iMac

Essentials

Family: iMac/eMac

Codename: Columbus

Gestalt ID: 406

Minimum OS: 8.1

Maximum OS: 10.3.9

Introduced: August 1998

Terminated: January 1999

Processor

CPU: PowerPC 750 "G3"

CPU Speed: 233 MHz

FPU: integrated

Bus Speed: 66 MHz

Data Bus Width: 64-bit

Address Bus Width: 32-bit

Level 1 Cache: 32 kB data, 32 kB instruction

Level 2 Cache: 512 kB backside, 1:2

ROM: 1 MB ROM + 3 MB toolbox ROM loaded into RAM

RAM Type: 144 pin SO-DIMM

Minimum RAM Speed: 100 MHz

Onboard RAM: 0 MB

RAM slots: 2

Maximum RAM: 256 MB

Expansion Slots: mezzanine

Video

Monitor: 15"

VRAM: 2 -6 MB SGRAM

Max Resolution: 16 bit 1024x768

Storage

Hard Drive: 4 GB

ATA Bus: EIDE

Optical Drive: 24x CD-ROM

Input/Output

USB: 2

Audio Out: stereo 16 bit mini

Audio In: stereo 16 bit mini

Speaker: stereo, SRS

Microphone: mono

Networking

Modem: 56 kbps

Ethernet: 10/100Base-T

Miscellaneous

Power: 80 Watts

Dimensions: 15.8" H x 15.2" W x 17.6" D

Weight: 40 lbs.

Notes

The Rev. 2 iMacs included 6 MB of VRAM standard, allowing for 24 bit color at 1024x768.

Announced in May 1998 and shipped in August, the iMac was Apple's computer for the new millennium. Aimed at the low-end consumer market and designed with the internet in mind, the iMac was positioned by Apple as the most original new computer since the original Mac in 1984, and came in a stylish new case design, with translucent "Bondi Blue" plastics. The iMac included a 4 Mbps IrDA port, and an internal 56Kpbs modem (a 33.6 kbps modem was originally announced in May, but was upped to 56 kbps at MacWorld.), used two 12 Mbps Universal Serial Ports (USB) as its only means of external expansion, and included a newly-designed USB keyboard and mouse. While it had no other serial or SCSI ports, many manufacturers promised to make a variety of USB peripherals available by the time it shipped in August, and by and large they delivered on that promise. A "Rev B." model was released several months later, with 6 MB of VRAM, and several hardware bug-fixes. The iMac sold for $1,299. This Rev. B iMac was replaced by the Rev. C in January 1999.

Picture Credits:
Apple, Inc.