It’s not exactly the kind of thing you can easily send through the mail, right?

If you’re interested in having your own custom steampunk Difference Engine built, drop over to Etsy and contact David. While you’re over there, be sure to check out his steampunk gatling gun and jetpack (aka “The Morgan Aeronautical Destroyer of Satans Arrogance.”)

While they’ve previously taken a smaller 21.5-inch iMac and dipped it in rose gold plate, this monster is the mother of all computers for those with a taste for the finer things. This particular iMac has had its stock aluminum plated with polished 24 karat gold, and coated with a clear finish to ensure it remains shiny. It’s also got a matching gold keyboard, and Magic Trackpad – though I don’t see a golden magic mouse to go with.

If you’d like your iMac plated in gold, head over to Computer Choppers and drop them a line. You’re looking at anywhere from $7500 to $10000 (USD) depending on the system.

[via The Rich Times]

The cases from Schreer Delights certainly look authentic. They’ve got a couple of other models, including the G4 Graphite, and some non-Apple themed cases as well. The retro iMac iPhone case in Bondi Blue looks really good in my opinion. The graphics are printed deep in the plastic of the case, so even if the case is slightly damaged, the images won’t fade.

The cases are available for the iPhone 4 and 4S for $45(USD) each, but they might not be available for long, because Apple is sure to flex their legal muscles to protect their intellectual property rights. So if you want one, you’d better move quick.

[via core77]

The MacHook works with most iMacs and Apple Cinema Displays, and contrasts nicely to the aluminum used in those monitors. It doesn’t fit the 21.5″ models though. The model shown here is made out of Baltic birch, a furniture-grade plywood.

Unfortunately, the plywood beta version of the MacHook is already sold out, but a retail version in different colors and made from recycled plastics will be available soon from Workerman’s online store.

[via Unplggd]

So what does a grand buy you? A 3.1GHz Intel Core i3 Dual-Core processor, 21.5-inch LCD screen, AMD Radeon HD 6750 with 256MB, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, a Superdrive and OS X Lion. The next cheapest iMac that’s available for the mass market costs $1,199.

Instead of the Thunderbolt port, this iMac has a simple mini Display Port.  For $200 more, you can get a 2.5GHz Quad-Core i5, 4GB of RAM, and 500GB of storage. While some people might perish the thought of getting this sub-$1,000, a lot of students will purchase this because of the price-point.

[Apple via MacRumors]

The hard drive comes in 2TB or 3TB capacities and has 2 extra USB 2.0 ports and 2 Firewire 800 ports. It connects to your Mac via USB or one of the two Firewire 800 ports. It comes pre-formatted to work with a Mac out of the box, and it was apparently designed to fit perfectly on top of the base of your iMac or Apple display. It’s also got some LED lights showing the approximate amount of used storage, which is a nice feature.

The Iomega Mac Companion costs $195 for the 2TB version and $295 for the 3TB version.

[via CNet via Ubergizmo]

If you don’t need the coffee maker, you can opt to have your old iMac converted into a home theater device instead. Have Klaus convert it into the iMac A/V Edition and aside from the Mac Mini, JBL speakers, hard drive and optical drive add-ons, you’ll have the option to pack it with up to two iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad docks, an HDMI converter and an Xtreamer Media Player!

G4 Cube owners can also have the shiny case reborn into a housing for an Apple Pro speaker, complete with an iPod/iPhone dock. A USB sync/charging port is optional.

Klaus also has a couple of simpler but still whimsical mods for old Apple computers – one is an iMac mailbox and the other is a 31-plug power strip inside a G4 tower. Visit Klaus’ website Kiwidee for more info as well as for contact details. Price for the iMac Coffee Edition starts at €399 (appx. $570 USD), the A/V Edition starts at €249 ($350), while the SubCube speaker starts at €499 ($710). With these mods, I wouldn’t be surprised if Klaus literally added a kitchen sink on his newer projects.

The $100 PadDock 10 places your iPad into a stand that adds charging, syncing, and a pair of speakers for listening to your music or movies.

It also lets you rotate the iPad to portrait or landscape modes, although it looks a little lop-sided when in portrait mode.

Frankly, there are a bunch of different stands that will do the job well already, but I suppose if you want to turn your iPad into a mini desktop computer, the PadDock 10 is worth a look. Personally, my favorite iPad dock is just the basic keyboard dock. It’s simple and makes a lot of sense, since I touch-type much faster on a keyboard than on the iPad’s screen.

[via CrunchGear]

Created by textile artist Kerry Hughes, the plush iMac appears to be running Logic Pro 8, so it’s perfect for iMac fans who are also musicians.

Just like that computer on your desk, this 17-inch tall, one-of-a-kind plush iMac comes with a matching wireless keyboard and mouse. Unlike your computer, it’s made from felt with polyester stuffing. (Unless you still have one of those awful Performas made back in the early 1990s.)

You can get your hands on this unique piece over at Kerry’s Etsy shop for $290 (USD).

Instead, why not do like this guy did, and turn it into a handy Cylon helmet.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

All you need to do the same is to grab an old dead iMac, and a Larson Scanner kit from Evil Mad Science, and you’re set. Sure, it doesn’t look quite as impressive as these guys, but whaddya want for next to nothing.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

[via BuzzFeed]

Although to be honest, I don’t think that the USB update is true, if only because USB 3.0 isn’t prevalent yet. Apple can just as easily add that in a year or two. An HDMI port would be more likely. And if anything, it’s the processors and GPU on the iMacs that need an update.

