January 5, 1999: Apple introduces its revised Power Mac G3 minitower, nicknamed the “Blue and White G3” or “Smurf Tower” to separate it from the earlier beige model.
The first new Power Mac since the colorful plastic iMac G3 shipped, the pro-level machine borrows the same transparent color scheme. Unfortunately, it doesn’t hang around too long.
Power Mac G3: Important, but short-lived
Apple launched the original beige Power Macintosh G3 series in November 1997, not too long after unveiling its “Think Different” ad campaign. It was the first Mac to employ the PowerPC G3 microprocessor, which also powered the later Blue and White Power Mac. The line of high-powered computers proved a hit for Apple, with 750,000 shipping by the middle of 1998.
When the original iMac arrived, however, Apple CEO Steve Jobs and design chief Jony Ive were keen to update the Power Mac to match the all-in-one’s colorful new design language, which also could be seen in the iBook laptop. (At the Macworld event where Jobs revealed the new Power Mac G3, he also announced five new iMac colors.)
New design, new hardware
Apple also wanted to keep its pro line up to date with the latest available hardware. Design-wise, the Blue and White Power Mac G3 boasted a few nifty features. The right side of the case was a hinged door with a recessed latch, providing easy access to components. You could open the case with the computer running, although changing components would require switching off the machine.
Apple code-named the design “Yosemite” (a name later recycled for the 2014 version of macOS), while the project was also known as “El Capitan” (again, a name Apple revisited) and “Gossamer II.”
Blue and White Power Mac G3 specs
Photo: Apple
As for specs, the upgraded model proved considerably different from its predecessor, despite sharing the same G3 processor. It was the first Apple machine to include FireWire, which became an important part of the company’s “digital hub” strategy (and actually won Apple an Emmy).
Apple’s first USB computer, it boasted a “legacy” ADB port so users didn’t need to rely on dongles. Still, a lack of regular serial ports, floppy drive and on-board SCSI caused controversy at the time. Prices started at $1,599 and topped out at close to $5,000 for the kitted-out server configuration versions.
The Blue and White Power Mac G3 received a speed bump in April 1999, although it didn’t last much longer. Apple discontinued it in favor of the Power Mac G4 line in August 1999.
Did you own one of these computers? Leave your comments below.
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
4 responses to “Today in Apple history: Meet the ‘Blue and White’ Power Mac G3”
Sill using one as an iTunes jukebox and run old softwares (to access old biological research files). Still the best form factor ever: easy to open, easy to carry…too bad it does not have as many drive bays than the “cheese grater” form factor that replaced it.
The B&W G3 was my first mac purchased with my hard earned money while I was a freshman in college. Such a beautiful case and design. A lot of people forget it was originally code named “Yosemite” and was shipped with Mac OS 8.6. Mine served we well through four years of design school. I later upgraded it with a G4 drop-in processor, a 120GB drive, and ran it all the way up until OS 10.4.11 was released (2007-ish). Still boots up and runs like a champ today but no longer in use. Can’t say that for most computers almost 20 years old.
I purchased the B+W in January 1999 after several beige boxes. How easy it was to open and work on.
I took a six week road trip across the States in the summer of 2000 and dragged the B+W and a monitor with me, each night in a different hotel!! Sure wish I had a laptop or iPad back then!!! Would have been a lot easier to load all my digital images with my first digital camera!
It is still siting in my folks basement.
It was my first computer. I paid a premium for a massive 12GB hard drive! It’s code name was in fact Yosemite (not El Capitan). I got the matching 17″ display which failed just after a recal expired. My first disappointment of many with .