Apple adds single-processor Power Mac G5 1.8GHz

Apple on Tuesday added a 1.8GHz single-processor Power Mac G5 desktop computer to its arsenal. The US$1,499 system is offered alongside dual-processor computers running at 1.8GHz, 2.0GHz and 2.5GHz.

Like the dual 1.8GHz system, Apple's new single-processor 1.8GHz model features Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 Ultra graphics in an 8x AGP slot, SuperDrive, an 80GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive, three 33MHz 64-bit PCI slots, a FireWire 800 port, two FireWire 400 ports and three USB 2.0 ports. The single-processor computer features a slower frontside bus, however -- clocked at 600MHz instead of 900MHz.

The single-processor 1.8GHz Power Mac G5 features an internal expansion slot for an Apple "AirPort Extreme" 802.11g-compliant wireless networking card and can also accommodate Bluetooth, to connect to compatible peripherals like cell phones, PDAs and printers.

Apple's reasoning for adding a fourth configuration to the Power Mac line-up was very simple.

"We simply wanted to offer a more affordable price point for our customers to get into the Power Mac G5 product line," Tom Boger, senior director for Desktop Product Marketing, told MacCentral.

Update: Added Comments from interviews with Apple executives 10/19/04 12:45 pm