X-SciTech

The iMac Goes Flat

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

January 7, 2002 / 6:15 PM EST / CBS

Apple Computers CEO Steve Jobs introduced a new, very different looking personal computer at his company's annual expo on Monday. A flat-screen monitor connected to an oval base by a crane will take on the name iMac -- the computers that propelled Apple's PC sales three years ago.

Jobs, wearing his trademark blue jeans and black mock-turtleneck, introduced several new Apple products at Macworld 2002 in San Francisco, but the iMac was the slickest eye-catcher of them all.

It looks more like a table lamp than a PC. Jobs told an audience that he wanted to take the opportunity to reshape the computer. He described the new iMac as "beauty and grace that will last for decades."

The new iMac will also pack some brawn behind its "beauty." The computer will be powered by a 700 or 800 MHz PowerPC G4 processor, 40 or 60 gigabyte of hard disk drive space and will be operated by the Mac’s new operating system, OS X. Re-writable DVD players will be included in higher-end computer models.

The system only comes with 128MB of SDRAM on its lower model and 256MB of SDRAM on its modest to higher end models. But, at today’s low cost for computer memory, bumping up the iMac's RAM to 1GB at an affordable price isn’t out of the question.

It seems that Apple has positioned its iMac to be a hub to digital media in the home. With six million of these all-in-one computers sold since 1998, Apple is hoping its remodeled iMac will keep sales up where other PC companies have seen lagging sales.

Apple introduced several multi-media products over the past months that allow users to record music to its music player iPod, edit video on its iDVD 2, and publish home photos with its new product, the iPhoto software (also introduced at the 2002 expo).

The iMac with a 15-inch LCD flat screen will come in three price ranges. The least expensive model costing $1,299 comes with a 700MHz processor and CD-rewritable. The $1,499 model is fitted with a 700MHz processor with a combo drive that reads DVDs and rewrites CDs. An 800MHz iMac will be supplied with a drive that rewrites CDs and DVDs for a price of $1,799. The two higher-end models also come with Apple Pro speakers.

Since Jobs’ return to Apple as CEO for a second stint, the company has used innovative design of its products and an emphasis on easy control over its multimedia devices to create a buzz among computer users.

Competitors have adopted some style influences from Apple. But, Apple products could be pricey in comparison to other PCs.

The Apple Cube, which was introduced and discontinued last year, was unique and eye-catching. But it just did not receive enough sales. Some put the blame on it's $1,800 price tag, not including a monitor. The new iMac is more affordable, although the same features can be seen on rival computer-makers' products for less.

Most Apple enthusiasts were expecting something different from Jobs, and that is exactly what the received. Now, how the new design will help Apple sell computers remains to be seen.