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RSS feedsJust 18 months ago, even the most impartial computer pundit would have been hard pressed to recommend the Apple Macintosh as a serious alternative to a Windows PC. Since then, however, the phenomenal response to the iMac has put Apple firmly back on the consumer desktop.
The iMac is the fastest-selling computer in Apple's history and some 800,000 had been sold just 150 days after its launch. Praise for that quirky, all-in-one design was widespread, but perhaps more important was the coverage the iMac received in magazines that would never normally have mentioned anything as dull as a computer.
Apple hasn't been content to just bathe in the iMac's reflected glory, though. The Bondi blue bombshell has caused other manufacturers to rethink their ideas about what makes technology attractive and now there's no end of hardware finished in translucent plastic of one colour or another.
Apple itself has revamped its PowerPC range accordingly, and its new funky mini-towers are undeniably different.
Almost 50 percent of customers buying an iMac are buying their first computer and it's obvious that many have been lured by its compact design and the marked absence of beige.
But while it's easy to be seduced by mere appearances, does it really make sense to forget Windows and take a bite of the Apple instead?
This month, What PC? explores the pros and cons of both the Apple Macintosh and Windows-based PCs. We've picked four similar systems from each platform and compared them like for like. So without further ado, let battle commence.
Apple iMac vs Fujitsu Myrica 450
The first choice
If you're looking to buy your first computer, the prospect of wading through the abundance of systems on offer from direct manufacturers and specialist shops can be a daunting one.
This could all be set to change, though. It's already possible to pop into your local supermarket to pick up a PC along with an extra pint of milk and branches of both Tesco and Sainsbury's are now stocking desktop and notebook PCs, together with other hardware. Indeed, Tesco is where you can buy our Fujitsu Myrica 450.
The iMac is available a little more widely and you can find it with a fruity finish in branches of John Lewis, Dixons and PC World or from Apple's online store. So how do these two off-the-shelf systems stack up?
Ease of use
Buying both an iMac and a Myrica is literally as easy as picking one up and walking to the till. But whereas the iMac's 15in monitor is part and parcel of the deal, the Myrica's monitor is an optional extra - Tesco stocks a 17in model that costs £180.
Open up the single iMac box and the first thing you'll see is a smaller box containing a compact USB keyboard and mouse in the same colour scheme as the computer, a couple of leads, some software and two slim manuals.
Although there's a six-step setup leaflet for the iMac, you're unlikely to need it. The translucent power lead goes from iMac to mains point and if you need it, the modem lead from modem port to phone socket. Plug the keyboard into a USB socket, the mouse into the keyboard and voila, you have a working iMac.
As you might expect, things aren't quite so simple with a PC. Unpack the two Myrica boxes (one for the monitor and one for the rest) and you'll find another box full of disks and manuals for each of the PC's components.
With all the bits and pieces on the floor around your feet, you'll then have to leaf through the German instructions in the setup guide until you find the English section. There are icons on the back of the system unit to help you work out what cable goes where but even so, it took us close to half an hour to unpack and connect the Myrica. Novices might find it takes longer ...
Ease of use
Apple iMac *****
Fujitsu Myrica 450 **
Build quality
The next disappointment from the Myrica came when we slid down the panel on the front. This hides the CD-ROM and floppy drives and as it turned out, a loose cover panel for the vacant 5.25in drive bay. It's a minor point but having something fall off a PC as soon as you get it home isn't very reassuring.
Once opened up, the Myrica's internals paint a rosier picture. There's plenty of room to get to the four free expansion slots (two PCI, two ISA), as well as the vacant 3.5in and 5.25in drive bays. There are also two free DIMM slots for adding extra RAM (you can have up to 768Mb) but with all the cables that were bunched in front of them, slotting those DIMMs in place would be tricky.
The iMac reveals Apple's usual high build quality, though the cover on the side that hides all the ports felt a bit flimsy to us. The integral 15in screen may not have the same viewing area as our Myrica's 17in model, but it also wasn't subject to the same moire problems.
If you're looking for a system with an eye to upgrading, forget the iMac.
The only thing you can add to it is more RAM - up to 256Mb - as everything else is built onto the motherboard.
Build quality
Apple iMac ****
Fujitsu Myrica 450 **
Features
So far, the iMac looks attractive but it's not without problems. 32Mb of RAM is meagre these days and the lack of expansion options may put off buyers who want to keep their options open.
But this all pales into insignificance when you discover that the iMac has no floppy drive.
