In 2014 Samsung announced the ATIV One 7 Curved (in the first image below), the first curved all-in-one computer. I don’t think the model sold particularly well. However, I’d love to see this idea incorporated into an iMac because I have no doubt that Apple could do a better implementation.
At the time of its release, Samsung had this to say about the curved design of the Samsung ATIV One 7 — which sold for $1,299: It offers a unique entertainment perspective and realistically immersive gaming experience. It draws users in and brings details to life on the Full HD panel, while the 4000R curvature makes the screen feel even larger than its already ample 27-inches.
While I think curved TVs from Samsung and other companies are a gimmick, a curved screen on a desktop computer makes more sense. The upside of such a screen (such as immersion and less glare) are more obvious when you’re sitting right up against it instead of looking at it from six feet away on your couch.
Besides a curved iMac would definitely be an improvement over the Samsung model. The latter “only” had a resolution of 1920 x 1080 compared to the 5120 x 2800 resolution of the iMac with Retina 5K display.
I’m not the only one who thinks a curved iMac could be a good idea. In a 2013 Cult of Mac post — which was written before the 5K Retina display iMac — Mike Elgan predicted Apple would use flexible-glass touch displays for, well, everything, including a curved screen Mac.
Here’s his idea: How do you improve the iMac? It’s sleek, elegant, thin, brilliant and beautiful. Sure, you can later up the processor, memory and storage capacity. But how do you make it jaw-droppingly better? You triple the screen size. But how?
If you’ve got a 27-inch iMac, you know that the screen is already a little too big in one respect: If you want to look at something onscreen near one side, then the other, you need to lean from one side to the other and crane your neck to see it. Otherwise, you’re looking at the screen at an angle. Desktop monitors like the 27-inch iMac are pushing the limits of straight-on visibility.
By using flexible display technology, I believe Apple will build wrap-around iMacs that could be about 30 inches high and four or five feet across, curving around in a semi circle so that the middle is about the same distance from your face as the edges.”
But, wait, that’s not all. The Samsung ATIV One 7 Curved came with two dynamic 10W stereo speakers, a surround sound experience with Dolby Sound Effects, and lossless audio transmission through APT-X technology. The speakers on the current iMac are nice, but could be improved. (I hear the speakers on the iMac Pro are even better than those on the “non-pro” all-in-one; alas, my bank account can’t handle the pro model).
I’m a die-hard iMac user. As I’ve mentioned before, it often doubles as my TV. So 27 (or 30) inches of curved display would be great for me. How about you?
