Buyer's Guide: closeout deals on slot loading (revision E) iMacs

Books & Buyer's Guides

Information Hubs

Other Product Information

Site Supporters

	Send to a friend
	News Feed

Buyer's Guide: Closeout Deals On Apple's Old iMac Lineup!

Revision E Original Software Bundle

AppleWorks 5

FaxSTF from STF Technologies

Quicken

Kid Pix Studio Deluxe

World Book Encyclopedia

Pangea Software's Nanosaur & Bugdom

Netscape Communicator

Microsoft's Internet Explorer & Outlook Express

Earthlink's, Total Access

AOL 4.0

EdView Internet Safety Kit, Family Edition (filtering software)

Adobe Pagemill

iMovie Video Editing Software from Apple (DV models only)

Palm Desktop

8-23-00
In yesterday's Buyers' Guide we covered Apple's latest/greatest iMacs. Today, we look at the iMacs that could claim that title before the NY Macworld expo, the first slot loading iMacs. In addition to the slot loading CD (or DVD) ROM drive, the slot loading iMacs sported several other improvements over their predecessors. The "DV" models have DVD-ROM drives and two FireWire ports, and while all previous iMacs had dual USB ports, the slot loading iMacs were the first to support a full 12Mbps per port. Previous models provided a combined total of 12Mbps. These were also the first iMacs to include an AirPort slot for wireless networking. With all of these additions, something had to go, so Apple removed to the cooling fan! This provided for quite operation and let users appreciate the (then) new Harman Kardon Odyssey speakers.

While not exactly the ideal gaming machine, Apple took a step in the right direction by including ATI's RAGE 128 2x AGP graphics card with 8MB of SDRAM as well as the improved Harman Kardon audio system. Installing additional RAM or the optional AirPort card was made easier with a simple pullout access tray in the back of the computer. For more in-depth information on the Rev. E iMacs, visit MacSpeedZone's iMac Performance and Information Page.

The slot loading iMacs were also the first to offer three different configurations: A G3/350 iMac, a G3/400 iMac DV and a G3/400 iMac DV, Special Edition. Splitting the iMac line let buyers select the iMac that best suited their needs. It also allowed Apple to produce their first (well, ok... second) computer available under the $1,000 mark. The G3/350 iMacs have disappeared from all of the sites we regularly scour for our buyers' guides. The G3/400 iMac DV and Special edition can still be found at reduced prices. We were unable to unearth any vendors bundling extra goodies to clear out their remaining stock, scanners, printers, extra RAM, etc. In addition to checking out closeout prices on the original slot loading iMacs, the chart pits similarly priced old and new models head to head, identifying key differences in their feature set.

Approximate Cost

Old iMac

New iMac

Key Differences

$1,000

G3/400/64MB/10GB
"iMac DV"

Old - 64MB RAM (512k max.) | New - 64MB RAM (1GB max.)

Old - DVD-ROM drive | New - CD-ROM drive.

Old - ATI RAGE 1228 VR graphics card | New - ATI RAGE 128 PRO 4XL graphics card.

Old - 5 "fruity" colors | New - "indigo" and "ruby."

$1,300

G3/400/128MB/13GB

"Special Edition"

G3/450/64MB/20GB

"iMac DV+"

Old - G3/400 Processor | New - G3/450 processor

Old - 128MB RAM (512k max.) | New 64MB RAM (1GB max.)

Old - 13GB hard drive | New - 20GB hard drive

Old - ATI RAGE 1228 VR graphics card | New - ATI RAGE 128 PRO 4XL graphics card.

Old - "Graphite" color | New - "Indigo", "Ruby" & "Sage"

Price Comparison Information
Product	Vendor	Price	In Stock?
Rev. E iMac G3/400 DV	ComputerTown	$1,294.00	Unknown
	MacConnection	$999.00	Yes
	MacMall	$999.00	Yes
	MacWarehouse	$999.00	Yes
	Small Dog	$1,159.00	Yes

Rev. E iMac G3/400 DV Special Edition	MacMall	$1,294.00	Yes
Rev. E iMac G3/400 DV Special Edition	Macwarehouse	$1,299.00	Yes

Pricing & availability accurate as of 8-22-00

Major Technological Changes In The iMac Line

Rev. A iMac	Rev. B iMac	Rev. C iMac	Rev. D iMac	Rev. E iMac	Rev. E iMac - DV	Rev E iMac - DV Special Edition
G3/233MHz	G3/233MHz	G3/266MHz	G3/333MHz	G3/350MHz	G3/400	G3/400
32 SDRAM 128 Max	32 SDRAM 128 Max	32 SDRAM 128 Max	32 SDRAM 128 Max	64MB PC100 SDRAM 512MB Max	64MB PC100 SDRAM 512MB Max	128MB PC100 SDRAM 512MB Max
ATI Rage IIc Graphics Controller 2MB VRAM	ATI RAGE PRO TURBO accelerated 2D/3D graphics controller 6MB VRAM	ATI RAGE PRO TURBO accelerated 2D/3D graphics controller 6MB VRAM	ATI RAGE PRO TURBO accelerated 2D/3D graphics controller 6MB VRAM	ATI RAGE 128 VR 2x AGP accelerated 2D/3D graphics controller 8MB SDRAM	ATI RAGE 128 VR 2x AGP accelerated 2D/3D graphics controller 8MB SDRAM	ATI RAGE 128 VR 2x AGP accelerated 2D/3D graphics controller 8MB SDRAM
OS 8.1	OS 8.5	OS 8.5.1	OS 8.5.1	8.6 (Now OS 9)	8.6 (Now OS 9)	8.6 (Now OS 9)
4GB Hard Drive	4GB Hard Drive	6GB Hard Drive	6GB Hard Drive	6GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive	10GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive	13GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive
24X CD-ROM	24X CD-ROM	24X CD-ROM	24X CD-ROM	24X CD-ROM	4x DVD (24x CD)	4x DVD (24x CD)
Mezzanine Slot	Mezzanine Slot	Mezzanine Slot: removed	-	-	-	-
Infrared Port	Infrared Port	Infrared Port: removed	-	-	-	-
Bondi	Bondi	5 "Flavors"	5 "Flavors"	Modified Blueberry	Modified 5 flavors	Graphite
2 USB Ports 12Mbps combined	2 USB Ports 12Mbps combined	2 USB Ports 12Mbps combined	2 USB Ports 12Mbps combined	2 USB Ports 12Mbps each Optional AirPort for wireless networking	2 USB Ports 12Mbps each 2 - 400Mbps FireWire ports Optional AirPort for wireless networking Standard VGA output port (15-pin mini D-Sub connector)	2 USB Ports 12Mbps each 2 - 400Mbps FireWire ports Optional AirPort for wireless networking Standard VGA output port (15-pin mini D-Sub connector)

Amazon.com Widgets

Copyright 1996-2007 by Cider Press Publishing LLC all rights reserved. MacReviewZone is not authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Computer. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, iPod, iBook, iMac, eMac, and PowerBook are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are hereby acknowledged.

| Top of page | Mail this page to a friend |