Apple Upgrades iMac G5

Apple Computer introduced an updated version of its iMac G5 computer Tuesday to include faster 64-bit processors and graphics capabilities. The machine is set to take advantage of the new “Tiger” operating system, which will be bundled with the new computers, along with a built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth wireless connectivity.

“Reviewers have called the iMac G5 the most elegant desktop computer in the world, and now its getting even better,” Peter Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide product marketing at Apple Computer Inc., said in a statement.

The new iMac G5 now can be purchased with a 17- or 20-inch widescreen display, with 1440×900 and 1680×1050 pixel resolution, respectively, which will be powered by an ATI Radeon 9600 graphics processor with 128MB of memory.

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New, customizable upgrades include 400MHz of DDR (double-data-rate) memory that can be expanded to 2GB, while the storage capacity can be upped to 400GB.

In addition to running Tiger more efficiently, the expanded memory and hard drive also will let users take better advantage of the included iLife 05 application suite, which includes iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, GarageBand and iTunes.

“With a faster processor, built-in wireless networking, Tiger and iLife 05, the new iMac G5 offers the best consumer desktop computing experience in the world,” Schiller said.

The lower-end package will sell for $1,299 and includes a 17-inch widescreen, a 1.8GHz processor and a 160GB hard drive. The high-end system will sell for $1,799 and includes a 20-inch widescreen, a 2.0 GHz processor and a 250 GB hard drive.

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