iMac G5

iMac G5

An original iMac G5 with an Apple Wireless Mouse
Manufacturer	Apple Computer
Type	All-in-one
Release date	August 31, 2004(2004-08-31)
Discontinued	January 10, 2006(2006-01-10)(17 "model) March 20, 2006(2006-03-20)(20 "model)
Predecessor	eMac iMac G4
Successor	Intel iMac

TheiMac G5is a series ofall-in-onepersonal computersthat was designed, manufactured and sold byApple Computerfrom August 2004 to March 2006. It is the final series ofiMacsto use aPowerPCprocessor, making it the last type of iMac that can natively runMac OS 9(Classic) applications.

The iMac G5 was announced at the Apple Expo 2004 inParisin August of 2004.There have been two major external physical designs of the iMac G5. The second version, introduced in October 2005 has a thinner design and an iSight camera.

The iMac G5 replaced theiMac G4and was succeeded in January 2006 by the firstIntel-based iMac.

Overview

The iMac G5 is anall-in-one personal computer.The machine has an integrated, flat 17- or 20-inch (51 cm)liquid-crystal display(LCD), with the rest of the computer internals mounted behind it, or in a "chin" area below the display. The enclosure is 2 inches (5.1 cm) deep. An L-shaped aluminum foot elevates the display off the resting surface and allows the screen to be tilted from between –5 to 25 degrees, though it does not offer height adjustment or side-to-side swiveling. A hole in the foot allows cables to be routed through it, and the entire foot can be removed to use another mounting method.On the top right edge of the iMac is anoptical driveusing a slot-loading mechanism to save space. On the back right of the machine is a single row ofinput/outputports: analog input and analog/digital outport,Universal Serial Bus(USB),FireWire,a dial-upmodem,andethernet.Initial models featuredAirPort ExpressandBluetoothwireless connectivity as optional add-ons.

The G5central processing unitis located under a large heat sink. To address the processor's heat output, the interior of the iMac is divided into multiple cooling zones, with the system monitoring heat and ramping fan speeds only when needed for quieter operation.The fans drew air from the speaker grilles at the bottom of the case up through vents in the back.Thegraphics processing unitis integrated directly to the motherboard and thus cannot be easily upgraded. The Serial ATA (SATA) hard drives and random access memory (RAM) of the iMac were the same as the contemporaneousPower Mac G5.In initial iMac G5 models, the interior could be easily accessed through the back by the removal of three captive screws.

Development

Apple introduced theiMac G4in January 2002, the first iMac with a LCD. The 15-inch launch model was supplemented by models with 17- and 20-inch displays. These larger displays challenged the iMac G4's "sunflower" design, where the display was suspended above a base by an adjustable arm.The newPowerPC G5processors that Apple first shipped with thePower Mac G5also ran much hotter and required more cooling than the G4s they replaced; fitting them into Apple's smaller desktop machines or laptops was a special difficulty.Apple marketing executiveGreg Joswiakdescribed the heart of the iMac as its all-in-one form factor, ease of use, focus on digital lifestyle applications, and innovative design, and that revamping it always meant keeping those factors in mind.

In redesigning the iMac, Apple went with an approach they had considered and then discarded with the G4 model—attaching the components behind the display. The new design kept the tilt adjustment from the previous model, and approximating swiveling by adding rubber feet on the base so that it could be easily adjusted; height adjustment was not included, with Joswiak justifying the change by saying that few customers raised or lowered their iMacs.To address the heat of the G5 processor, Apple divided the iMac's interior into three cooling zones: the processor, the hard drive, and the power supply and logic board. "By doing the three different cooling areas, we take a big heating challenge and break it into smaller ones, which is really the essence of good thermal design," Joswiak said. This allowed the machine to have quieter fans that only ran as fast—and as loudly—as needed. The new design allowed the design team to integrate the stereo speakers into the case, which had been a design concession of the previous model.

The iMac's exterior is white, double-shot plastic.following the similar look of the iMac G4 and theiPodmusic player.Jony Ivefound the color bold yet restrained.

