SAN FRANCISCO -- Calling it "the world's first desktop supercomputer," Apple Computer Inc.'s charismatic leader Steven Jobs unveiled his company's latest workstation, designed to further extend the company's technological and financial influence.
"This is the most powerful personal computer ever brought to market," Jobs, Apple's interim CEO, told more than 1,000 cheering spectators attending the Seybold publishing conference here Tuesday.Then he pulled a brown cloth cover off the sleek, glistening computer, and took a small bow.
The new computers, powered by chips made by Apple, Motorola Inc. and IBM, cost between $1,600 and $3,500 and mark Apple's continuing efforts to sell to business users such as architects, publishers and graphic designers.
The G4 chip incorporates a new execution unit named the Velocity Engine, which is the heart of a supercomputer miniaturized onto a sliver of silicon.
Jobs also unveiled a new 22-inch flat-panel display monitor, dubbed the Apple Cinema Display, which together with the top G4 model will sell for $6,500 in October. The display monitor is twice as bright, twice as sharp and has three times the contrast of traditional monitors, Apple said.
Software developers on hand gushed over the new machine.
"The new G4 is an unbelievable machine for creating compelling content that adds life to the Web," said Rob Burgess, CEO of Macromedia.
Adobe Systems CEO John Warnock said the G4 runs his company's image editing software Photoshop -- significantly faster than any other platform.
During the unveiling, Jobs held a head-to-head race against an Intel Pentium III system, rendering a scene with Buzz Lightyear from the movie "Toy Story." Jobs said that the G4 was more than twice as fast as the Pentium machine, which was running at a speed of 600 Mhz.
Intel didn't let the thrown gauntlet go unchallenged.
At about the same time, at an Intel developers conference in Palm Springs, Intel CEO Craig Barrett announced that the "Coppermine" Pentium III processor, an enhanced version of its high-end chip, will be released in October. It will operate at a speed of at least 700 Mhz -- larger numbers, but not necessarily faster, than Apple's 500 Mhz G4.