Apple Enhances Consumer Desktop Lines

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Aug. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continuing to offer the industry's best digital lifestyle computers, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) today enhanced its popular eMac and iMac lines for home and schools. eMac, the most affordable G4-based computer ever, now comes in two models: one featuring a Combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive for $1,099 (US), the same price as the prior CD-RW equipped model; and one featuring Apple's SuperDrive for burning DVDs and CDs for just $1,499 (US), the industry's lowest price for a computer with DVD-burning capability. Making its popular flat-panel iMac even more affordable, Apple is also lowering the prices of the CD-RW and the Combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW models $100 (US) each, to $1,299 (US) and $1,499 (US) respectively.

"Now, for the first time, users can burn their own custom DVDs on an under-$1,500 computer," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "Our amazing SuperDrive and award-winning iMovie and iDVD applications ushered in the era of personal DVD burning, and this groundbreaking low price point will further reinforce Apple's lead in this rapidly-growing market segment."

At $1,499 (US), the new SuperDrive-equipped eMac model is the industry's lowest cost way to author and burn custom DVDs that play in most consumer DVD players. Apple's award-winning iMovie and iDVD applications come pre-installed on the new eMac, enabling users to edit their video and create and burn their own custom DVDs.

In addition to being the most affordable PowerPC G4 system ever, the popular eMac features a stunning 17-inch flat CRT in a remarkably compact design that is 8 mm less deep than the original 15-inch iMac. The innovative flat-panel iMac features a stunning 17-inch widescreen or 15-inch flat screen LCD that appears to float in mid-air, allowing users to effortlessly adjust its height or angle with just a touch.

Both iMac and eMac offer 700 MHz and 800 MHz PowerPC G4 processors with Velocity Engine and include Apple's industry-leading suite of digital lifestyle applications including iPhoto for managing and sharing digital photographs, iMovie for creating digital movies and iTunes for creating a digital music library. Models with the SuperDrive include Apple's iDVD software. With five USB ports and two FireWire ports, both iMac and eMac offer easy plug-and-play connections to popular peripherals such as digital video camcorders, digital still cameras, printers and scanners.

Pricing & Availability
iMac desktops are available immediately, the eMac with Combo drive is available this week and the eMac with SuperDrive is expected to be available by the end of this month through the Apple Store (http://www.apple.com/), at Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

The 17-inch widescreen flat-panel iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US), includes:
-- an 800 MHz PowerPC G4 processor with Velocity Engine;
-- SuperDrive DVD-R/CD-RW optical drive;
-- NVIDIA GeForce4 MX with 32MB video memory;
-- 256MB of system memory;
-- 80GB Ultra ATA hard drive; and
-- Apple Pro Speakers.

The 15-inch flat screen iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,799 (US), includes:
-- 800 MHz PowerPC G4 processor with Velocity Engine;
-- SuperDrive DVD-R/CD-RW optical drive;
-- NVIDIA GeForce2 MX with 32MB video memory;
-- 256MB of system memory;
-- 60GB Ultra ATA hard drive; and
-- Apple Pro Speakers.

The 15-inch flat screen iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US), includes:
-- 700 MHz PowerPC G4 processor with Velocity Engine;
-- Combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW optical drive;
-- NVIDIA GeForce2 MX with 32MB video memory;
-- 256MB of system memory; and
-- 40GB Ultra ATA hard drive.

The 15-inch flat screen iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,299 (US), includes:
-- 700 MHz PowerPC G4 processor with Velocity Engine;
-- CD-RW optical drive;
-- NVIDIA GeForce2 MX with 32MB video memory;
-- 128MB of system memory; and
-- 40GB Ultra ATA hard drive.

The 17-inch flat CRT eMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US) includes:
-- 800 MHz PowerPC G4 processor;
-- SuperDrive DVD-R/CD-RW optical drive;
-- NVIDIA GeForce2 MX with 32MB video memory;
-- 256MB of system memory; and
-- 60GB ATA Hard Drive.

The 17-inch flat CRT eMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,099 (US) includes:
-- 700 MHz PowerPC G4 processor;
-- Combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW optical drive;
-- NVIDIA GeForce2 MX with 32MB video memory;
-- 128MB of system memory; and
-- 40GB ATA Hard Drive.

Build-to-order options and accessories include additional memory, Apple Pro Speakers, AirPort Base Station and AirPort Card and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

iMac and eMac computers are also available to education customers in the US and Canada through the Apple Store for Education at http://www.apple.com/education/store or by calling an Apple education sales representative at 800-800-APPL.

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Apple Computer, Inc.Web site: http://www.apple.com