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Q&A:
Power
Mac G3 Q&A:
Design, Config, & Purchasing
Who designed the Blue and White
Power Macintosh G3 series?
Like the iMac and other recent Apple products with striking industrial design, the Blue and White Power Macintosh G3 series was designed entirely in-house by Apple's Industrial Design Group, led by Jonathan Ive. Since it is known that Steve Jobs himself had a strong influence on the design of the iMac, he most likely influenced the design of the Blue and White Power Macintosh G3 series as well.
If you are interested in industrial design, you might like to purchase AppleDesign: The Work of the Apple Industrial Design Group. This book has hundreds of full color photographs of prototype Apple products that were never released and is a great look into the evolution of Apple's style.
Will other colors be available later?
[08.31.1999 Update: Now that the Blue and White Power Macintosh G3 series has been discontinued, this answer is no longer relevant. However, the answer remains for "historical" reference.]
Considering that the iMac was originally offered in a single blue color and is now offered in five colors, it seems somewhat probable that once production costs of the Blue and White Power Macintosh G3 drop, it will later be offered in multiple colors as well. But then again, maybe not.
For the time being, the current color scheme looks great, so if you like blue, then by all means buy one.
What monitors are color-compatible with the Blue Power Macintosh G3 series?
Apple released three color-compatible monitors for the Blue and White Power Macintosh G3 series, a 15" Apple Studio Display with an LCD flat-panel display, a 17" Apple Studio Display with a CRT display, and a 21" Apple Studio Display with a CRT display.
The 15" and 17" monitors are also compatible with older Macs, but the 21" display includes built-in ColorSync and a 4-port USB hub, and therefore requires onboard USB, which is only available in modern Macs such as the Blue Power Macintosh G3 series.
Where can I buy a Power Macintosh G3?
Although it has been discontinued, some resellers specializing in used systems may have Power Macintosh G3 systems available at discount prices. If you want to purchase a used system, check out site sponsors PowerMax and OHS for a good selection and eBay for direct person-to-person sales.
What are the default configurations?
The default configurations are too numerous to list in this Q & A, but you can see the default configurations, along with options for custom configurations and pricing information, on the applicable specifications page for the Power Macintosh G3 model that you are interested in.
Were custom configurations available?
Yes. Custom configurations of the Blue and White Power Macintosh G3 series were available direct from Apple, through the Apple Store, and from Apple Authorized Resellers such as PowerMax. To see what custom configuration options were available, please refer to the specifications page for the Power Macintosh G3/350 (Blue), G3/400 (Blue), and G3/450 (Blue).
Were server configurations available?
Yes, server configurations of the Blue and White Power Macintosh G3 series were available from the Apple Store. For complete stats, configurations, and pricing information, please refer to the Macintosh Server G3 section of EveryMac.com.
Pre-installed server configurations of the original Power Macintosh G3 were discontinued on December 14, 1998.
What is the target audience for the Power Macintosh G3?
Both the original and the Blue and White Power Macintosh G3 series are targeted towards "power users" who need maximum performance and reasonable expandability at a reasonable cost. Apple is also hoping that the unique industrial design of the Blue and White Power Macintosh will encourage existing Mac users to upgrade and Windows users to convert to the Macintosh platform.
The Power Macintosh G4 series, which replaced the Power Macintosh G3 series, is targeted to the same users.
Is the Power Macintosh G3 right for my needs?
[08.31.1999 Update: Now that the Blue and White Power Macintosh G3 series has been discontinued, this answer is no longer particularly relevant. However, the answer remains for "historical" reference.]
Of course only you can determine if a model from the Power Macintosh G3 series is the right Mac for you, but you should evaluate the pros and cons of the Power Macintosh G3 series to see if your needs are met.
Pros (Blue and White):
Relatively simple
and easy-to-use, setup, and get online.
Early adopter of USB and FireWire technologies.
Fast processor and excellent graphics
performance.
Choice of color-compatible monitors.
Beautiful, easy-to-open case.
DVD option available.
Reasonably expandable.
Relatively inexpensive.
Cons (Blue and White):
Expansion limited
by three PCI slots.
No external SCSI, or serial support.
New RAM, incompatible with older Macs.
Small keyboard and mouse.
If expandability and screen size are not top priorities, you may also want to look into purchasing an iMac.
Where can I find additional information on the Power Macintosh G3?
In addition to this Q & A, specifications, and links provided by EveryMac.com, and Apple's own site, many Mac news sites covered the Blue and White Power Macintosh G3 series.
MacInTouch has an in-depth Special Report, MacCentral has a comprehensive first and second look, MacFixIt has a superb report on compatibility issues, and the always excellent AccelerateYourMac has a section dedicated to the machines.
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