iMac PowerPC 750cx (G3) 2001

The Apple iMac G3/500 (Early 2001 - Indigo/Flower Power/Blue Dalmation) is equipped with a 500 MHz PowerPC 750cx (G3) processor featuring a 256k on-chip level 2 cache. It includes 64 MB of RAM, a 20.0 GB Ultra ATA hard drive, a slot-loading 8X/4X/24X CD-RW drive, and ATI Rage 128 Ultra (AGP 2X) graphics with 16 MB of VRAM. This all-in-one system, with its Harmon-Kardon designed sound and Firewire "400" ports, comes in a translucent "indigo", "flower power", or "blue dalmation" (pictured) case with a 15-inch CRT display.

Beyond the unique and somewhat unpopular case designs, the iMac G3/500 and the iMac G3/600 Special Edition (Early 2001) models delivered significant performance upgrades to the iMac series. These included faster PowerPC 750cx (G3) processors with on-chip level 2 caches, improved graphics with double the VRAM (16 MB), and the inclusion of CD-RW drives.

This generation of the iMac generated significant buzz, for better or worse, with its unique "Flower Power" and "Blue Dalmatian" case designs. While opinions on the aesthetics were divided, the performance saw a definite evolution with the upgrade to the PowerPC 750cx processor and ATI Rage 128 Ultra graphics. The standard inclusion of a CD-RW drive was particularly praised, heralding an era where users could easily create their own CDs. In contrast to its controversial design, the internals of this model represented a solid step forward.