Apple shows off new iMac in Paris

Apple says it is the thinnest desktop computer in the world

Apple has unveiled its next generation of desktop computers, the iMac G5, at the Apple Expo 2004 in Paris.

It is the first iMac to be powered by the high-speed G5 processors, used in its Power Macs, and is touted as the world's thinnest desktop computer.

Apple's first iMac was introduced in 1998 and quickly became popular because it was simply designed and easy to use.

More than 70,000 people are expected at the 2004 Expo, the main annual showcase for Apple products in Europe.

"Just like the iPod redefined portable digital music players, the new iMac G5 redefines what users expect from a consumer desktop," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing in his keynote speech.

ENTRY LEVEL iMAC G5 17-inch widescreen LCD with 1440-by-900 pixels 1.6 GHz 64-bit PowerPC G5 processor 256MB of 400 MHz DDR SDRAM Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) optical drive NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra graphics processor with 64MB video memory Two FireWire 400, three USB 2.0, two USB 1.1 ports 10/100 BASE-T Ethernet networking, 56K V.92 modem Internal support for AirPort Extreme wireless networking and Bluetooth 80GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm Built-in stereo speakers and microphone

"With the entire system, including a gorgeous 17 or 20-inch display, just two inches thin, a lot of people will be wondering 'where did the computer go?'"

The two-inch thick new member of the Apple family is small, white, and has both a 1.8GHz G5 chip and a 17-inch or 20-inch screen.

It also supports a wireless keyboard and mouse, and the whole computer, including the power supply and slot-load optical drive, is built right into the display which sits on an aluminium foot.

A wi-fi Airport Extreme card and Bluetooth module are available as an optional extra.

The iMac G5 is expected to be available worldwide from mid-September, with prices starting from $1,299 (£919).

Instant hit

The first iMac model was introduced to the world at the 1998 Expo, and quickly became a hit.

Since its launch, Apple has sold about 2.38 iMacs per minute, said Mr Schiller.

Apple introduced the iMac at the 1998 Expo

It was a translucent, all-in-one cathode-ray-tube design in multiple colours. Apple sold six million of them which helped it recover from three years of losses.

Apple has recently had massive success with its portable digital music device, the iPod, and its music download website, iTunes.

About 60% of its profits are still made through the sale of computers, however.