Editing IMac G4 (section)

{{Short description|All-in-one computer by Apple}}
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{{Infobox information appliance
| name = iMac G4
| image = [[File:Apple iMac G4 (32871160027).jpg|250px|The iMac G4 with keyboard, mouse, and speakers|alt=A white computer with a hemispherical base and shiny Apple logo, attached to a flat screen with a metal arm. A keyboard and mouse sit in front of the computer, while flanking the base are round, shiny speakers.]]
| caption = iMac G4 (15" version)
| family = [[iMac]]
| type = [[All-in-one computer|All-in-one]]
| releasedate = {{start date and age|2002|1|7}}
| discontinued = {{end date and age|2004|08|31}}
| predecessor = [[iMac G3]]
| successor = [[iMac G5]]
| manufacturer = [[Apple Inc.|Apple Computer]]
}}

The '''iMac G4'''{{efn|name=new}} is an [[All-in-one computer|all-in-one]] [[personal computer]] designed, manufactured, and sold by [[Apple Inc.|Apple Computer]] from January 2002 to August 2004. The computer is comprised of a hemispheric base that holds the components, including a [[PowerPC G4]] processor, and a flatscreen [[liquid-crystal display]] (LCD) mounted above. The display is connected to the base via an adjustable arm that allows the monitor to be tilted and swiveled.

Apple's previous release, the [[iMac G3]] (1998), was a commercial success at a time when the company was close to bankruptcy. As component prices fell, Apple envisioned a replacement that would use an LCD instead of the G3's bulky [[cathode-ray tube]]. The resulting iMac G4 took two years to develop. The new shape was inspired by a sunflower, with Apple's design team exploring different ways of attaching the monitor to the base before settling on a single stainless steel arm. The iMac G4 eschewed the colorful translucency of the iMac G3 in favor of opaque white with silvery accents.

The iMac G4 was announced at the [[Macworld/iWorld|Macworld]] San Francisco trade show on January 7, 2002, and began shipping that month. It was updated over the years with faster internal components and larger LCDs. The iMac G4 was a critical and commercial success, selling more than 1.3&nbsp;million units in its first year and roughly 3.1&nbsp;million units alongside the [[eMac]] in its lifetime. It was succeeded by the [[iMac G5]] in 2004, which replaced the G4's bold design language with a more conservative look that influenced later iMac models.