Buyers Guide: Apple's Winter G4 Power Macs

Price Comparison Information
Vendor	Price	Do I pay Tax?	Shipping** (Ground)	Deals	In Stock?
G4/733 256K on chip @ 733MHz 1MB backside @ 244MHz SuperDrive (CD-RW & DVD-R)
Apple Store	$3,499	Yes	Free	Extra RAM 50% off Regular Price	No (10 days)
ClubMac	$3,495	CA	$33	Free addtional 256MB RAM (Installation fee of $30 applies) or a $216 instant rebate	Yes
JandR Computer	$3,494	NY	$35	Call	Yes
MacConnection	$3,499	OH MA TN	$26	1) Adobe Digital Video Collection for $999 2) Adobe Streaming Media Collection for $799 3) Viewsonic VE 150 15" LCD for $349 4) Free Internal 250 MB Zip Drive 5) Free Flashback & StuffIt 6)Apple Pro Speakers & Iomega HipZip for $150 7) Free 256 MB free RAM - optional install for $30 8) Canon ZR30MC Mini DV Camcorder for $700 9) Canon GL1 DV Camera for $2,000 10) Base Machine	Available options: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8, & 10
MacMall	$3,494	CA TN	$33.00	256 MB free RAM for $30 install fee.	Yes (391 Units)
MacWarehouse	$3,499	NJ CT OH IL TN	$40	256 MB free (after mail in rebate) RAM for $30 install fee and	No
MacZone	$3,495	WA NV OH TN	$33	256 MB free RAM for $30 installation fee or Virtual PC for $49	Yes
Outpost	$3,494	CT OH	Free	256 MB free RAM and 100 CDR disks or Office 2001 for free	Yes
G4/733 256K on chip @ 733MHz 1MB backside @ 244MHz CD-RW Drive Only
Apple Store	$2,999	Yes	Free	Extra RAM 50% off Regular Price	No (10 days)
ClubMac	$2,995	CA	$33	Free addtional 256MB RAM (Installation fee of $30 applies) or a $185 instant rebate	No
JandR Computer	$2,994	NY	$35	Call	Yes
MacConnection	$2,999	OH MA TN	$26	1) Canon GL1 DV Camera for $2,000 2) Canon ZR30MC Mini DV Camcorder for $700 3) Viewsonic VE 150 15" LCD for $349 4) Free Internal 250 MB Zip Drive 5)Apple Pro Speakers & Iomega HipZip for $150 6) Free 256 MB free RAM - optional install for $30 7) Base Machine	Available options: 2, 4 ,5 , 6, 7
MacMall	$2,994	CA TN	$33.00	256 MB free RAM for $30 install fee.	Yes (82 units)
MacWarehouse	$2.999	NJ CT OH IL TN	$40	256 MB free (after mail in rebate) RAM for $30 install fee.	Yes
MacZone	$2,995	WA NV OH TN	$33	256 MB free RAM for $30 installation fee or Virtual PC for $49	No
Outpost	$2,995	CT OH	Free	256 MB free RAM and 100 CDR disks Office 2001 for free	Yes
G4/667 256K on chip @ 667MHz 1MB backside @ 222MHz Winter 2000
JandR Computer	$2,794	NY	$35	Call	Yes
MacConnection	$2,799	OH MA TN	$26	Free 256 MB free RAM - optional install for $30	Yes
MacMall	$2,595	CA TN	$33	256 MB free RAM for $30 install fee.	Yes (13 units)
MacZone	$2,795	WA NV OH TN	$33	256 MB free RAM for $30 installation fee or Virtual PC for $49	Virtual PC only
Outpost	$2,594	CT OH	Free	256 MB free RAM and 100 CDR disks Office 2001 for free	Yes
Dual G4/533 1MB backside @ 266MHz Winter 2000
Apple Store	$2,499	Yes	Free	Extra RAM 50% off Regular Price	No (10 days)
ClubMac	$2,495	CA	$26	Free addtional 256MB RAM (Installation fee of $30 applies) or a $76 instant rebate	No
JandR Computer	$2,499	NY	$35	-	No
MacConnection	Not Listed	OH MA TN	$26	1) Adobe Digital Video Collection for $1099 2) Adobe Streaming Media Collection for $899 3) Viewsonic VE 150 15" LCD for $349 4) Free Internal 250 MB Zip Drive 5) Free 256 MB free RAM - optional install for $30 6) Canon ZR30MC Mini DV Camcorder for $700 7) Base Machine	Available options: 6, 7
MacMall	$2,499	CA TN	$33.00	256 MB free RAM for $30 Install fee.	Yes (60 units)
MacWarehouse	Not Listed	NJ CT OH IL TN	$40	128 MB free (after mail in rebate) RAM for $30 install fee.	No
MacZone	$2,494	WA NV OH TN	$33	256 MB free RAM for $30 installation fee or Virtual PC for $49	No
Outpost	$2,495	CT OH	Free	128 MB free RAM and 100 CD-R Disks	Yes
G4/533 1MB backside @ 266MHz Winter 2000
Apple Store	$2,199	Yes	Free	Extra RAM 50% off Regular Price	No (10 days)
ClubMac	$2,195	CA	$26	256 MB free RAM for $30 install fee or $126 "instant rebate."	Yes
JandR Computer	$2,194	NY	$35	Call	Yes
MacConnection	$2,199	OH MA TN	$26	1) Free Internal 250 MB Zip Drive 2)Apple Pro Speakers & Iomega HipZip for $150 3) Free 256 or 128 MB free RAM - optional install for $30 4) Canon ZR30MC Mini DV Camcorder for $750 5) Viewsonic VE 150 15" LCD for $349 6) Free Flashback & StuffIt 7)Base Machine	Available options: None
MacMall	$2,194	CA TN	$33	256 MB free RAM for $30 Install fee.	Yes (294 units)
MacWarehouse	$2,199	NJ CT OH IL TN	$40	128 MB free (after mail in rebate) RAM for $30 install fee.	Yes
MacZone	$2,195	WA NV OH TN	$33	256 MB free RAM for $30 installation fee or Virtual PC for $49	RAM bundle only
Outpost	$2,194	CT OH	Free	128 MB free RAM and100 CDR disks	Yes
G4/466 1MB backside @ 233MHz Winter 2000
Apple Store	$1,699	Yes	Free	Extra RAM 50% off Regular Price	No (10 days)
ClubMac	$1,695	CA	$24	256 MB free RAM for $30 install fee or $97 "instant rebate."	Yes
JandR Computer	$1,694	NY	$35	Call	Yes
MacConnection	$1,699	OH MA TN	$26	1) Adobe Digital Video Collection for $1099 2) Adobe Streaming Media Collection for $899 3) Viewsonic VE 150 15" LCD for $349 4) Free Internal 250 MB Zip Drive 5) Free Flashback & StuffIt 6)Apple Pro Speakers & Iomega HipZip for $150 7) Free 256 MB free RAM - optional install for $30 8) Canon ZR30MC Mini DV Camcorder for $750 9) Base Machine	Available options: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
MacMall	$1,694	CA TN	$33.00	256 MB free RAM for $30 Install fee.	Yes (1350 units)
MacWarehouse	$1,699	NJ CT OH IL TN	$40	128 MB free (after mail in rebate) RAM for $30 install fee or	Yes
MacZone	$1,695	WA NV OH TN	$33	256 MB free RAM for $30 installation fee or Virtual PC for $49	Virtual PC only
Outpost	$1,694	CT OH	Free	128 MB free RAM and 100 CDR disks	Yes

