On Tuesday Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL)
introduced its latest threesome of its top-of-the-line Power Mac G5 desktop computers. These new Power Macs each come with dual 64-bit, 90 nanometer PowerPC processors, the same type used in Apple's Xserve G5.
The entry Power Mac, which runs on dual 1.8-GB processors, goes for US$1,999 in a standard configuration. The highest end model, which comes standard with dual 2.5-GB processors and a Radeon 9600 XT graphics card
, will retail for $2,999.
Gordon Haff, senior analyst at Illuminata, told MacNewsWorld that Apple has to continually refresh its product lines to stay in sync with Mac OS X's new features.
"Reduced cost and power processors have to be part of Apple's future," he said.
All three of the new G5 Power Macs include 8x SuperDrives that can read and write DVD-Rs DVD-RWs and CD-Rs and CD-RWs, and all three can sustain as much as 8 GB of RAM. They also feature a liquid-cooling system to handle the heat generated by the 90-nanometer PowerPC chip.
The new G5s also include Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire 800 and FireWire 400 ports, three USB 2.0 ports, optical digital audio input and output, built-in support for 54 Mbps AirPort Extreme wireless networking and an optional Bluetooth module.
See "Apple Rolls Out Faster Dual-Processor G5 Line" for expanded coverage.