Apple waves goodbye to PowerPC iMacs
Apple Computer's Intel transition appears to be in full force, with the company recently selling the last of its iMac computers with PowerPC processors.
Customers visiting Apple's online store this week will no longer see an option to purchase iMacs with IBM's PowerPC processor. Instead, customers seeking a non-Intel Mac are left to choose between select PowerBook, iBook and Power Mac models.
Until very recently, Apple retained stock of its 20-inch 2.0GHz PowerPC-based iMac, which it was selling alongside the new Intel iMac offerings for $1499. The model had previously been declared "End-of-Life" along with its 17-inch counterpart, which disappeared from the company's online store about a month ago.
It was nearly eight years ago that Apple introduced the PowerPC iMac on May 6, 1998 at its Cupertino, Calif.-based headquarters. The first iMac, a bulbous bondi-blue desktop computer, packed a whopping 233MHz PowerPC processor and 32MB of RAM.
"We designed iMac to deliver the things consumers care about most--the excitement of the Internet and the simplicity of the Mac," Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said at the time. "iMac is next year's computer for $1299; not last year's computer for $999."
Today, Apple's iMacs continue to sell for relatively the same price, starting at $1299 for the 17-inch model and scaling up to $1699 for the 20-inch version.
Customers visiting Apple's online store this week will no longer see an option to purchase iMacs with IBM's PowerPC processor. Instead, customers seeking a non-Intel Mac are left to choose between select PowerBook, iBook and Power Mac models.
Until very recently, Apple retained stock of its 20-inch 2.0GHz PowerPC-based iMac, which it was selling alongside the new Intel iMac offerings for $1499. The model had previously been declared "End-of-Life" along with its 17-inch counterpart, which disappeared from the company's online store about a month ago.
It was nearly eight years ago that Apple introduced the PowerPC iMac on May 6, 1998 at its Cupertino, Calif.-based headquarters. The first iMac, a bulbous bondi-blue desktop computer, packed a whopping 233MHz PowerPC processor and 32MB of RAM.
"We designed iMac to deliver the things consumers care about most--the excitement of the Internet and the simplicity of the Mac," Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said at the time. "iMac is next year's computer for $1299; not last year's computer for $999."
Today, Apple's iMacs continue to sell for relatively the same price, starting at $1299 for the 17-inch model and scaling up to $1699 for the 20-inch version.
Comments
Also Costco here just started selling the Mac Mini with everything but a monitor for $699 (PPC with mouse and keyboard).
Originally posted by FreeState
You can still get them at Costco (here in San Diego anyway, 20" G5 for $1499).
Also Costco here just started celling the Mac Mini with everything but a monitor for $699 (PPC with mouse and keyboard).
Really? Which Costco in particular did you see these being sold at?
Note that the $1,499 price also includes the AppleCare extended warranty.
Originally posted by kylephoto760
Really? Which Costco in particular did you see these being sold at?
Mission Valley by Ikea and Qualcom Stadium.
Both are available at the Costco in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Originally posted by kylephoto760
Really? Which Costco in particular did you see these being sold at?
They are available in Irvine, CA as well. Note that they come with 3-year Applecare. But since Costco will take returns pretty much anytime, I don't think the AppleCare matters much. But it is assuring to know you are covered anyway...