Revolutionary G4 Processor with Velocity Engine Brings Supercomputer Performance to the Desktop
SEYBOLD, SAN FRANCISCO-Aug. 31, 1999-Apple today introduced the Power Mac(tm) G4, its next generation of desktop computers designed for professional and "pro-sumer" customers. The Power Mac G4 is powered by the revolutionary new PowerPC G4 chip architected by Apple, Motorola and IBM, and is the first personal computer in history to deliver supercomputer-level performance of over one billion floating-point operations per second. The Power Mac G4s run professional applications like Adobe's Photoshop up to twice as fast as 600MHz Pentium III-based PCs.
The G4 chip incorporates a new execution unit named the Velocity Engine(tm)-the heart of a supercomputer miniaturized onto a sliver of silicon. In a set of Intel's own tests published on their web site, the 500MHz G4 chip was 2.94 times as fast as the 600MHz Pentium III processor.
"The Power Mac G4 is not only the fastest Mac ever, it's the fastest personal computer ever," said Apple's interim CEO Steve Jobs. "The revolutionary G4 processor with its remarkable Velocity Engine is the first supercomputer on a chip,' delivering over one gigaflop of sustained performance."
The new Power Mac G4 line is offered in three standard models, based on 400MHz, 450MHz and 500MHz processors, and in build-to-order customer-selected configurations from Apple's online store. The top two standard models feature support for up to 1.5 GB of fast industry-standard PC100 SDRAM, a new 100MHz system bus that delivers up to 800 MBps of data throughput, Rage 128 AGP/2X high performance graphics, an Ultra ATA/66 drive interface, and Apple's breakthrough AirPort(tm) wireless networking (optional).
All models feature 1MB level 2 backside cache, dual Universal Serial Bus (USB) and 400-Mbps FireWire® ports, internal drives from 10 GB to 27 GB (configurable to more than 100 GB via build-to-order) and removable storage including ZIP, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM with video playback, and DVD-RAM. The Power Mac G4 comes in a stunning translucent clear, silver and graphite minitower that has a side door that swings open to provide the industry's easiest access to internal components. The Power Mac G4 line starts at an aggressive retail price of U.S. $1,599.
Apple today also unveiled the perfect companion to the new Power Mac G4: the Apple Cinema(tm) Display. Measuring 22 inches diagonally, it's the largest LCD-based flat panel display ever brought to market and features a letterbox format of 1600 x 1024 pixels. The Apple Cinema Display will be offered in limited quantities beginning in October.
Pricing and Availability The Power Mac G4 400MHz, priced at U.S. $1,599, is available now on The Apple Store(tm) (www.apple.com) and through Apple Authorized Resellers. The Power Mac G4 450MHz, priced at U.S. $2,499, is scheduled to ship in September, and the Power Mac G4 500MHz, priced at U.S. $3,499, is scheduled to ship in October. The Power Mac G4 is available in more than 8,000 build-to-order (BTO) configurations. A complete listing of standard G4 configurations is also available at The Apple Store.
In addition, Apple announced that two new Macintosh® Server G4s and a new Macintosh Server G4 with Mac(tm) OS X Server will be available in November.
* The G4 processor, with its Velocity Engine, is an average of 2.94 times faster than the fastest Pentium III (600MHz) in selected tests published by Intel to demonstrate Pentium's speed.
Apple Computer, Inc. ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II, and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is now recommitted to its original mission-to bring the best personal computing products and support to students, educators, designers, scientists, engineers, businesspersons and consumers in over 140 countries around the world.
Bob Nunn - President, Operator Headgap Systems President, AppleCore of Memphis, Inc. E-mail: headgap@headgap.com
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