Apple reckons that the floppy disk is old hat and everyone will soon be exchanging data via the Internet or other networks. But the number of external floppy and other media drives that have come onto the market since the iMac's launch tell another story. So add the price of one of these devices to the cost of your iMac - you'll need one.
The iMac's keyboard is smaller than most PC versions, so it saves a bit of desk space, but unlike the Myrica's unit, there's no wrist rest. The USB mouse looks a little strange too - it's a small, disc-shaped device that won't be to everyone's taste.
You do get a floppy drive with the Myrica of course, and its 128Mb of RAM is very generous. The other peripherals aren't so impressive, though.
The speakers are small and tinny, the keyboard is flimsy and the monitor isn't high quality. As consolation, you do get a wheel mouse.
Features
Apple iMac **
Fujitsu Myrica 450 ***
Performance
With its 266MHz G3 processor twinned with 32Mb of RAM, the iMac really trailed behind the Myrica - powered by a 450MHz Pentium III chip and 128Mb of RAM. In both the Photoshop and Microsoft Word tests, the iMac took minutes to complete the tasks, compared to the Myrica's seconds.
In terms of specification, the Myrica's 8Mb ATI Xpert 98 graphics card might seem superior to the iMac's 6Mb ATI Rage Turbo chip but there wasn't much difference in our Dark Vengeance frame rate test. The iMac didn't do too badly in the QuickTime video test either.
Performance
Apple iMac ***
Fujitsu Myrica 450 ****
Value for money
Both systems represent good value for money in their own ways. The Myrica brings you Intel's top-of-the-range processor, plus an ample supply of RAM, all for just over £1,000 (if you include the price of the monitor). It's an impressive bundle taken on specification alone, but the whole system has a cheap feel to it.
The iMac is another kettle of fish altogether. The specification may not be as impressive as the Myrica's (though Apple has since launched faster 333MHz models for the same price - see our Close-up review) but this really isn't the point.
The iMac is an extremely well-designed machine produced to appeal to first-time users and it's certainly capable of running all the applications novice users need. You could argue that its striking design does come at the expense of features, but this is a small price to pay to break away from beige.
Value for money
Apple iMac ***
Fujitsu Myrica 450 ****
Overall
Choosing between the iMac and Myrica is difficult because they represent opposing attempts by manufacturers to alter the way computers are perceived and sold. The iMac is touted as offering user-friendly, innovative design, while the Myrica is sold from supermarket shelves.
Of course this doesn't mean the systems are aimed at the same people.
Buy an iMac and chances are you're not interested in opening up your computer to shove in the latest cards and components. What you pay for in severely limited upgrade options is made up for by a system that's as easy to use as your TV and twice as pretty.
The Myrica, alternatively, is a computer in the old-fashioned sense.
It's bulky and beige and if you're happy brandishing a screwdriver, you'll be able to keep apace of technology with relative ease.
In the end though, the iMac clinches it. Where PCs and Windows can still only aspire to 'plug and play', the iMac manages it straight from the box and there's no friendlier, better-looking computer around for the money.
Overall
Apple iMac ****
Fujitsu Myrica 450 ***
Fujitsu Myrica 450: 450MHz Pentium III processor with 512Kb level 2 cache, 100MHz system bus
128Mb SDRAM, 10Gb hard disk
32-speed CD-ROM drive
1.44Mb floppy drive
8Mb ATI Xpert 98 3D AGP graphics card
Optional 17in monitor (14.8in viewable diagonal) with 1280x1024 maximum resolution at 60Hz
Integrated 16-bit audio, K56flex modem Two USB ports, Fujitsu active speakers
Software: Windows 98 with tutorial CD-ROM, MS Word 97, MS Works 4.5a, MS Publisher 98, MS Encarta 99 World Atlas, MS CART Precision Racing, IBM ViaVoice Gold, Thunderbyte Antivirus
£1,179.98 (inc VAT)
(£999 without monitor) Fujitsu: 01344 475555
www.fujitsu-computers/tesco
Apple iMac: 266MHz PowerPC G3 processor with 512Kb level 2 cache, 66MHz system bus
32Mb SDRAM, 6Gb hard disk, 24-speed CD-ROM drive
Integrated 6Mb ATI Rage Turbo graphics 15in monitor (13.8in viewable diagonal) with 1024x768 maximum resolution at 75Hz
Integrated 16-bit SRS audio and V.90 modem, 10/100 Base-T Ethernet
Two USB ports, stereo speakers and microphone
Software: Mac OS 8.5, AppleWorks, Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Outlook Express, Adobe PageMill, Kai's Photo Soap SE, assorted edutainment titles
£913.33 (inc VAT)
Apple: 0800 783 4846
www.uk.euro.apple.com/iMac/default.html
350MHz G3 POWER MACINTOSH vs COMPAQ PRESARIO 5240
The new Apple G3 Power Mac range comes in various configurations but our review unit was a mid-range system with a 350MHz G3 chip. At just over £1,500, the Power Mac's specification isn't mind-blowing, and like the iMac, there's no floppy drive, but the omission of a modem is less excusable.
