Earlier today, Apple Computer announced the iMac G5 at the Apple Expo in Paris. The computer, ranging from a 1.6 to 1.8-Gigahertz 64-bit PowerPC G5 CPU with hard disk and DVD/CD drive, is integrated with a 17 or 20-inch widescreen LCD display in a single 2-inch thick enclosure. The computer is so thin relative to its other dimensions, that in promotional photos, it’s difficult to see the slot-loaded DVD/CD drive on the right side of the unit.
Apple Senior Vice President Philip Schiller said that the iMac G5 is aimed at radically changing the feature set of PCs. “Just like the iPod redefined portable digital music players, the new iMac G5 redefines what users expect from a consumer desktop. With the entire system, including a gorgeous 17- or 20-inch display, just two inches thin, a lot of people will be wondering ‘where did the computer go?’”
This product will find its way into the homes and workplaces of people who have a flair for style and who appreciate an uncluttered workspace. I continue to wonder, however, how many people who are considering a unit this small would purchase something other than a laptop? I have to look into how much more reliable a desktop unit like the iMac G5 is than the equivalent lower-cost Apple portable, the iBook. [ product photo courtesy of Apple Computer ]