Speaking of a super-special Happy Birthday Mac, are we really supposed to believe that Apple's going to let the Mac's 20th anniversary roll by this Saturday without making some sort of big showy splash? C'mon, even Amelio managed to trundle out that crazy-lookin' Spartacus thing to celebrate Apple's 20th anniversary (albeit it a shade on the late side); surely Steve's got something at least as fun up his sleeve, and we know he has a better sense of timing. Since we never received an invitation, we can safely assume that it won't be a surprise party; must be another special edition Mac. Right?

Unless our invitation got lost in the mail. That happens sometimes. Especially with party invitations, particularly ones sent to us. Heck, it seems like hardly a Saturday goes by without two or three parties going on and those darn invites just keep getting shredded or something en route to our mailbox. Weird, isn't it? Whatever; anyway, we're sure it's a new Mac. Well, we're sort of sure. We've got a vague feeling. But it's a vague feeling bolstered by proof-- proof in the form of an unsubstantiated rumor and an anomaly in a magazine registration form! Why, we couldn't be more sure than this without actual evidence!

First off, the unsubstantiated rumor: Mac OS Rumors claims that "Apple product roadmaps" from late 2003 make reference to a "high-end G5 iMac model at 1.8 or 2.0 GHz" that uses a debigulated Power Mac motherboard, leftover 130-nanometer G5 chips, and a revamped enclosure to handle the heat. There's apparently no reference whatsoever to a release date, but the documents reportedly do make it clear that this G5 iMac is intended to be sold concurrently with existing G4-based models, so that certainly hints at the possibility of a 20th-anniversary "special edition."

Not enough for you? Then check this out: faithful viewer Jason Nieckar popped us a link to Blogintosh, which includes a very intriguing screenshot: it's a menu from Macworld Magazine's online registration form for new Mac purchasers who opt for the free three-issue courtesy subscription. Macworld asks what kind of Mac you just bought, and the menu includes "iMac G5" right at the top of the list. And while it could be a simple mistake, there are separate entries for both "iMac G4" and "iMac G3," so it's not just a simple typo. Apple has to let the magazines in on upcoming products well in advance, since most mags get their issues locked down months before they make it onto newsstands; usually Macworld is pretty good about keeping secrets, but it looks like one of Apple's web gnomes survived the Wrath of Steve and dragged his broken body down to take up a gig in Macworld's server room.

At least, that's one interpretation. We're taking Blogintosh entirely at its word, here; for all we know, the screenshot's fake. Even if it isn't, the mistake doesn't necessarily mean that there really is an iMac G5 waiting in the wings. And even if there is, that doesn't necessarily mean that it's a 20th Anniversary Special Edition slated for a birthday launch this weekend. But other than that, this is fact-based corroboration of the highest order-- a veritable smoking gun. Seriously, what more proof could you possibly need?