The More Things Change, The More iMacs Look The Same

We are going to try and stay awake for this announcement ourselves, so we will understand if you nod off while reading it. Apple has announced new iMacs, and as MacUser UK and MacMinute reported last week, the new models are the same old CRT based we have all come to know and love. Better yet, they are a little bit faster. The company is now selling 500 MHz and 600 MHz models that include CD-RW drives and start at US$999. The company has unceremoniously dumped the Dalmation and Flower Power designs and is offering Snow, Graphite, and Indigo. According to Apple:

Trendsetting Digital Lifestyle Computer Now Faster, Less Expensive

Apple® today introduced new iMac models running at speeds up to 700 MHz and offering slot-loading CD-RW drives at lower prices with more memory and larger hard drives. Available in popular iMac colors - Indigo, Snow and Graphite - the new line also comes with Appleis next generation operating system, Mac® OS X, pre-installed.

Offering more speed, the line includes iMac models featuring fast new PowerPC G3 processors running at up to 700 MHz. With slot-loading CD-RW drives now available across the line and iTunes pre-installed on every iMac, users can import songs from their favorite CDs and compress them into the popular MP3 format, and organize their music and create custom music CDs, starting at just $999. With larger hard drives up to 60GB, memory up to 256MB and iMovie 2, Appleis pre-installed easy-to-use consumer digital video editing software, users can store more digital movies. Movies can be saved back to the camcorder, copied to videotape or posted to a useris own Web site using iTools, Appleis suite of free Internet services.

iMac continues to lead the way as the worldis best computer for todayis digital lifestyle with features including:

  • award-winning, all-in-one design with built-in 15-inch high-quality display with 1024x768 resolution (13.8-inch viewable image size);
  • the fastest and easiest way to start surfing, e-mailing and messaging on the web;
  • fan-less operation that reduces noise to half that of competitive products;
  • slot-loading CD-RW drives for burning music and data CDs;
  • ATI RAGE 128 Ultra with 16MB of video RAM for outstanding graphics and realistic gaming;
  • dual FireWire® and USB ports for easy connections to peripherals such as DV camcorders;
  • built-in 10/100BASE-T Ethernet for easy DSL and cable modem access, and a 56K V.90 modem;
  • an all-digital sound system designed in collaboration with Harman Kardon;
  • Appleis optical Pro mouse and full-size Apple Pro Keyboard;
  • support for optional AirPort, Appleis revolutionary wireless networking solution; and
  • an incredible software bundle offering iTunes, iMovie 2, AppleWorks®, QuickTime®, QuickTime VR, QuickTime Player, Quicken Deluxe 2001, Palm Desktop, FAXstf, Cro-Mag Rally, Nanosaur, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Outlook Express, Netscape Communicator and EarthLink TotalAccess.
  • Pricing and Availability
    The new 500 MHz and 600 MHz iMac models are available immediately from The Apple Store® (www.apple.com), at Appleis retail stores and through Apple Authorized Resellers. The 700 MHz model is expected to be available in August. The new iMacs are available in three standard configurations.

    iMac, for a suggested retail price of $999 (US) in Indigo and Snow, features:

    • a 500 MHz PowerPC G3 processor with 256K on-chip backside level 2 cache;
    • 128MB of PC100 SDRAM;
    • a 20GB Ultra ATA hard disk;
    • a slot-loading CD-RW drive;
    • ATI RAGE 128 Ultra with 16MB of SDRAM;
    • a built-in 56K V.90 modem;
    • two FireWire ports and two USB ports;
    • VGA video mirroring; and
    • support for AirPort option.

    iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,299 (US) in Snow and Graphite, features:

      a 600 MHz PowerPC G3 processor with 256K on-chip backside level 2 cache;
    • 256MB of PC100 SDRAM;
    • a 40GB Ultra ATA hard disk;
    • a slot-loading CD-RW drive;
    • ATI RAGE 128 Ultra with 16MB of SDRAM;
    • a built-in 56K V.90 modem;
    • two FireWire ports and two USB ports;
    • VGA video mirroring; and
    • support for AirPort option.

    iMac Special Edition, for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US) in Snow and Graphite, features:

    • a 700 MHz PowerPC G3 processor with 256K on-chip backside level 2 cache;
    • 256MB of PC100 SDRAM
    • a 60GB Ultra ATA hard disk
    • a slot-loading CD-RW drive;
    • ATI RAGE 128 Ultra with 16MB of SDRAM;
    • a built-in 56K V.90 modem;
    • two FireWire ports and two USB ports;
    • VGA video mirroring; and
    • support for AirPort option.

    You can find more information on the new iMacs at Appleis Web site.