Black Is the New…er…Black

Seen the new iMac? It’s gotten darker. More specifically, it has a nice matte silver finish with jet black trim. In fact, it looks very much like the new iPhone. And with this redesign, Apple has moved one step closer to eliminating the color white from their lineup. The Mac Mini, Mac Pro, and MacBook Pro are all silver. As of now, the new iMac is silver and black. And of the two styles of MacBooks, only one is still white. Oh, let’s not forget that of the 13 different types of iPods (most of which sport some bright color), only one remains white.

So, if this trend continues (and I see no reason why it won’t), in a couple of years everything Apple makes will either come in a metallic color (blue, pink, green, or orange) or will be black and silver. Soon, the “all white” look will be but a page in the history books. In fact, I expect three changes to happen within the next year.

First, I think the Apple TV will get a darker look. And I think Apple will start by making it look like an iMac, courtesy of some black accents. They probably don’t want to make it pure black because then it would look like a MacBook. Also, that remote control for Front Row? Expect that to go silver and black as well. Think “mini iPhone” look and feel. Remember, white is on the way out.

The second change is the one we’ve been waiting for the longest, the Mac Pro. Apple won’t make it white (obviously) and I can’t really see them offering their pro line of machines in hot metallic pink (or any of their other stylish colors) so I can only conclude they will go with either silver and black or just straight black. Personally, I think Apple is going to completely redesign this machine and when they do I expect the finished product to be completely black. Not black plastic like Dell, but black metal with a matte finish (no gloss here, folks).

Third, lets not forget about Apple’s monitors. If the computers get darker and the monitors are supposed to match the computers…you get the idea. Expect the new monitors to look like the new iMacs, only thinner. I think a nice black trim around the edges would give it a very sharp look.

Oh, and we can’t ignore the Mighty Mouse, much as we may want to. That thing is long overdue for a redesign. Actually, it is long overdue to be chucked in the waste bin, but I’d settle for a redesign. I don’t expect more buttons, but a more comfortable mouse (why is this so hard for them to make? didn’t they learn their lesson from the hockey puck mouse?) would be very welcome. Here is a clue, if Microsoft can do it well then anyone can do it well. Make a note Apple, go pick up a Microsoft or Logitech mouse, use it for 10 minutes, and then look at the mighty mouse. Which one looks better? The Mighty Mouse. Which one would you actually want to use…? Yeah, this is one instance where making the mouse black won’t do much other than make me hate it twice as much. Just a thought though.

But getting back on track, I like this new direction that Apple is heading in. I like this darker, slicker look. And I can’t wait to see how far they take it. Eventually I’m sure the iPhone’s design of black and silver will touch all of their major products. But for the immediate future, I think these three will change the soonest. After this, who knows. They’ll be running out of colors soon. Maybe they’ll go back to clear again.

But hopefully not.