Suppose Apple made a Mac that harks back to its early days. A concept designer floated the idea of a computer with the latest tech, including an M2 processor, but in a casing that mimics the original Macintosh from 1984.
It’s certainly a fun idea, especially to those who remember those days. But the practicality is questionable.
Say ‘Hello’ to the Apple Macintosh 2022
The original Macintosh is an icon for setting Apple on the path to success. Its graphical user interface inspired computers we still use today, but the hardware was also eye-catching.
Concept designer Ian Zelbo imagined what a 2022 Mac version would look like for a post on Twitter.
What if Apple remade the Macintosh…
Read about the project at https://t.co/Vr9Zw2Jkia pic.twitter.com/fUasNlTp5t— Ian Zelbo (@ianzelbo) February 21, 2022
His suggestion looks like the Mac of the 1980s, but with a color display and selection of ports, including USB-C and HDMI. There’s even a screen notch.
He also imagined what Apple’s marketing might have to say about the computer. “The Macintosh is here,” suggested Zelbo in his post. “We decided to go back to our roots and design something that brings you back… way back. Transformed by the M2 chip. Stands out in any space. Fits perfectly into your life.”
Mac concept is not going to happen
Someone who had a ‘80s-era Macintosh can understand why Zelbo described the computer as “Nostalgia, reborn.” But it’s clearly no more than that — not a serious suggestion for an Apple product.
Most notably, there couldn’t possibly be much real demand in 2022 for a computer with a screen small enough to fit into a 1984 Macintosh casing. The display in that venerable device was a mere 9 inches. Zelbo decreased the space around the screen in his Macintosh concept, but the display can’t be much more than 10 inches.
A slightly less impractical option is one from a few years ago. The CURVED/labs Lisa keeps the front of the original Macintosh but ejects everything behind it.
Zelbo has created a variety of Apple concept devices — most more practical than this latest one. His suggestion for a 2021 MacBook Pro looks quite a bit like what Apple actually released, for example.
Updated: The article was updated on Feb. 21, 2022 with a fresh Twitter link that shows the concept Mac from additional angles.
