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Apple’s iMac has been a cornerstone of the tech giant’s success, helping it return to profitability following near bankruptcy in the late 1990s. Today marks the 25th anniversary of Steve Jobs introducing the iMac, an event that changed the tech industry forever.
On May 6th, 1998, Jobs took to the stage at the Flint Center in Cupertino, California to unveil the iMac to a packed audience. With his trademark charisma and showmanship, Jobs proudly proclaimed, “This is iMac. The whole thing is translucent. You can see into it. It’s so cool.”
And cool it was. The iMac was a radical departure from the boxy, beige computers of the time. Its colorful, translucent design was a breath of fresh air in an industry that had grown stagnant. It showed that computers could be beautiful and fun, not just functional.
But the iMac wasn’t just about looks. It was packed with features that were ahead of their time. It was the first computer to come with USB and FireWire ports, which would later become industry standards. It also abandoned the floppy drive and other legacy ports, signaling a shift towards a more streamlined and efficient computing experience.
The original iMac featured a 15-inch display, a PowerPC G3 processor, a 4GB hard drive, 32MB of RAM, a CD drive, two USB ports, and an Ethernet port for connecting to the internet. It was a powerful machine that offered users a glimpse of what the future of computing would look like.
Over the years, the iMac has undergone many design changes. It moved from a bulky CRT monitor to a sleek, flat-screen design. The enclosure also changed, from the original colorful plastic to a more premium aluminum finish. But one thing that has remained constant is Apple’s commitment to creating beautiful and functional machines.
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Fittingly, the current 24-inch iMac features a colorful design reminiscent of the original model. It’s a nod to Apple’s history and a testament to the enduring legacy of the iMac.
In the 25 years since its debut, the iMac has become an icon of the tech industry. It’s inspired countless imitators and helped shape the future of computing. And while it may have evolved over the years, its spirit of innovation and design excellence lives on.