The new iMac

Here are three dashed-off observations on the new iMac, while I use up the last of some sensationally expensive WiFi credit in the hotel here in Paris.

1/ It’s lovely, and the headline price is quite low, but you’re going to need to spend money on Wifi, Bluetooth and memory (grr – never enough from Apple) to get it up to scratch.

2/ It got a much warmer reception from the crowd here than the second generation iMac got in San Francisco. In the US, there was a moment of stunned silence as first the screen, then the chrome arm, then the domed base, rose out the stage. As Steve Jobs glared out, applause took a couple of long beats to start. Here, everyone got the design – and appeared to like it – straight away. A huge roar went up. If that’s any kind of measure, this could sell very well – if they can get supplies out fast enough. That’s not guaranteed.

3/ The press facilities? Even worse than last year. Fewer stools, more sculpted plastic chairs and – wait for it – vast beanbags in place of some of the desks. The show organisers are utter muppets.

I’ll be blogging more today over at the GU weblog, and today’s newspaper coverage is here. More in Online tomorrow…