** Shipping charges to California, your mileage may vary...

As is usual before most Macworld Expos, the rumors were flying about new announcements. While there was talk of faster processors, it was generally agreed that the speed bump would be moderate thanks to Motorola's inability to produce faster processors in quantity.

The new Power Mac line, running as fast as 733 MHz took just about everyone by surprise. The new lineup consists of the following: G4/466, G4/533, G4/667, G4/733. While Jobs made no mention of the fact, the two fastest machines make use of a new G4 processor from Motorola, the MPC7450. The new G4, commonly known as the G4+, sports a number of improvements. One of the key new features is the addition of a 256K on die cache running at full processor speed. This is in addition to the regular 1 MB backside cache. Interestingly, the backside cache runs at a slower 3:1 ratio as opposed to the standard 2:1 ratio. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in terms of performance. The G4/667 and G4/733 are both due out next month although Jobs' stated that availability on the 733 would be tight.

While chip speed is an obvious (and welcome) improvement, there are a number of other improvements under the hood. Responding to complaints that began with the Blue & White "Yosemite" G3, Apple has added another PCI slot, bringing the total to 4. The AGP slot has been bumped from 2x to 4x. Apple has also exorcised ATI graphics cards from all of the new G4 Power Macs save the low-end G4/466 which still has the RAGE 128 card. The remaining three now make use of nVIDIA's GeForce2 MX, an option long sought after by gamers. ATI's Radeon card is a build to order option at the Apple store. All 4 machines are able to burn CDs thanks to the inclusion of a CD-RW drive. The G4/733 breaks new ground by offering a "Super Drive." The Super Drive is capable of burning both CD's and DVD's. The G4/733 comes with Apple's new iDVD software which, like iMovie, takes a complicated process and lays it out in a way that the average user can manage. For more information on the new G4's, visit MacSpeedZone's Power Mac G4 Information Page. Below, we outline the key specs of the new G4's as well as the previous generation they replace. As usual, we have scoured the web to find the best prices and bundles for you.

Buyers' Guide: Apple's Winter 2000 G4 Power Mac Lineup

Power Mac (Winter 2000) G4 Specs and Features