During Gil Amelio's tenure as CEO, Apple Computer began to reduce the number of different motherboard designs it used in its products. This reduced the company's manufacturing costs because it simplified the manufacturing process. It has made choosing a Mac much easier for consumers. Today, consumers interested in buying a conventional desktop Mac need only choose between different processor clock speeds and a small number of other options. To many first-time computer buyers and Wintel converts, the iMac is the right computer at a very attractive price.
People believe they are buying tomorrow's computer today.
Consumers are looking for inexpensive mobile computing options. The iMac will more than satisfy the basic needs of most home users. Very few home computer owners add internal hardware such as PCI cards, nor do they spend a lot of money enhancing their systems after the date of original purchase. The trade-off for the iMac's lower price is its limited upgradeability. For most buyers, it's a very small price to pay in order to get a stylish G3 Mac that comfortably sits on any table or desk.