Power Macs get kindest cut

In its continuing effort to compete with Windows-based PCs, Apple Computer (AAPL) has followed up price cuts to its consumer line of computers with reductions for its Power Macintosh lines.

All Power Macs will be reduced from 9 percent to 30 percent effective November 2. Prices for the same models have already been slashed outside the United States.

The Power Macs will carry estimated street prices as follows:

--The 7200/120 will cost $1,600, down from $2,300, while the 7200/120 with DOS-compatible PC card will cost $2,300, down from $2,800. The 7200 series feature 120-MHz PowerPC 601 processors.

--The 7600/132 with a 132-MHz PowerPC 604 processor will cost $2,300, down from $3,000.

--The 8500/150 with a 150-MHz PowerPC 604 processor will cost $3,000, down from $3,600. The 8500/180 with a 180-MHz PowerPC 604e processor will be priced at $3,700, a $800 reduction from its previous price of $4,500.

--The 9500/200 with a 200-MHz PowerPC 604e processor will cost $4,200, down from $4,900. The 9500/180MP, which features dual 180-MHz PowerPC 604e processors, will be priced at $5,200, down from $5,700.

"The new pricing in the Power Mac line allows us to compete very aggressively in both performance and price," said Gary Little, general manager of Apple's Power Macintosh division in a statement. "When a business customer does a feature-for-feature comparison between a Power Mac and a Microsoft-Intel Pentium Pro, that customer will find the Power Macintosh competitively priced."