It's been 20 years since Apple disrupted the iMac G4, a unique computer with an original half-globe base and a flat LCD screen on an elegant hinge and an adjustable arm. In its unaltered state, it is a visually pleasing nostalgic relic that cannot be used in modern contexts. I coveted it and never got one at the time, but thanks to Juicy Crumb DockLite G4I use this classic iMac every day as an external monitor.
DockLite G4 is a replacement motherboard for the iMac G4 motherboard that features an HDMI port, along with three USB-A ports and a single USB-C port, and 3.5mm ports for audio. Most importantly, it uses the iMac's existing internal mounting holes and connectors for power and video, so all you need is a couple of screwdrivers and a pry tool—no soldering required.
It took me about 30 minutes to open my eBay-purchased 17-inch 1.25GHz iMac G4, remove the motherboard, replace the DockLite, and close it again, and suddenly I could connect whatever I wanted, from a MacBook. Air for my Anbernic GBA SP imitation. (Juicy Crumb even has a helpful video guide.) It was much easier than some alternative. DIY methods.
Here are some photos I took of the installation process:
With DockLite installed, my iMac now works exactly like an external display. It turns off when my computer does (although you have to touch the iMac's power button to turn off the backlight), and I can control the brightness via software or using hardware buttons on the back.
I did it because this computer looks great on my desk.
There are things that are lost in the process, like access to the iMac's optical drive. And you can't run it as a standalone computer unless you go the extra mile and replace more internal parts with something like a Mac Mini. The plus side is that the installation is reversible: you can always replace the original motherboard.
The DockLite G4 isn't cheap: it costs $260. The price is due to the “time, effort and money required to bring even a relatively simple product like DockLite to market,” Juicy Crumb CEO and co-founder Timothy de Denaro told me in an email. The DockLite G4 “is a relatively low-volume product,” he added, and “I manually test each unit myself before shipping it” to customers.
That seems fair, and it also doesn't change the fact that I spent a lot of money and effort just to use a low-resolution screen with bad viewing angles. On the other hand, I didn't buy the DockLite G4 because I admire the quality of the 21-year-old LCD screen on my iMac G4. I did it because this computer looks amazing on my desk and I wanted to be able to use it every day.