Release

Inside an iMac G5 20 "Rev. A

The iMac G5 was announced at the Paris Mac Expo on August 31, 2004, and shipped in September.Advertising for the new iMac visually linked it to the iPod, by then fast becoming Apple's most important product; advertisements for the computer placed it alongside the music player and contained the tagline "From the creators of iPod."Apple focused on selling iMacs to iPod users via theHalo effectfor the Apple brand.The company sought to allay concerns that the success of the iPod was to the detriment of the Mac division; "I really hope that when they see this iMac that it shows that it's not the case," Apple executivePhil Schillertold analysts. "We are applying our innovation and engineering design talents to everything we do, including the iPod and all of our Mac product lines."

The machine initially came in three configurations. A low-end 17-inch model featured a 1.6GHz processor, 256MB of memory, an 80GB hard drive, and a DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive. A midrange model added a faster processor and the ability to burn DVDs, while the high-end model added a larger hard drive to pair with a 20-inch display. The high-end prices were hundreds of dollars less than the G4 models they replaced.Exclusively for the education market, Apple offered a cheaper model with a worse graphics chipset and smaller hard drive.

The iMac G5 was updated again in March 2005. The new models featured faster processors, more memory, larger hard drives, improved graphics, and double-layer optical drives (capable of burning 8.5GBDVDs.) The computer's networking was also improved withGigabit Ethernet,AirPort and Bluetooth options now standard features. The outer physical design remained the same.

In October 2005, the final revision was released, adding an integratediSightwebcam mounted above the LCD and Apple'sFront Rowmedia interface. Other improvements included faster processors, more RAM, larger hard drives, and improved graphics. Notably this became the first Apple computer to use thePCI Expressexpansion bus andDDR2 SDRAM,with these features appearing shortly before they were incorporated into the Power Mac G5. It was declared "The Gold Standard of desktop PCs" byWalt MossbergofThe Wall Street Journal.

Although the iMac G5 iSight looked outwardly similar to the two previous revisions, it has a slimmer, internally new design. Improvements included superior cooling and performance increases. The stand could no longer be replaced with a VESA mount. This case, unlike the previous models, opened only from the front and requires the LCD screen to be removed before internal components can be accessed. Apple recommended that no user service items other than RAM, which is accessible through a small door at the base of the housing. Guides have been posted on the internet to support replacing other components including the hard drive and optical drive, though doing so would have at one time voided any remaining Apple warranty.

The iMac G5 was succeeded by the Intel-based iMac on January 10, 2006, beginning the transition of Apple's entire line of computers to theIntelarchitecture six months ahead of schedule.

Reception

The IMac G5 was generally positively-received.

The design was often called conservative or predictable compared to its predecessors.

Jason Snellcalled it a glimpse of the future.

Its performance was often favorably compared to the more expensive Power Macs, with critics suggesting the only reason to get the more expensive models was if consumers needed to add expansion or graphics cards.

In comparison to the ergonomics of the iMac G4, the iMac G5's lack of height adjustment was criticized. Other complaints included the low amount of starting memory,and the lack of forward-facing ports so that peripherals could be more easily connected.Norr felt the sound from the iMac's built-in speakers was not as good as the external speakers that shipped with the IMac G4.

