Apple iMac G5 - Digital Entertainment Hub

 

After watching Apple CEO Steve Jobs' announcement introducing the new Apple iMac G5 computer, it's clear that Apple wants to be a big part of your digital home entertainment environment. The iMac G5 features a built-in iSight video camera for direct video conferencing, and is part of Apple’s "Front Row" media experience. Front Row gives users a handy way to access and play their music, enjoy their photo slideshows, and watch their DVDs and iMovies, and movie trailers.

The key to controlling the Front Row media experience is the "Apple Remote".  Kick back on your sofa or remote control your digital media content from the other side of the room, up to 30 feet away. Steve Jobs poked fun at the over-sized remote controls used with Media Center PCs, as the Apple Remote is about the size as an iPod Shuffle. A Very nice design. 

Users can enjoy the content they have on their iMac—including songs from their iTunes music library, slideshows of their photo albums in iPhoto, videos including Podcasts, iMovies and DVDs, and popular movie trailers streamed from apple.com—all from up to 30 feet away. And with iTunes 6, users can now purchase and download music videos, Pixar short films and hit TV shows such as “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost” from the iTunes Music Store and watch them on their iMac using Front Row. Front Row is easily controlled using the Apple Remote, which has only six buttons, compared to remote controls for Microsoft’s Media Center which typically have over 40 buttons.

Now that's digital entertainment! 

read on for Apple iMac G5 details and specs

From Apple Press Release
The refined design of the new iMac G5 is now up to 1/2-inch thinner and 15 percent lighter than the previous generation. Delivering even greater value, the new iMac G5 line includes a 17-inch model with a 1.9GHz PowerPC G5 processor for just $1,299 and a 20-inch model with a 2.1 GHz PowerPC G5 processor for just $1,699. Both models now come standard with a SuperDrive™ with double-layer support for burning professional-quality DVDs, 533 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory expandable to 2.5GB, hard drive storage capacity up to 500GB, and ATI Radeon X600 PCI Express-based graphics with 128MB of dedicated video memory for outstanding graphics performance and realistic game play. System memory is easily upgraded via a convenient access door along the bottom edge.

Offering the latest high-performance I/O, the new iMac G5s include built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed networking, built-in AirPort® Extreme for fast 54 Mbps wireless networking*, built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, a total of five USB ports (three USB 2.0) and two FireWire® 400 ports. The new iMac G5 includes Apple’s Mighty Mouse, featuring up to four programmable buttons and an ingenious Scroll Ball that lets users scroll in any direction—vertically, horizontally and even diagonally.

Every new iMac G5 also includes iLife® ‘05, Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications; Mac OS X version 10.4 “Tiger,” the world’s most advanced operating system; and a collection of productivity and entertainment titles including AppleWorks, Quicken 2006 for Mac, 2006 World Book, Photo Booth, Nanosaur 2 and Marble Blast Gold.

The new 17-inch 1.9 GHz iMac G5, for a suggested retail price of $1,299 (US), includes:    

* 17-inch widescreen LCD display;    
* 1.9 GHz PowerPC G5 processor;    
* 512MB of 533 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable to 2.5GB;    
* 8x SuperDrive™ with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);    
* ATI Radeon X600 Pro with 128MB DDR memory;    
* built-in iSight video camera;    
* built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;    
* 160GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;    
* built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and    
* ships with infrared Apple Remote, Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard.

The new 20-inch 2.1 GHz iMac G5, for a suggested retail price of $1,699 (US), includes:    

* 20-inch widescreen LCD display;    
* 2.1 GHz PowerPC G5 processor;    
* 512MB of 533 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable to 2.5GB;    
* 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);    
* ATI Radeon X600 XT with 128MB DDR memory;    
* built-in iSight video camera;    
* built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;    
* 250GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;    
* built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and    
* ships with infrared Apple Remote, Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard.

The new Photo Booth application (included) was also announced with the G5. Photo Booth turns your iMac into a arcade photo booth (minus the coin slot). Just pick a special effect like sepia tint, x-ray, bulge or squeeze. And smile. Presto — instant high-quality photo. Once you have the perfect picture, take advantage of Photo Booth’s connections to share it via Mail, save it in iPhoto or use it as your Address Book or iChat buddy picture.