None of Apple's desktop systems include a monitor (iMac aside). We chose Apple's 17in Studio Display Diamondtron model. The keyboard and mouse are the same USB units shipped with the iMac.
To access the G3's internals you simply lift a lever and the side of the case, complete with motherboard, folds out onto your desk. There are three free PCI slots and three free DIMM slots.
Inclusion of the16Mb ATI Rage 128 AGP graphics card paid off in the two frame rate tests, where the G3 beat the Compaq hands down. In fact, it outperformed its PC rival in all but the Word find and replace test - a failing that had more to do with software than the computer.
The lack of a modem or removable storage device is lamentable, but the 350MHz G3 Power Mac is a fast performer with an excellent build quality.
350MHz G3 Power Macintosh
Performance ****
Build quality *****
Features **
Value for money **
Overall ****
350MHz G3 Power Mac: 350MHz PowerPC G3 processor with 1Mb level 2 cache, 100MHz system bus
64Mb SDRAM, 6Gb hard disk, 5x DVD-ROM drive
16Mb ATI Rage 128 AGP graphics card
Optional 17in monitor with built-in speakers and maximum resolution of 1600x1200 at 85Hz
Integrated 16-bit audio with built-in speaker, 10/100 Base-T Ethernet
Two USB ports, two IEE1394 (Firewire) ports
Software: Mac OS 8.5
£1,585.07 (inc VAT)
17in monitor: £374.83 Apple: 0800 783 4846
www.uk.euro.apple.com/powermac/index.html
Compaq is the only PC manufacturer here to turn its back on Intel and the Presario 5240 uses a 400MHz AMD K6-2 processor. The Presario is also the cheapest PC in this roundup, coming in at just £918.85, but while the specification is reasonable enough, it's easily bettered by many non-brand name PCs for a similar price.
The choice of graphics for the Presario is rather peculiar, since the ATI Rage LT Pro chipset is usually found in notebooks. The chipset also supports digital LCD monitors but these are high-end specialist displays that don't come cheaply. Not much use with a sub-£1,000 PC like this.
The Presario's graphics performance suffered because of its odd graphics chipset and it produced the lowest scores of all for the frame rate tests.
You could upgrade to a better graphics card, but since there's no AGP slot, you're restricted to PCI cards. Things aren't improved by the speakers, mounted on either side of the monitor - when you turn the volume up, the display distorts every time a loud sound is played.
It is possible to open up the Presario if you want to take a look inside but, thanks to the internal design, it would be better if you took the same sealed box approach as the iMac. The power supply obscures the whole motherboard, so swapping out components would be tricky. Compaq claims that there is one PCI and one ISA slot free but the slots are positioned so close together that we'd worry about two fitted cards touching each other and causing problems.
As a brand name PC, the Presario 5240 may look like good value for money, but the poor graphics card and upgrade limitations make it less of a bargain.
Compaq Presario 5240
Performance **
Build quality **
Features ***
Value for money **
Overall **
Compaq Presario 5240: 400MHz AMD K6-2 processor with 512Kb level 2 cache, 100MHz system bus
64Mb SDRAM, 8.4Gb hard drive, 5-speed DVD-ROM drive, 1.44Mb floppy drive
Integrated 8Mb ATI 3D Rage LT Pro AGP graphics
17in monitor with clip-on speakers
16-bit ESS 1869 audio, V.90 modem Two USB ports
Software: Windows 98, MS Word 97, MS Works, Quicken Basic 98, Bitware Fax, Carbon Copy, Intel Video Phone software, McAfee VirusScan
£918.85 (inc VAT)
Compaq: 0845 270 4000
www.compaq.co.uk/homepc/desktops/5240.htm
SOFTWARE
Nine out of 10 of personal computers are Windows-based PCs; so if you buy such a system, your range of choice of software and peripherals will be without compare. Of course, since anyone can build a PC and sell it, it also means that you need to exercise a little caution when choosing a system.
