When we think of Apple and design, a number of devices come to mind: the iPhone 14, iPad Pro, AirPods, iMac and even the Mac Studio. But among the products that left an indelible mark on the landscape, there are those Apple devices that were little more than a pretty face. Here are eight beautiful Apple products that didn’t make a dent in the universe.
Macintosh twentieth anniversary
Six colors
There are products like the Newton that are way ahead of their time and then there’s the Twentieth Anniversary Mac. Released on April 1, 1996, exactly 20 years after Apple Computer was founded, the TAM was underpowered and overpriced, but had a stunning chassis that paved the way for Apple’s industry-leading design that can still be felt on Apple’s products today. Who knows, the Mac’s 40th anniversary is coming up – maybe it’s time for a revival.
Lisa
Apple
On the one hand, Lisa was doomed from the start. On the other hand, it is the most influential computer Apple has ever made. A radical new design unlike anything anyone had seen before, Apple’s Lisa — named after Steve Jobs’ daughter — featured one of the first graphical user interfaces, an all-in-one design, and unique modular upgrades. However, the $10,000 price tag and complex operating system doomed sales – the release of the cheaper and more hyped Macintosh just a year later didn’t help.
Power Mac G4 Cube
Apple
The Power Mac G4 Cube remains one of the most beautiful desktop computers ever made. Encased in graphite-colored acrylic and designed to sit on top of a desk rather than under it, the Power Mac G4 Cube was (and still is) a work of art. It was also very expensive, somewhat substandard and impractical, dooming sales. It lasted about a year and was never heard from again.
Mac Pro (2013)
Foundry
When Apple unveiled the Mac Pro at WWDC 2013, it certainly was different – so different that it didn’t look like a computer at all. It’s earned the not-so-affectionate nickname “Trash Can,” but there’s no denying its unique and stunning design. That design was also his downfall; it wasn’t very modular or expandable, didn’t have proper cooling for the best chips, and started at $2,999. But those who bought one continued to admire it.
e Mate 300
Before the iPhone and iPad, Apple’s ultraportable was the eMate 300, an inexpensive laptop for schools running the Newton operating system. It had a 6.8-inch screen, stylus and full keyboard, and was clad in translucent blue plastic before translucent plastic became cool. But at a time when Apple was adrift, the eMate never stood a chance. It wasn’t marketed well, had no clear identity, and had a doomed operating system. It barely took Steve Jobs a year to kill it, but it’s hard not to see its impact on both the iMac and iBook.
iPod Hi-Fi
Apple
When the iPod was at its peak, speakers and docks were all the rage. Apple, of course, wanted to get into it. In February 2006, it launched the iPod Hi-Fi, a minimal rectangular speaker with a pair of handles, custom-designed wideband speakers, and a tuned, ported bass system. Like the HomePod, it was praised for its sound and build quality, but ultimately it was too expensive and too high-end for the humble iPod.
Iphone 5c
Apple
Before the iPhone SE, the “budget” iPhone 5c debuted in 2013 alongside the iPhone 5S. Costing just $99 on contract ($100 less than the high-end iPhone), it had the same screen and similar camera, but lacked some key features, including Touch ID, the latest A7 processor, and dual-LED flash. But it looked like no other iPhone, with an incredibly light design wrapped in a colorful polycarbonate body that felt great in the hand. It was brutally murdered a year later, but its colorful influence is still felt today.
HomePod (2017)
Foundry
If you need proof that Apple’s original HomePod is still one of the most beautiful speakers ever made, look no further than the 2nd generation model, which looks almost identical to the first. But despite its good looks and even better sound, the original HomePod landed with a dud. Damned by its price, timing, and limited features, HomePod lasted about three years before Apple pulled the plug. It’s back now and we have to wonder how long it will be before Apple turns the volume down for good.
