This is as retro as it gets for an Apple iMac Retina

1980’s Industrial Beige is the new white, according to startup ColorWare, a company based in Winona Minnesota, specializing in the customization of consumer electronics, including Apple accessories, as well as computers and tablets, such as the Apple iPad, and most recently, a retro take on the 27 inch iMac Retina 5K.

In this nostalgic iteration, the look of the iMac Retina 5K has been revisited, with the white exterior replaced by a similar industrial beige as the Apple Macintosh II. The logo at the back has also been replaced by the original rainbow-colored Apple logo.

The same throwback recoloring has also been applied to the accessories that come with the iMac, including the Magic Mouse and the Magic Keyboard.

ColorWare’s custom iMacs come in a limited 25-unit edition, although a product of this kind isn’t likely to be considered a collector’s item, even if the visual effect is rather eye-catching.

The price tag on this customized iMac is not nearly as outrageous as the $16,000 sticker on GoldGenie’s 24 Karat gold Apple iMac. With that said, $3,799 is a little high for an iMac, no matter how shiny a coat is has.

This is not the first time that ColorWare tries to pluck at the heartstrings of Mac fans. Last year, the company created the 2014 MacBook Air Retro, as well as a retro version of the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus.

Fake-retro Vs. Retro-computing

While one can see the appeal of a modern device in retro coloring, it’s often a short-term fling, and far from a true retro-computing experience, where authentic devices from the past are brought back to life, and enjoyed, within the limitations of the technologies of their time.

The practice of retro-computing has started trends where old computers and devices, like the Apple Macintosh II, or the first original MacBook, have resurfaced in all their glory, from the hard work of crafty enthusiasts and collectors.