Apple design concepts

Sleek lines

The unibody is one of the most exciting design concepts that Apple has recently. This is the case for the MacBook Air, the 15-inch MacBook Pro and the new MacBook.

The unibody construction begins life as a piece of aluminum. With CNC (computer numerical control), milling machines, Apple created a laptop case, which is home to a keyboard, trackpad, ports, display, and the extensive interior electronics.

The result is robust and easy. The new aluminum MacBook weighs only 2.04 kg (4.5 lb). This is modest for a laptop with so many features packed. It is still severe, but as the wonderfully thin MacBook Air 1.36 kg (3 pounds). These two laptops, together with the MacBook Pro, catch the eye with their technical perfection and elegance.

The unibody is a simple concept, but a difficult idea in practice to achieve. Therefore, create laptop manufacturers in General their shafts from separate pieces. This allows room for error. The unibody construction, must however in every respect to be precise; If this is not the case, the interior components doesn't fit.

This bold approach to design is typical of Apple. Another example is the iMac, keeps desktop computer from Apple's technology behind the 20-inch and 24-inch widescreen display. The iMac-is a single sheet of aluminum, apart from a tray on the bottom, the access to the memory card. The ports, iSight camera, microphone, optical drive slot and inner parts are discretely integrated into all. Together, they provide a powerful computer that takes far less space than any comparable PC.

The Mac Mini is not so small like the Apple laptops and the iMac, but it must be too thin not stylish. Instead, it is a good example for how a quality computer clutter can reduce, as only 16.5 cm (6.5 inches), square and 5 cm (2 inches). The anodized aluminum enclosure, pearly white cover, rounded corners and quietness are the Mac mini-a desirable object sitting on a table. The standard desktop PC compare it certainly well on most.

Apple's iPods have a similar design philosophy. Aluminum, glass and high-gloss polished stainless steel feature subtle curves and carefully positioned controls. The click wheel design of the classic and Nano has even a style icon in its own right, derive from the wheel and touch-wheel of the earlier generation are iPods.

iPod design, such as the laptops is the lack of also about weight, or to be exact. The iPod Nano is only 36.8 grams (1.3 ounces), although the iPod shuffle which excels with its spring-like body of 15.6 G (0.55 ounces).

Ease of use

Exterior design alone, however gave no Apple products at the forefront of the multimedia technology. The hidden designs and compatibility of hardware and software in a Mac and iPod have also helped to achieve this goal.

This compatibility means that the user has an enjoyable and trouble-free experience of an Apple product. The design of Mac OS X provides operating, for example, a fast and logical system that outshines Windows Vista in almost every respect.

Ease of use extends to the software that comes with every Mac like Web browser Safari. Safari not only find information over the Internet quickly - it keeps pace with the latest Web technologies, organizes your data and helps you to distinguish an element from each other.

Safari is a success as the world's best Web browser and the popularity of other Apple software such as the iLife suite of applications, partly due to the frequent revisions. Apple's software design specialist never wait for things to happen: they are always on the lookout for ways to develop and improve. Mac users can be confident therefore that their software up to date is.

The same applies to the iPod designers. The last design improvements belonging to genius, which automatically creates playlist of songs that match; The accelerometer, the power games more fun to play and the iPod Nano offers its vibration to the to shuffle feature; the 3D graphics, and the iPod touch.

Of course, the iPod touch has an excellent multi touch-sensitive screen, which itself is an important design feature. Apple uses the concept of multi-touch on their laptops and now the MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air of larger trackpad made of glass and with more features than has so far given. The result of not only these laptops is more fun to use - they also leaner look.

Concern for the environment

Approach to develop the third element of Apple's concern is for the environment. The LED-backlit displays contain no mercury; internal cables must not PVC; and components are free from toxic BFRs (brominated flame retardants).

Apple promotes many of the recyclable qualities of aluminium and arsenic-free glass, from which the Mac and iPod cases and has cut back on the packaging that uses it.

Such efforts are considerable and evolving. Include the verification of the provision of energy star status for Macs, thanks to its outstanding energy efficiency and coveted EPEAT (electronic products environmental assessment tool) gold reviews for the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.

These successes demonstrate that environmental issues can play an important role in design concepts. Other companies Apple's leadership will no doubt follow.

Innovation

Innovation has not presented here as a design concept, because it is a separate principle. Innovation of existence and the company's strategy is with Apple. Some manufacturers view innovation as an end in itself, but Apple is as part of the daily design and development.

Users can use therefore innovation, for granted. It assured products, are to look at large, easy to use, and the respect of the environment. In other words, they are brilliant designs.

Ben T Wilson writes about Mac computers and Apple Mac products.