Apple Introduces New Systems, Displays

Apple quietly updated its Power Mac G4 line of desktop computers Tuesday and introduced a new 20-inch Apple Cinema Display. Prices on existing displays, including Apple's 23-inch behemoth, were also cut.

The upgraded Power Mac G4 systems increase CPU speed and include additional built-in functionality. The high-end model includes dual G4 processors running at 1.42GHz with 512MB of DDR RAM and 2MB of DDR L3 Cache per processor. The mid-range model has dual G4 processors running at 1.25GHz, and the entry level model has a single 1GHz G4 processor. Both of the lower-end models include 1MB of L3 cache and 256MB of DDR RAM.

All of the Power Mac models now sport a FireWire 800 port along with the two FireWire 400 ports included in previous Power Macs. Internal Bluetooth and Airport Extreme adapters are also available.

The dual 1.42GHz model features a new 4x SuperDrive, 120GB hard drive, and a 64MB ATI Radeon 9000 Pro graphics adaptor for $2,699 USD. The dual 1.25GHz model, with a combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, a 80GB hard drive, and a 64MB ATI Radeon 9000 Pro graphics card retails for $1,999 USD.

The 1GHz model costs $1,499 USD for a 60GB hard drive, combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, and a 64MB GeForce4 MX graphics card. The 1GHz and 1.2GHz models are available now and the 1.42GHz model will be available starting next month.

Joining the new Power Macs is a 20-inch Apple Cinema Display that features a resolution of 1680-by-1050, providing more screen space than the previous 22-inch Cinema Display. The new flat panel runs $1,299 USD and is available now. The price of the 17-inch Studio Display was cut to USD $699 from USD $999, and the 23-inch Cinema Display was reduced to USD $1,999 from USD $3,499.