Apple are calling the new machine a "Front Row Media Experience", and it features a smaller and slimmer bezel and an iPod Shuffle-shaped remote.
The Front Row application is controlled using the Apple Remote, which has only six buttons, compared to remote controls for Microsoft's Media Center which typically have over 40 buttons.
The iMac comes in two versions, with 17- or 20-inch widescreen display, and a 1.9GHz or 2.1GHz G5 processor. And in what is a first for Apple, both models feature a PCI-Express system architecture, with a ATI Radeon X600 Pro or XT graphics processor with 128MB of memory.
"The new iMac G5 debuts our amazing Front Row media experience, and we think users are going to love it," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO.
"Plus, the built-in iSight video camera delivers out-of-the-box video conferencing with friends and family, as well as hours of fun with our new Photo Booth application."
With its built-in iSight video camera, the new iMac G5 provides video conferencing right out of the box using Apple's iChat AV software.
The new iMac G5s include built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed networking, built-in AirPort Extreme for 54 Mbps wireless networking, built-in Bluetooth, five USB ports (three USB 2.0) and two FireWire ports. The new iMac G5 also includes Apple's Mighty Mouse.
The new 17-inch 1.9 GHz iMac G5, for a suggested retail price of$1,999 (including GST), includes:
• 17-inch widescreen LCD display;
• 1.9 GHz PowerPC G5 processor;
• 512MB of 533 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable to 2.5GB;
• 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• ATI Radeon X600 Pro with 128MB DDR memory;
• built-in iSight video camera;
• built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
• 160GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
• ships with infrared Apple Remote, Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard.
The new 20-inch 2.1 GHz iMac G5, for a suggested retail price of $2,649 (including GST), includes:
• 20-inch widescreen LCD display;
• 2.1 GHz PowerPC G5 processor;
• 512MB of 533 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable to 2.5GB;
• 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• ATI Radeon X600 XT with 128MB DDR memory;
• built-in iSight video camera;
• built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
• 250GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm; •
built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
• ships with infrared Apple Remote, Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard.