Specifications

Model	Official name	iMac G5			iMac G5 Ambient Light Sensor			iMac G5 iSight
	Codename	"Hero"			"Q45C", "Q45D"			"Q87"
Timetable	Released	August 31, 2004(2004-08-31)			May 3, 2005(2005-05-03)			October 12, 2005(2005-10-12)
	Discontinued	May 3, 2005(2005-05-03)			October 12, 2005(2005-10-12)			January 10, 2006(2006-01-10)
Model	Model identifier	PowerMac8,1			PowerMac8,2			PowerMac12,1
	Model	A1058 (EMC 1989)		A1076 (EMC 2008)	A1058 (EMC 2055)		A1076 (EMC 2056)	A1144 (EMC 2081)	A1145 (EMC 2082)
	Order number	M9248	M9249	M9250	M9843	M9844	M9845	MA063	MA064
Enclosure		Whitepolycarbonate
Display		Widescreen 16:10, matte display
		17 ", 1440 × 900		20 ", 1680 × 1050	17 ", 1440 × 900		20 ", 1680 × 1050	17 ", 1440 × 900	20 ", 1680 × 1050
Performance	Processor	PowerPC G5 970FX
	Clock speed	1.6GHz	1.8 GHz			2.0 GHz		1.9 GHz	2.1 GHz
	Cache	64 KB (instruction), 32 KB (data) L1,512 KB L2 (1:1)
	HyperTransport	533 MHz (3:1)	600 MHz (3:1)			667 MHz (3:1)		633 MHz (3:1)	700 MHz (3:1)
	Memory	256 MB of 400 MHz PC-3200DDR SDRAM Expandable to 2 GB						512 MB of 533 MHz PC2-4200DDR2 SDRAM Expandable to 2.5 GB
	Graphics	nVidiaGeForceFX 5200 Ultra graphics processor with 64 MB of DDR SDRAM nVidia GeForce 4 MX graphics processor with 32 MB of DDR SDRAM (Education Only)			ATIRadeon9600 graphics processor with 128 MB of DDR SDRAM			ATI Radeon X600 Pro with 128 MB of DDR SDRAM	ATI Radeon X600 XT with 128 MB of DDR SDRAM
		AGP8x						PCI Express
Storage	HDD	80GB		160 GB			250 GB	160 GB Optional: 250 or 500 GB	250 GB Optional: 500 GB
		Serial ATA7200-rpm Parallel ATA5400-rpm (Education Only)
	Optical drive Slot-loading	17-inch models (1.6 GHz and 1.8 GHz, without iSight):Combo drive All other models:SuperDrive
Input/output	Connectivity	OptionalAirPort Extreme802.11b/g 10/100BASE-TEthernet 56k V.92 Modem OptionalBluetooth1.1			In addition to prior: Airport Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR integrated GigabitEthernet			No built-in modem(Apple Modemor third-party modem sold separately) In addition to prior: Built-in infrared (IR) receiver forApple Remote
	Peripherals	3xUSB2.0 2xFireWire400 Audio input/audio output			3xUSB2.0 2xFireWire400 Audio input/audio output Ambient Light Sensor
	Camera	None(iSight Cameraor third-party camera sold separately)						IntegratediSight Camera(640 × 480 0.3 MP)
	Video out	Mini-VGA
Operating System	Original	Mac OS X 10.3.5"Panther"			Mac OS X 10.4"Tiger"			Mac OS X 10.4.2"Tiger"
	Maximum	Mac OS X 10.5.8"Leopard"
Weight		18.5 lbs. (8.4 kg) (17 "), 25.2 lbs. (11.4 kg) (20" )						15.5 lbs. (7 kg) (17 "), 22 lbs. (10 kg) (20" )

Timeline of iMac models

Timeline of iMac and eMac models(sorted by screen sizes)
See also:List of Mac models

References

Sources

• Isaacson, Walter (2013).Steve Jobs.Simon & Schuster.ISBN978-1-4516-4854-6.
• Miller, Dan (February 2005). "The 20th Annual Editors' Choice Awards: Best Mac".Macworld.Vol. 22, no. 2. p. 72.ISSN0741-8647.
• Norr, Henry (December 2004). "Apple's Consumer Desktop Strikes a New Pose".Macworld.Vol. 21, no. 12. Reviews. pp. 22–25.ISSN0741-8647.
• Norr, Henry (September 2005). "iMac G5s: Welcome Improvements Across Consumer Line".Macworld.Vol. 22, no. 9. Reviews. pp. 28–32.ISSN0741-8647.
• Seff, Jonathan (November 2004b). "Cover Story: iMac G5".Macworld.Vol. 21, no. 11. pp. 50–54.ISSN0741-8647.
• Snell, Jason(November 2004). "The Once and Future iMac".Macworld.Vol. 21, no. 11. From the Editor's Desk. p. 5.ISSN0741-8647.

External links

• apple /imac/at theWayback Machine(archived September 1, 2004)
• iMac specs at Everymac