Power Mac G5 (Mid 2004)

Less than a year after unveiling the original Power Mac G5, Apple released a new line of G5 models, each with dual processors and an 8x SuperDrive. As before, the entry level model uses 64-bit PCI slots and only supports up to 4 GB of RAM vs. PCI-X slots and an 8 GB RAM ceiling in the […]

14″ iBook G4 (Early 2004)

For the first time, Apple offered a SuperDrive as an option on the iBook, making the 14″ 1.0 GHz model (actually 1.07 GHz) a very affordable, very portable way to burn DVDs. The “1 GHz” model is often sold on the used market as a 1.07 GHz iBook G4. Despite the fact that the CPU […]

eMac USB 2.0 (2004)

Incremental improvement were the name of the game for the 2004 eMac. This edition gets a 25% speed boost for both the CPU and the memory bus compared with the 1 GHz 2003 eMac. The G4 CPU used in this model also has a larger level 2 cache (512 KB vs. 256 KB), which further improves performance. […]

20″ iMac G4 (Late 2003)

The biggest iMac to date, the 20″ model has a 1680 x 1050 display – and due to the weight of the screen, the base has to be heavier to counterbalance it. At 40.1 pounds, this is the heaviest iMac G4 yet. Except for the screen size and weight, the 20″ iMac G4 is identical […]

14″ iBook G4 (Late 2003)

With the introduction of the G4 iBooks in October 2003, Apple phased out the last Macs with G3 processors, which had been in use since November 1997 – and brought the iBook past the 1 GHz mark. Although the G4 iBooks use a G4 CPU, it’s not the same version used in the PowerBook G4 – […]

17″ iMac G4 (Late 2003)

The first iMac to reach 1.25 GHz, the 17″ G4 iMac has a wide aspect ratio “cinema” type screen and displays 1440 x 900 pixels – just perfect for DVDs. Along with the 1.0 GHz 15″ model, it’s the first iMac to support USB 2.0, and it’s also the first to sport GeForce 5200 graphics. […]

15″ iMac G4 (Late 2003)

The last revision of the 15″ flat panel iMac has a 1 GHz G4 processor, a 32x Combo drive, and 32 MB of video memory. Along with the 1.25 GHz 17″ model, it is the first iMac to support USB 2.0. The 15″ 1 GHz iMac sold for the same $1,299 price as the original Bondi […]

Power Mac G5 (Mid 2003)

The Power Mac G5 was introduced on 2003.06.23 – the same day Intel officially unveiled the 3.2 GHz Pentium 4. In terms of increased clock speed, that means Intel had a 6.7% speed bump the same day that Apple announced a 40% improvement in clock speed (from 1.42 GHz to 2.0 GHz), allowing it to […]

Power Mac G4 (Mid 2003)

Leave it to Apple to completely confuse the market by releasing a “brand new” 1.25 GHz  Power Mac G4 model at the same time it announced the first Power Mac G5s. Like the 2002 Mirrored Drive Doors Power Mac G4, this model can boot into OS 9 as well as OS X. It must be time for Apple to […]

eMac ATI Graphics (2003)

After a year on the market, Apple speed bumped the eMac from a top speed of 800 MHz to 1 GHz while moving from a 100 MHz data bus to 133 MHz and adding support for 802.11g AirPort Extreme WiFi. Apple also switched from the Nvidia graphics of the original eMac to Radeon 7500 on this model […]

3rd Generation iPod

With the third generation (3G) iPod, Apple replaced the four buttons surrounding the scrollwheel with a row of round buttons between the scrollwheel and the display. The 3G iPod also introduced the 30-pin dock connector and no longer had separate Mac and PC versions.

12″ iBook G3 (Early 2003)

Apple once again improved the popular iBook by boosting CPU speeds 100 MHz. The entry-level model still has a CD-ROM drive, but it now has the same 32 MB of VRAM as the faster model. Hard drives are also larger: 30 GB for the 700 MHz iBook, 40 GB for the 800.

17″ iMac G4 (Early 2003)

The first iMac to reach 1 GHz, the 17″ G4 iMac has a wide aspect ratio “cinema” type screen and displays 1440 by 900 pixels – just perfect for DVDs. Other improvements over the old 800 MHz model include a slot for an 802.11g AirPort Extreme card, space for internal Bluetooth, 64 MB of video […]

15″ iMac G4 (Early 2003)

Apple decided to simplify the iMac lineup by offering just one 15″ model and one 17″ model. The Early 2003 17″ iMac has a 1 GHz G4 processor, a SuperDrive, and 64 MB of video memory. The Early 2003 15″ iMac runs at 800 MHz, includes a Combo drive, and sells for a very competitive US$1,299. Except […]

17″ iMac G4 (Mid 2002)

Announced at the Macworld Expo on July 17, 2002, the 17″ G4 iMac has a wide aspect ratio “cinema” type screen and displays 1440 by 900 pixels – just perfect for DVDs. The new screen is about 1.6″ wider than the one on the 15″ iMac and just a bit taller, and the 17″ iMac […]

Installing OS X on a SuperMac S900

Like many of you out there, I had been salivating over Mac OS X since it arrived last year. There was one small issue: I was using a Umax SuperMac S900, and 604e support was less than forthcoming from Apple, so unless there was a new Apple G3 or G4 machine in my future, I was […]

15″ iMac G4 (Early 2002)

