At Apple Expo in Paris, Apple unveiled its new iMac G5, which features a new design integrating the entire computer into the 2-in.thick flat-panel display. The new line offers 17- or 20-in. active-matrix widescreen LCDs and G5 processors running up to 1.8 GHz. The thin displays house the power supply as well as the slot-load optical drive; the computer rests on a single aluminum foot.
Beyond its thin design, the new iMac G5 boasts system-performance improvements as well. The 17-in. model comes with either a 1.8 GHz PowerPC G5 processor and a SuperDrive for burning DVDs, or a 1.6 GHz PowerPC G5 processor and a Combo drive for burning CDs and watching DVD movies. The 20-in. model has a 1.8 GHz PowerPC G5 processor and a SuperDrive. All models offer up to a 600 MHz front-side bus, 400 MHz DDR memory-expandable to 2 GB, AGP 8x graphics and 7200 rpm Serial ATA drives up to 250 GB. The new iMac G5 offers five USB ports and two FireWire 400 ports.
Mac OS X version 10.3 Panther is pre-installed. The new iMac G5 line begins shipping in mid-September. Prices range from $1299 to $1899. (Apple: www.apple.com)