As personal computers go, Apple's Macintosh line makes up a tiny portion of the market. Yet somehow these computers have drawn a lot of attention, perhaps because of Apple's aggressive and effective marketing campaigns.
Even as the PC industry is forced to lure customers with the promise of ever-higher processor speeds, Macintosh computers have found a different path to keeping their niche market.
Apple moves its wares based less on speed than on user-friendliness and style.
Apple feels that it's this second point, one that would seem to have little to do with the cut-and-dry world of computers, that often makes the sale.
There are two common preconceptions about Apple computers. Some people hear the name and think computers that serve a specialized professional market, such as graphic designers.
Others tend to think that Mac is a synonym for a colourful appliance named iMac.
Yet Apple's product catalogue contains a range of computers to serve various needs. The beginner's model is indeed the classic iMac.
While desktop versions of the Mac line use a G4 processor, the iMac still uses a slower G3 chip. The classic iMac has been supplanted by second-generation PCs with their own distinct flair.
The units are built from a half-sphere base that contains all the machinery. The monitor "swings" above the base like a desk lamp, in a 15-inch or 17-inch flat screen version.
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