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Expanding Possibilities (8/19/98)
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After months of speculation as to just what that "mystery slot" on the iMac's motherboard might be, it seems that the answer is now within our grasp. An article over at MacTimes reveals that the 160-pin slot (which does exist in the final shipping models) is clearly labeled "Mezzanine," implying strongly that it's a PMC (PCI Mezzanine Card) slot. Mezzanines are typically used to add a "wide variety of I/O, memory, and interface functions," according to a web site about the architecture. If the iMac really packs a PMC slot, it's possible that third party developers would leap at the chance to produce innovative expansion cards for the best-selling iMac.
Alas, it seems that this is not the case. According to MacWEEK, the iMac slot is not a true PMC card, but actually some variant of Apple's own proprietary "personality card" architecture, referred to as "Perch" within Apple's walls. And while the personality cards are indeed PCI-derived and perfectly suitable for high-bandwidth functions such as video and the like, they certainly aren't actually an industry standard. In fact, the slot isn't even mentioned in the developer's tech notes for the iMac, and even stranger, Apple has reportedly actively discouraged third-party developers from creating any expansion cards for the iMac, stating that the slot is "intended for Apple's internal use."
Bummer! If the iMac slot were really a true standard PMC slot, we would imagine that the third-party expansion options would be bountiful. And we so had our hearts set on an iMac Voodoo 3D accelerator card. However, the good news is, the slot is there, and by all accounts Apple has some exciting plans for it (the most likely candidates for iMac expansion cards being DVD controllers and FireWire). We just wish they'd invite some other companies to the party. But heck, in the new game-friendly Apple, perhaps they aren't blind to the fact that a consumer machine like the iMac would benefit soundly from the addition of a Voodoo card. Maybe we'll fire off a letter to Peter Tamte...
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SceneLink (951)
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And Now For A Word From Our Sponsors |
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 | | The above scene was taken from the 8/19/98 episode: August 19, 1998: Lurid details of the iMac's secret expansion slot are laid bare at last. Meanwhile, retailers relate further reports of record sales of Apple's little blue lumps, as the company reworks its now-famous "Hello" into a "Konichiwa" for the big Japanese introduction...
Other scenes from that episode: 952: Topping the Charts (8/19/98) More details about the iMac's launch last weekend continue to dribble out to the public. In an Apple press release, comments from two retailers provide further evidence that the iMac is the greatest thing to happen to Apple since sliced bread... 953: Land of the Rising iMac (8/19/98) Details about Apple's plans for a rollout in Japan were sketchy at best, but according to MacNN, a Japanese web page answers the two most important questions: When, and how much? (You'll need a Japanese-capable system, such as a Mac with Apple's Japanese Language kit installed, in order to read the page...
Or view the entire episode as originally broadcast... | |  |
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