Software availability is a problem on the Mac and put simply, there isn't much of it. Mac titles appear well behind the PC versions and even with Apple pushing hard to turn the Mac into a viable games machine, Mac gamers are still awaiting Tomb Raider III.
Actually finding Mac software can be tough too. A cursory glance along the shelves in our local PC World failed to turn up anything other than a copy of Connectix's Virtual PC emulation software. It's worth looking a bit closer at some titles though, since some packages touted as Windows software are actually cross-platform and will run on a Mac too.
When it comes to more serious applications, Macs and PCs are equally well served with big-name titles. There's not quite the same breadth of software for Macs though, and Microsoft doesn't offer the same range of titles for Mac users. Worse still, as our tests revealed, some of the code in the popular Office suite isn't optimised for the Mac yet.
400MHz G3 POWER MACINTOSH vs DELL DIMENSION XPS T500
Essentially, all the models in the G3 Power Mac range are the same apart from their processor speed and miscellaneous components. This 400MHz model is top of the range and our unit came with 128Mb of RAM and a 9Gb hard drive.
The specification is a step up from the mid-range 350MHz Power Mac but it's still miserly. Spend this kind of money on a PC and you'd end up with two cracking systems, but Apple doesn't even give you a modem, let alone a floppy drive or monitor. Expansion options are the same as the 350MHz Power Mac and again, getting inside is a breeze, thanks to the flip-down panel - a tip PC manufacturers would do well to pick up.
All that money has got to have been spent somewhere and the PowerMac includes some components that aren't usually seen in PCs. The 9Gb hard drive is a fast Ultra2 SCSI model and Apple's G3 desktop range was first to feature the impressive ATI Rage 128 AGP graphics card. This helped the Power Mac to turn in the highest scores in our graphics tests.
Again, the monitor is an extra purchase with a Power Mac and if you're feeling flush, you can opt for Apple's gorgeous 14.1in Studio Display flat panel as pictured. If you don't fancy spending £821.33 on a monitor though, stick with the 17in CRT shown with the 350MHz PowerMac.
While the G3's graphics performance was unbeatable, the same could not be said for its overall performance. Once again, the software tripped it up in our Word find and replace test but it also lagged behind the Dell Pentium III PC in the Photoshop test.
There can be no doubt about it, the 400MHz G3 Power Mac is poor value for money. Yes, it's exceedingly well built but for a computer that costs over £2,300 without a monitor, it simply fails to deliver.
400MHz G3 Power Macintosh
Performance ***
Build quality ****
Features *
Value for money *
Overall **
400MHz G3 Power Macintosh: 400MHz PowerPC G3 processor with 1Mb level 2 cache, 100MHz system bus
128Mb SDRAM, 9Gb hard disk
24-speed CD-ROM drive
16Mb ATI Rage 128 AGP graphics card
Optional 17in monitor with built-in speakers and maximum resolution of 1600x1200 at 85Hz
Integrated 16-bit audio with built-in speaker, 10/100 Base-T Ethernet
Two USB ports, Two IEE1394 ports
Software: Mac OS 8.5
£2,384.90 (inc VAT)
17in monitor: £374.83
14in TFT monitor: £821.33
Apple: 0800 783 4846
www.uk.euro.apple.com/powermac/index.html
Dell PCs rarely disappoint, but this £2,000 system really blew us away. Built around a blistering 500MHz Pentium III processor, the Dimension XPS T500 comes with 256Mb of RAM, a 14Gb hard drive and a 16Mb STB NVIDIA Riva TNT 3D graphics card. There's also a whopping 19in monitor, a DVD-ROM drive and a Zip drive alongside the standard floppy.
There's no compromise when it comes to build quality either and a clear setup guide explains how to plug everything together - but since all the ports are colour-coded, this shouldn't be needed. One unexpected bonus with the documentation is an easy-to-follow troubleshooting guide. These are supplied as standard with Macs, but PCs usually only come with a plethora of manuals relating to all their different components.
With its speakers, subwoofer and 19in monitor, the T500 does take up quite a bit of desk space but it's a worthy trade-off. The keyboard is robust and sturdy and it comes with an Intellimouse.
Open up the Dimension and all the cables are neatly tied out of the way.
There is only one PCI slot and one shared PCI/ISA slot free, but there's little else you need to add to this system. If storage proves insufficient though, there is one free 5.25in bay and two free 3.5in bays.
