Apple Launches New All-in-One Computer

On 06/05/1998, Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iMac G3 at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts in Cupertino, California, the same venue used for the original Macintosh unveiling in 1984. The iMac was presented as an all in one consumer computer designed to simplify internet access and reduce setup complexity. Apple positioned the system as a streamlined desktop that combined display and computer components in a single enclosure, targeting home users and education markets. The original iMac featured a translucent Bondi Blue enclosure designed by Jony Ive, with a distinctive rounded shape and visible internal components. It included a 233 MHz PowerPC G3 processor, a built in 15 inch CRT display, and a 4 GB hard drive. Apple emphasized simplified connectivity, equipping the system with two USB ports and a built in modem and Ethernet. The iMac notably omitted the floppy disk drive, relying instead on USB peripherals and a CD ROM drive, which marked a shift away from legacy media formats. Steve Jobs explained that the “i” in iMac stood for Internet, reflecting the system’s focus on easy online access. The computer shipped with preconfigured networking and bundled internet software, allowing users to connect with minimal setup. Apple began shipping the iMac later in August 1998, and the product became one of the company’s most recognizable designs, helping reestablish Apple’s presence in the consumer computer market.