Motorola lengthens Mac line
Motorola expands its line of computers that run Apple's Macintosh operating system, giving users more choice for fast 603e PowerPC processor-based systems.
With speeds that reach 240 MHz, the 603e is now outpacing the Pentium processor. The Pentium tops out at 200 MHz. The 603e, as a class of processors, is considered to be analagous to the Pentium family of processors in price and performance.
Three new models will be placed in the 3000 line of entry-level Mac compatibles, according to Motorola. The 3000/180 will have a 180-MHz PowerPC 603e processor and will be priced at $1,595 for a desktop version and $1,895 for a mini-tower version. The 300/240 mini-tower with a 240-MHz PowerPC 603e will be priced at $2,795. The models will be available in December.
Motorola says the 3000/180 mini-tower will come with 256K level-2 cache, 32MB of RAM, a 2.5GB hard disk drive, and 5 PCI slots. The 300/240 adds 4MB of video EDO DRAM and a 512K level-2 cache.
The desktop 300/180 will come with 256K of level-2 cache, 16MB RAM, 1MB video EDO DRAM, a 1.2GB hard drive, and 3 PCI slots. All 3000 series computers come with a 28.8-kbps fax-modem, an 8X CD-ROM, and 16-bit stereo sound.
With the introduction of the 3000/240 model, the 3000/200 model will get a price cut from $2,396 to $2,195.