In our tests, the Dimension left the 400MHz G3 Power Mac standing in both the Word and Photoshop trials, slicing its time in half. It didn't do quite as well in the graphics tests though, where it came in just behind Apple's fastest Mac.
If you are looking for a high-end PC, then you can't go wrong with the Dimension XPS T500. It's as future-proof as you're likely to get and we'd be surprised if you need much more than this for even the most taxing everyday tasks. A truly superlative system.
Dell Dimension XPS T500
Performance ****
Build quality *****
Features *****
Value for money *****
Overall *****
Dell Dimension XPS T500: 500MHz Pentium III processor with 512Kb level 2 cache, 100MHz system bus
256Mb SDRAM, 14Gb hard disk
4.8-speed DVD-ROM drive, Zip drive 1.44Mb floppy drive
16Mb STB NVIDIA Riva TNT AGP graphics card
19in monitor with maximum resolution of 1600x1200 at 75Hz
Turtle Beach Montego II PCI sound card
Altec Lansing speakers and subwoofer
V.90 modem
Two USB ports
Bundled software: Windows 98, Microsoft Office Small Business Edition 2
£1,996.33 (inc VAT)
Dell: 0870 152 4850
www.dell.co.uk
APPLE POWERBOOK G3 vs TOSHIBA SATELLITE 4030CDT
The PowerBook was the first Apple product to undergo a radical redesign and when the new model was unveiled in May 1998, its sleek black curves set it apart from the rest of the boxy crowd.
The 233MHz G3 PowerPC processor is twinned with 32Mb of RAM, but the 2Gb hard drive is half the size of the Satellite's. It's heavier than the Satellite too - 3.5kg with the 20-speed CD-ROM and battery fitted.
In its favour, Apple has dumped the poor-quality passive-matrix screens seen on the original low-end PowerBooks in favour of an impressive 14.1in TFT display. This provides bright, clear images and a wide viewing angle, plus a bit more screen space than the Toshiba.
The keyboard is soft and responsive with a wide palm rest, which makes it a pleasure to type on. We happened to prefer the PowerBook's trackpad to the Satellite's trackpoint, but this is really a matter of taste.
There are two expansion bays for extra devices and both are hot-swappable, so you can move things around while the PowerBook is switched on. The right-hand one can be fitted with the 20-speed CD-ROM drive, an optional second battery or a third-party storage device; the left-hand one can house the lithium ion battery or - uniquely for a new-style Apple computer - a floppy drive, though this is only an option.
The PowerBook's poorer specification let it down in our performance tests, where it trailed behind the Satellite in all but the Dark Vengeance test (which the Toshiba failed to run).
Unusually for an Apple computer, the PowerBook doesn't cost the earth and the 14.1in screen is a bonus at this price point. But what you gain in screen inches you lose in the rest of the specification and both processor and RAM could do with a bit of a hike.
Apple PowerBook G3
Features ****
Build quality *****
Performance **
Value for money ***
Overall ***
Apple PowerBook G3: 233MHz G3 PowerPC processor, 66MHz system bus
32Mb RAM, 2Gb hard disk, 20-speed CD-ROM drive 4Mb graphics chipset
14.1in TFT display with resolution of 1024x768 in millions of colours
Built-in stereo speakers, trackpad pointing device
Ports: 2 Type II PC Card, SCSI, 10 Base-T Ethernet, V.90 modem, IrDA, S-Video, serial, VGA, ADB
Lithium ion battery (claimed 3.5-hour life)
Dimensions (hxwxd): 320x260x50mm
Weight: 3.5kg with battery and CD-ROM drive
Bundled software: Mac OS 8.5
£1,526.33 (inc VAT)
Apple: 0800 783 4846
www.uk.euro.apple.com/powerbook/promo/promo.html
Toshiba is a big name in the notebook computer world and the Satellite 4030CDT is one of its latest models. It uses a 300MHz mobile Celeron chip combined with 64Mb of RAM and a 4Gb hard drive - an average specification for this price and certainly adequate for most needs.
Both a floppy drive and 24-speed CD-ROM are supplied as standard and the lithium ion battery has a claimed life span of three hours. You can ditch a drive for a second battery but even with all these features, the Satellite is still a slightly smaller and lighter notebook than the PowerBook.
The 13.3in TFT screen is bright and clear, though the 2.5Mb Trident Cyber 9525DVD graphics chipset is a poor performer, particularly for 3D graphics.
In fact, it failed to even run our Dark Vengeance test, though it did manage to outperform the G3 PowerBook in the QuickTime test.
