All-in-One Mac · The Translucent Revolution · 1998
iMac G3
The "i" was for internet, the colour was Bondi Blue. Jobs’ first new product after returning threw out every legacy port, killed the floppy, and pulled Apple back from the brink.
Everyone remembers this one. All those colors, and the whole thing in one piece with the monitor and the computer together. It was also the first computer I owned without a floppy disk drive.
First USB-only computer, with no floppy, no SCSI and no ADB, and the device that saved Apple.
iMac G4 (2002)
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The colours
The iMac G3 is remembered as much for its candy-coloured translucent shells as for rescuing Apple. It launched in Bondi Blue, then added colour after colour.
iMac G3: key facts
When was the iMac G3 released?
The iMac G3 arrived on August 15, 1998. Apple discontinued it in March 2003.
How much did the iMac G3 cost?
The iMac G3 launched at $1,299 in 1998, about $2,546 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: PowerPC G3 at 233 MHz, 32 MB RAM, 3.9 GB storage, 15" CRT, 1024×768 display.
Why does the iMac G3 matter?
First USB-only computer, with no floppy, no SCSI and no ADB, and the device that saved Apple.
Full specifications
| CPU | PowerPC G3 · 233 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 32 MB (up to 1 GB) |
| Storage | 3.9 GB |
| Display | 15" CRT, 1024×768 |
| GPU | ATI Rage IIc |
| Ports | 2× USB, Ethernet, modem |
| Weight | 17.2 kg |
| Dimensions | Translucent egg-shaped all-in-one |
| Operating system | Mac OS 8.1 |
| Released | August 15, 1998 |
| Discontinued | March 2003 |
| Launch price | $1,299 |
How the iMac G3 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 512× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 233 MHz, the clock is roughly 14× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 1,000 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $1,299 in 1998, about $2,546 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
Shipping without a floppy was ridiculed at launch, and copied by everyone within years.
Related All-in-One Mac models
Open the iMac G3 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11