Archive No. 103
iMac G3
Flower Power
Historical Context
The machine that saved Apple. When Steve Jobs returned in 1997, the company had 90 days of operating cash remaining. The Bondi Blue iMac launched in 1998 at $1,299, eliminated the floppy drive before anyone thought that was possible, and sold 800,000 units in its first 139 days — the best-selling Mac to that point. Translucent candy-colored plastic rewrote what a computer was allowed to look like. 'There is no step 3' became the benchmark for product simplicity.
Specifications
Technical Blueprint
Ref: M5521
Processor
PowerPC G3 500MHz
Memory
128MB PC100 SDRAM
Storage
20GB HDD, CD-RW
Graphics
ATI Rage 128 Pro 2
Operating System
MacOS 9.2.2
Hardware Notes
PRAM battery removed · Wi-Fi enabled
Gallery
Detailed Observations
The Story
CD-ROM works, but inject / eject doesn't. Need to use tweezers to help the disk out when ejecting.