iMac era

1998 – 2000 · 47 devices

Pre-Mac1976–1983Mac era1984–1997iMac era1998–2000iPod era2001–2006iPhone era2007–2019Silicon2020–today

A translucent ocean-colored shell sweeps away beige computers, launches Jony Ive's design, and inaugurates the «i» that would brand everything.

The story

Unveiled in May 1998 and on sale in August, the iMac G3 is the first victory of the Jobs who returned to Apple. Rounded, translucent, with a handle on top that invites you to pick it up: a computer that inspires no fear. «It looks like it came from another planet,» Jobs said.

Behind it is Jonathan Ive, who had been close to resigning before Jobs's return. The iMac cements their partnership and defines an aesthetic that would make Apple recognizable for decades. The «i» stands for internet — but also, Jobs said, for «individual, instruct, inform, inspire».

The iMac made radical choices: no floppy drive, goodbye to the old Apple ports, and the first standard USB ports on a mass-market computer. In 1999 came the five fruit «flavors». In its wake followed a whole new colorful Apple: iBook, Power Mac G3, and the cascade of names beginning with «i».

Trivia

The color of a beach

The first iMac's «Bondi Blue» takes its name from the water at Bondi Beach in Australia: a computer that wanted to look like an ocean wave.

Five flavors

In 1999 the iMac came in five fruit colors — blueberry, grape, lime, strawberry, and tangerine — followed later by designs like «Blue Dalmatian» and «Flower Power».

The «i» that set a trend

iMac, iBook, iPod, iPhone, iPad: the fashion of the lowercase «i» before a name was born here, with the first iMac.

Goodbye floppy

The iMac eliminated the floppy drive when it was still the standard: to move a file, Apple suggested, there was the internet. A bet that caused debate — and won.

A handle to remove the fear

The handle was barely needed for carrying: it invited you to touch the machine. Ive wanted an object you would approach, not a mysterious box to be feared.

Devices from this period

Apple USB Mouse Apple USB Keyboard Apple USB Keyboard Apple USB Keyboard iMac G3/233 Original – Bondi (Rev. A & B) PowerBook G3 333 (Bronze Keyboard) iMac G3/350 (Slot Loading – Blueberry) Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White) iMac M7668LL/A (iMac DV SE – Graphite) iMac M7668LL/A (iMac DV SE – Graphite) Cinema Display (DVI) Studio Display (21-inch CRT) Blueberry + 35 devices

All eras See all 47 devices