The keyboard is easy on the hands and we found typing on it for long stretches quite comfortable. Alas, we just couldn't get on with the trackpoint pointing device but, as we said with the PowerBook, this is personal preference.
Overall, the Satellite 4030CDT was a better performer than the cheaper Apple PowerBook. It was over six times faster than the PowerBook in the Photoshop Action test and three times faster in the Word find and replace test.
Though not the cheapest option, the Satellite 4030CDT offers fair value for money, though its graphics performance could be improved.4030CDTApp
Toshiba Satellite 4030CDT
Features ****
Build quality *****
Performance ***
Value for money **
Overall ***
Toshiba Satellite 4030CDT: 300MHz mobile Celeron processor with 128Kb level 2 cache, 66MHz bus speed
64Mb RAM, 4Gb hard disk, 24-speed CD-ROM drive, 1.44Mb floppy drive
2.5Mb Trident Cyber 9525DVD
13.3in TFT with 1024x768 resolution in 24-bit colour
Built-in stereo speakers, trackpoint pointing device
Ports: 2 Type II PC Card, 1 USB, parallel, serial, PS/2, V.90, IrDA, SVGA
Lithium ion battery (claimed 3-hour life)
Dimensions (hxwxd): 309x259x41mm
Weight: 3.18kg with battery
Bundled software: Choice of Windows 95 or Windows 98
£1,756.63 (inc VAT)
Toshiba: 01932 828828
www.toshiba.co.uk
OPERATING SYSTEMS
In the early days of the Windows and Apple operating systems, the two were poles apart. Apple first introduced a graphical user interface (GUI) on its Lisa in 1983, at a time when PC users were still struggling with DOS. It took nine years for Microsoft to wise up and release its graphically comparable Windows 3.0 in 1992.
Today, there's little to visually differentiate between the latest versions of Windows and MacOS. Both still have their own idiosyncrasies though, and Windows 98 users are often perplexed by such things as MacOS 8.5's insistence that you eject removable media by dragging the desktop icon to the Trash bin.
RESULTS AND TESTS
Since our usual Labs tests don't run on Macs, we came up with a range of tests that would run on both platforms to give an idea of how the systems compare.
Dark Vengeance Frame Rate Test
The Dark Vengeance frame rate test tests 3D graphics performance. A recorded sequence of actions within the game is timed to give a frame per second (fps) figure. The higher the fps, the better the graphics performance is.
Microsoft Word Find & Replace Test
This tests how fast each system can perform a 'Find & Replace' command in a large Word document. The Macs fared badly in this test because the Mac version of the Office 98 suite (of which Word is a part) still contains some code which isn't suitably optimised.
Adobe Photoshop Action Test
This times a series of recorded commands using the Photoshop Actions feature. We zoomed a Window to its minimum size in order to create an even playing field, since the Mac version of Photoshop redraws the image each time a filter is applied, slowing the process down. The PC doesn't show anything until all the commands have been carried out.
QuickTime Pro test
Tests the playback frame rate against an optimum of 24fps using an edited QuickTime movie.
TIMELINE
1975: Bill Gates and Paul Allen found Microsoft.
1976: Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak found Apple Computer. Apple I launched.
1977: Apple II with colour and sound unveiled.
1981: IBM Personal Computer is launched, with Microsoft MS-DOS 1.
1983: Lisa launch - Apple's first computer to use a graphical user Interface (GUI).
1984: Apple launches the Macintosh. IBM the IBM PC AT.
1985: Microsoft ships Windows 1.0. Steve Jobs resigns from Apple.
1992: Microsoft introduces Windows 3.0 - its first fully featured GUI operating system.
1993: The Intel Pentium processor is launched.
1994: Apple launches the Power Mac with PowerPC 601 processor.
1995: Windows 95 ships.
1997: Steve Jobs returns to Apple as interim CEO.
Microsoft invests in Apple and the two announce an alliance.
Motorola launches the G3 processor, Apple launches the Power Mac G3.
Intel launches the Pentium II.
1998: Microsoft launches Windows 98.
Low-cost Intel Celeron processor launched.
Apple launches the iMac and achieves its first profitable year since 1995.
G3 PowerBook undergoes a redesign.
1999: The iMac G3 processor is hiked to 333MHz and made available in five colours. Power Mac G3 range redesigned and made available in speeds up to 400MHz.
Intel launches the Pentium III processor, available in speeds up to 550MHz.
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