A proposed Lego set for Apple’s iconic iMac G3 desktop earned enough votes from the public to take the next step toward becoming a real Lego product.
The set pays tribute to the original iMac desktop, complete with translucent Bondi Blue elements and even its famously controversial mouse.
Saluting the Mac that saved Apple
Steve Jobs’ return to Apple in the late 1990s was defined by the iMac G3, an all-in-one desktop that anchored the company’s turnaround strategy. Its translucent, brightly colored shell stood in sharp contrast to the beige PCs that dominated the market, signaling a new direction for consumer technology design.
The gamble paid off. The iMac G3 became a major sales hit and is widely seen as a turning point for Apple. Selling millions of units between 1998 and 2003, it reinvigorated Apple’s consumer computer lineup and helped reestablish the brand as an innovator.
Even its terrible “hockey puck” mouse couldn’t hold it back.
Lego iMac G3 revives a classic
A fan designer who goes by terauma transformed the iMac G3 into Lego and submitted it as a Product Idea to the toy maker.
The design features about 700 parts in the iconic all-in-one shape of Apple’s desktop, along with a USB keyboard and that terrible mouse. The classic macOS startup screen appears on the CRT.
Of course, much of the exterior is translucent — it would scarcely look like a Lego iMac G3 otherwise. Pop off the top to reveal the CPU and other internal electronics.
Photo: Lego
From concept to collectible: Lego iMac G3 moves closer to shelves
This is more than a hobby project by terauma. They submitted it to Lego as a proposed set to someday go on sale. For that to happen, it needed support from Apple fans — support it received! The Lego iMac G3 got the required 10,000 votes from the community.
“The Lego Review Board is deciding if this could become an official Lego Ideas set,” the company says.
During the review stage, Lego evaluates the concept’s build quality and playability plus how well it fits the brand. The potential demand and profits are important factors.
And, of course, there are licensing and intellectual property considerations. Apple must approve the use of its iMac G3 design before it can become a Lego product. It may want a cut of the revenue.
Note that reaching the review stage does not guarantee approval. Many proposed projects do not move forward even after getting 10,000 votes.
If Lego approves the concept, an internal design team reworks it into a production-ready set. This can involve structural changes, part substitutions, color adjustments and compliance testing.
Once finalized, the set enters manufacturing, packaging and distribution. Approved Lego Ideas sets typically reach store shelves 6 months to 12 months after approval, sometimes longer for complex or licensed projects like the proposed iMac G3.
If it actually reaches store shelves, terauma, the original designer, is credited and will probably receive a royalty (currently 1% of net sales) plus complimentary sets.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
