iMac G3 (Five Flavors)
The iMac goes fruity: five translucent colors and a faster G3.
Overview
Barely five months after the first iMac, Apple added a rainbow of finishes: Blueberry, Grape, Lime, Strawberry and Tangerine. Every color kept the same teardrop CRT body but let buyers pick a computer that matched their personality, something no personal computer had offered.
Inside, the processor rose to 266 MHz, with a faster ATI Rage Pro Turbo graphics chip, a 6 GB hard disk and Mac OS 8.5.1. The infrared port and the PCI mezzanine slot disappeared. A 333 MHz model followed in April.
The five-flavor iMac topped US desktop sales for months, with Apple announcing 278,000 sold in its first six weeks, and cemented the fun, approachable image of the brand.
Why it mattered
It turned the computer into a fashion statement and proved that color could drive sales.
At a glance
- Announced
- January 5, 1999
- Released
- January 5, 1999
- Launch price
- Not available
- Chip / processor
- PowerPC G3, 266 MHz
- Display
- 15"
- Storage
- 6 GB
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- Five translucent colors
- 266 MHz PowerPC G3, later 333 MHz
- ATI Rage Pro Turbo graphics
- Best-selling US desktop in early 1999
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Display
- Size
- 15-inch
- Type
- CRT
- Resolution
- Up to 1024 x 768
Chip
- Chip
- PowerPC G3, 266 MHz (333 MHz model added April 1999)
Memory
- Storage options
- 6 GB hard disk; 24x CD-ROM
Graphics
- GPU
- ATI Rage Pro Turbo
Ports
- Ports
- 2 USB, Ethernet, 56k modem, headphone jack
Software
- Launch OS
- Mac OS 8.5.1
Design
- Change from Bondi Blue
- Infrared port and PCI mezzanine slot removed
Availability
- Announced
- January 5, 1999
- Released
- January 5, 1999
Colors
- Finishes
- Blueberry, Grape, Lime, Strawberry, Tangerine
How it compares
More in the iMac G3 family
iMac G3 (Bondi Blue)
The translucent teal computer that made personal computers friendly again.
iMac DV
FireWire and a slot-loading DVD drive arrive on the iMac.
iMac G3 (Summer 2000)
The iMac breaks the $800 barrier with a new Indigo entry model.
iMac G3 (Flower Power and Blue Dalmatian)
Patterned iMacs for the iTunes generation.