The 2002 iMac is definitely different with its 10.5″ hemispherical base and 15″ flat panel display. Definitely different. Steve Jobs says the design was inspired by a sunflower. All three versions feature a G4 processor and can burn CDs. The less expensive models have a 700 MHz G4, and the middle of the line has […]

700 MHz iMac (Summer 2001)

The July 2001 iMac came in speeds of 500, 600, and 700 MHz, although the 700 wasn’t available until August. All models included CD-RW drives and at least 128 MB of RAM. Except for the $799 indio-only model, each version was available in snow (white). The 500 MHz models were available in indigo, and the […]

400 MHz iMac G3 (Early 2001)

There were four different G3 iMacs that ran at 400 MHz: two introduced in 1999, one in 2000, and one in 2001. The 400 MHz iMac DV and 400 MHz DV Special Edition were introduced in October 1999. These included a DVD-ROM drive and were the first iMacs with built-in FireWire. They have RAGE 128 […]

600 MHz iMac (Early 2001)

The 600 MHz iMac 2001 SE (for special edition) sat at the top of the Early 2001 iMac family. It was the fastest iMac when released and came in graphite, flower power, and blue Dalmatian (really – see the picture!). This model replaced the 2000 iMac DV SE at the same price while adding CD-RW, […]

500 MHz iMac (Early 2001, International)

The 500 MHz iMac 2001 is the middle member of the iMac 2001 family. It is Apple’s least expensive computer with CD-RW capability and comes in indigo, flower power, and blue Dalmatian (really – see the picture!). This model replaces the 450 MHz Mac DV+ at a $100 price reduction while adding CD-RW and a […]

500 MHz iMac (Early 2001, North American)

The 500 MHz Early 2001 iMac is the middle member of the Early 2001 family. It is Apple’s least expensive computer with CD-RW capability and comes in indigo, flower power, and blue Dalmatian (really – see the picture!). This model replaces the 450 MHz Mac DV+ at a $100 price reduction while adding CD-RW, improved […]

Apple iMac G3/500 DV SE (Summer 2000)

This model, available in Graphite and Snow, replaced the earlier iMac DV. Both models share a 400 MHz processor. Other than colors, the biggest difference between the new iMac DV and the previous model with the same name is the use of a CD-ROM drive instead of DVD. The Summer 2000 iMac DV sells for […]

450 MHz iMac DV+ (Summer 2000)

The iMac DV+, available in Indigo, Ruby, and Sage, boosts performance over iMac DV by 50 MHz. This is the only 450 MHz iMac model. The iMac DV+ sells for the same price as the 1999 iMac DV and ships with the Apple Pro Mouse and Apple Pro Keyboard. Got an iMac? Join our iMac Group or iMacs […]

SuperMac C500 Benchmarks

The Umax SuperMac C500 and C600 were the first “Power Macs” to have their CPU in a ZIF socket, making upgrades very easy. Having a C500/200 at work and finding an incredible garage sale special on upgrades from Small Dog Electronics, I decided to test the 240 MHz upgrade and the CacheDoubler.

400 MHz iMac DV (Late 1999)

Development of the “Kihei” iMac began the day after the first iMacshipped. The new model is an evolutionary development of Apple’s 2,000,000 unit seller. The first iMacs with a DVD-ROM drive, the iMac DV  and DV SE run a lightning fast 400 MHz G3 processor on a 100 MHz system bus and are the first […]

350 MHz iMac (Late 1999)

A Limited Mac At 350 MHz, it may not seem a whole lot faster than the Revision D iMac, but the new “Kihei” iMac uses a 100 MHz system bus – plus RAGE 128 graphics and 2X AGP for superior video performance. In addition to regular iMac features, the new iMac has two separate USB […]

266 MHz iMac (Rev. C)

Steve Jobs announced this faster, more feature laden iMac at Macworld Expo 1999 in San Francisco. In addition to a 14% faster CPU and 50% larger hard drive, the 266 MHz iMac shipped in five different colors: tangerine, grape, lime, blueberry, and strawberry. There are rumors that some Bondi blue ones were built in January […]

Mac OS 8.5 Issues on Umax SuperMacs

There are plenty of sites offering installation and troubleshooting advice for Mac OS 8.5 – at least for the Power Mac user. Since neither Apple Computer nor Umax Corporation provides any support for Mac OS 8.5 on SuperMacs, this page exists to cover problems specifically noted by users of the Umax SuperMac series of Macintosh […]

Umax SuperMac J700 Benchmarks

The Umax SuperMac J700 was the first Power Mac clone that I benchmarked. My J700 shipped with a 180 MHz 604e CPU, and has 104 MB of memory and a Quantum Fireball 2110 hard drive installed. It shipped standard with an ixMicro Twin Turbo 128 video card, which I replaced with an ixMicro Ultimate Rez 3D […]

233 MHz iMac (Rev. B)

On October 17, 1998, Apple released Mac OS 8.5 and the first update to the popular Bondi iMac. CPU speed, base RAM, and most other specs were identical to the original iMac. In addition to coming with OS 8.5 installed, the Revision B iMac incorporates the faster Rage Pro graphics chip, has 6 MB VRAM, […]

Original iMac (Rev. A)

Hello (again). Do you remember the first Mac, the one that didn’t even have a model number? The amazing 8 MHz 68000 CPU, crystal clear 9″ b&w screen, huge 400 KB floppy drive, and radical mouse? Fast forward from 1984 to 1998. Using up-to-date technology, Apple created a worthy successor to the original Macintosh as […]