Apple Officially Announces 733 MHz PowerMac Models For US$2999

by , 5:30 PM EST, March 8th, 2001

We scooped the industry on this last week, but today Apple officially announced the new 733 MHz PowerMac G4 line that ships with a CD-RW drive instead of the more expensive SuperDrive. The difference between last week's model and today's announcement is that Apple is basically making the new model a permanent addition to the lineup as opposed to what was effectively a BTO option before. The company is citing "greater than anticipated quantities" of the high-end 733 MHz G4 processors from Motorola, something we haven't heard in years, if ever. The new models are priced at US$2999, some US$500 less than the SuperDrive equipped models.

Due to higher than expected volumes of the blazingly fast PowerPC G4 733 MHz processor, Apple® today introduced a new configuration of its fastest Power Mac™ G4 for customers eager for speed. The new 733 MHz Power Mac G4 with CD-RW drive has an aggressive suggested retail price of $2,999 (US), enabling even more customers to take advantage of Apple's fastest professional desktop.

Motorola is exceeding their plan and can now deliver greater than anticipated quantities of the blazingly fast 733 MHz processor. Previously, the PowerPC G4 733 MHz processor was only available in the $3,499 Power Mac G4 configuration which includes Apple's new SuperDrive, a combination CD-RW/DVD-R drive. With available quantities of the 733 MHz processor now surpassing those of the SuperDrive, Apple is offering this new configuration with a CD-RW drive to provide its highest performance system to a wider audience, sooner.

The Power Mac G4 comes preinstalled with Apple's new iTunes digital jukebox software and iMovie™ 2, the latest version of the world's most popular, easy-to-use consumer digital video editing software. iTunes lets users import songs from their favorite CDs into their Power Mac G4; organize their music; watch stunning visualizations on their computer screen; and create custom music CDs with the Power Mac G4’s CD-RW drive. iMovie 2 features a refined user interface with Mac® OS X-like design elements; dramatically improved audio editing capabilities; enhanced controls for titling and transitions; and powerful special effects.

The new 733 MHz Power Mac G4 with CD-RW drive will be available through The Apple Store® (www.apple.com) and Apple Authorized Resellers beginning next week in the following standard configuration: 733 MHz processor with 256K level 2 on-chip cache and 1MB level 3 backside cache; 256MB of PC133 SDRAM memory; 60GB Ultra ATA/100 hard disk drive; NVIDIA GeForce2 MX with 32MB video SDRAM; CD-RW optical drive; two FireWire® and USB ports; four full-length 64-bit PCI slots at 33 MHz; 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet; AirPort™ ready; built-in 56K V.90 modem; iTunes and iMovie 2 software for a suggested retail price of $2,999 (US).

You can get more information on the new models at The Apple Store.

The Mac Observer Spin:

As we said last week, this is a great move by Apple. It puts the power of the fastest PowerMac on the planet in the range of a lot more people, many of whom do not need the abilities of the SuperDrive. It's interesting that Apple waited a week after introducing the model before they bothered announcing it. Does this make you more interested in buying a 733 MHz PowerMac?

The Apple Store