"But try using one today and you'll understand why they're mostly decorative now. The CRT screen hurts to look at, the processor moves like molasses, and those integrated speakers that seemed so premium back then sound absolutely terrible. That's what makes Zac Builds' recent project worth paying attention to. He took an iMac G3 shell and rebuilt it with current hardware, keeping everything that made the original iconic while fixing everything that makes it painful to actually use."
"The teardown shows just how strange these computers were. Apple used pressed-form RF shielding that looked genuinely sculptural, completely functional but designed to look cool even though nobody would ever see it. Then there's the CRT, which can store lethal amounts of energy months after you unplug it. After carefully discharging the tube and pulling out all the original components, Zac had that famous shell and a whole lot of empty space to work with."
Zac disassembled an iMac G3, removing the CRT and original components to create interior space. The CRT required careful discharge because it can store lethal energy. Pressed-form RF shielding combined function with sculptural form inside the case. Removing internal parts left the clip-based shell structurally unsupported, prompting 3D scans of remaining parts and custom-designed posts and replacement clips. Transparent PETG filament was matched to the original translucent plastic using physical color swatches. The rebuild centers on an M4 Mac Mini to provide compact, efficient, and powerful modern performance while preserving the iconic exterior and improving usability and safety.
Read at Yanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News
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