In the end, if you’re planning on buying an iMac in the coming weeks, keep these rumors in mind. Not necessarily what they say, but their timing. These two combined with the touchscreen iMac rumor are indicating that the iMac line will soon be refreshed, perhaps within a month or two. If you can hold off on purchasing an iMac then do so.

[via MacRumors]

A New York Times article published earlier this year also quoted a former Apple senior engineer, who said that it’s possible that the company would rather layer iOS over OSX, rather than come up with a full touchscreen interface for “larger form factors”. I don’t really care for touchscreen-enabled desktops, Apple or not. The fact is that for larger screens, the good old mouse and keyboard combo is still the best way to navigate the UI

Aside from multi-touch controls – none of them are essential if you ask me – anything that you can do with a touch interface, you can easily replicate using a mouse, and with less strain too. So why bother? LOOPRumors says that “such a move will assist developers in building and testing iOS apps, while opening up new possibilities for touch-screen computing.” Point taken. Still don’t care. Would you buy a touchscreen iMac?

[via MacRumors]

However, if you do like the steampunk idea, but lack the skill or the willingness to create your own retro-modern masterpiece, Woodguy has your answer. This steampunk guru from Old Time Computer will sell you a hand crafted wooden cover for your iMac.

The cover is available in a cherry shaker style with optional marble base or a maplewood style. Both designs leave the screen and ports available and still let the webcam work. You can get your hands on these over at Woodguy’s Etsy shop for $149 to $199 (USD).

[via Yanko Design]

These pint-size acrylic Apple gadgets from LiLu are exactly the right size for setting scenes with those googley-eyed Blythe dolls. The Li Lu series of miniature electronics are perfect for geeky dollhouses everywhere.

The LMax (iMac Mini) measures just under 4-inches wide, and sells for $14 (USD), while the teensy 0.67 inch tall iPhone sells for just $3 bucks. While the iMac’s proportions look pretty accurate, the tiny iPhone looks a little thick for it’s size. Well what do you want for $3 bucks? At least this one doesn’t require a 2-year contract from AT&T.

There’s also a miniature MacBook Pro- rebranded as the Lbook Pro, which sells for $14 (USD). I can only find the shiny black one for now, but they have also made a white version before. And I have photographic evidence to prove it!

Originally available only in Thailand, you can now find these awesome miniatures over at Etsy’s LiLushop.

Modder Klaus Diebel of Kiwidee built this whimsical all-in-one computer using the shell of an old iMac, and loaded up with a full Mac Mini, a JBL Spot sound system, and a WMF1 single-cup coffee maker, punched through the face of the computer. Amazingly enough, the Mac Mini required NO mods at all, and the dvd slot lines up perfectly with the old iMac slot – go figure.

The only real downside to the iMac CS? The monitor no longer exists, so Klaus has to plug it into an external display if he wants to actually use the computer and enjoy his morning cup of joe. If you’re interested in having one of these for yourself, Klaus would gladly build you one if you contact him here.

Of course, I won’t be truly impressed until he can figure out a way to cram all this stuff into one of today’s svelte LCD iMacs.

[via TUAW]

Berg encountered a couple of problems while modding the G4, the first being the proprietary connector that the iMac monitor uses to connect to its controller. He remedied it by installing a shelf on the back for the new connectors. He then installed a surface acoustic wave touchscreen, saying, “its high resolution does not distort the image at all.”

The second problem was the lack of real estate in the base of the iMac: “I initially wanted to make it a Core 2 Duo all in one. Unfortunately, there is a lot less space in there than you think. Its very impressive how Apple constructed it. because it was convection cooled, the parts literally stacked on top of each other. They fit together like a puzzle. The disk drive alone probably takes up 70% of the volume in the base.” He states the solution to this problem more vaguely though: “I decided to keep the computer separate.”  But if it’s proof you need, don’t worry, Berg’s got it all on camera:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Although we all know that a conventionally oriented desktop touchscreen monitor would be a pain to use for more than a few minutes, I think Berg still deserves a round of applause. And major plus points for the Blu-ray drive. But wait!

He had some leftover parts and decided to use them to build a “big touch screen remote equipped with Windows 7 Media Center and a convenient blu-ray player hooked up to my HD TV.” This time he used a 17-inch HP monitor and painted the whole thing black. The touch screen is resistive, which according to him is less sensitive and operates at a lower resolution, but that’s okay Mr. Berg. You turned a white iMac G4 into a black touchscreen Windows Media Center remote control. If that’s not modding then I don’t know what is.

[via Hacked Gadgets]

While Apple zealots will no doubt deem the classic gray PC as too ugly even for the old iMac, it’s actually Windows & PC fans who will be more insulted in the video. Watch it and look at Mic’s (that’s the PC) third wooing gimmick to see what I mean.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

I bet that last kid’s name is Psystar.

[via BB-Blog]

Wedgie Wedge Partners also thinks that Apple will have another round of price cuts along with the release of the new Macs, as a response to the impending release of Windows 7, Microsoft’s well-received OS, this October. Apple does follow a fairly regular hardware update cycle, so I guess the first part of the rumor is no surprise, but  price cuts?  Want. Maybe Apple will release a 13″ Unibody MacBook with a removable battery for $1,000. Hah! I wish.

What would you like to see in the next Macbook & iMac? What the hell does “organic design” mean? And what exactly does a “research firm” do? So many questions.

[via Tech Trader Daily via MacRumors]