iMac Summer 2000 DV

The Apple iMac G3/400 DV (Summer 2000 - Indigo/Ruby) is powered by a 400 MHz PowerPC 750 (G3) processor with a 512k backside level 2 cache. It includes 64 MB of RAM, a 10.0 GB Ultra ATA hard drive, a 24X slot-loading CD-ROM drive, and ATI Rage 128 Pro (AGP 2X) graphics with 8 MB of VRAM. The system, with its Harmon-Kardon sound and Firewire "400" ports, is housed in a translucent "indigo" or "ruby" (pictured) all-in-one chassis with a 15-inch CRT display.

This model is quite similar to the iMac G3/400 DV (Slot Loading - Fruit Colors) it succeeded, but the "Summer 2000" versions use either "indigo" or "ruby" cases instead of one of the five "fruit colors." However, these systems came with a CD-ROM drive instead of a DVD-ROM, a slightly improved video processor with the same 8 MB of VRAM, and replaced the often-criticized Apple USB Keyboard and "hockey puck" mouse with the superior Apple Pro Keyboard and Mouse. It also sold for US$300 less, at US$999 instead of US$1299.

It should be noted that Apple designated this line as the "Summer 2000" series, referring to summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

As the DV model of the Summer 2000 series, this machine achieved a more affordable price point by retaining the Firewire ports but swapping the DVD-ROM for a CD-ROM drive. This was praised for lowering the barrier to entry for DV editing. The shift to the more subdued "Indigo" and "Ruby" color options also helped it appeal to a broader user base. The switch to the Apple Pro Keyboard and Mouse significantly contributed to improved usability. It was a strategic model that rebalanced performance and price.