Apple iPhone 16e: Why It Could Be a Controversial Smartphone

By | February 21, 2025

Apple Power Macintosh G3 All-in-One: The Forgotten Mac That Came Before the iMac

It was the spring of 1998. Steve Jobs had returned to Apple, and the company was months away from unveiling the iMac, which would redefine personal computing. But before that, Apple introduced the Apple Power Macintosh G3 All-in-One, a now-forgotten computer with an unusual design and a unique place in Apple’s history.

Apple Power Macintosh G3 All-in-One: A Unique Mac Ahead of Its Time

Nicknamed the “Molar Mac” due to its tooth-like shape, the Power Macintosh G3 All-in-One was unlike any Mac before or after it. Although it featured a translucent casing, hinting at Apple’s future design choices, it remained a bulky, 60-pound machine built primarily for the education sector.

What made it stand out was its expandability and storage options. The G3 All-in-One was the only Mac to support three storage formats—a floppy drive, a CD-ROM, and a ZIP drive—offering users more versatility. It was also among the first Apple computers to ship with an ATA hard drive instead of the older SCSI format, making internal storage upgrades easier.

How the G3 All-in-One Paved the Way for the iMac

While the Power Macintosh G3 All-in-One was practical, it wasn’t as stylish as the iMac, which debuted later that year. The iMac’s sleek, modern design and USB-only connectivity represented a bold departure from the G3 AIO’s traditional, upgrade-friendly approach. However, the G3 AIO foreshadowed Apple’s shift toward design-focused computing, making it an essential, if overlooked, step in Apple’s evolution.

The Legacy of the Power Macintosh G3 All-in-One

At launch, the Apple Power Macintosh G3 All-in-One received mixed reactions. Some praised its expandability and durability, while others criticized its heavy, outdated form factor. With the iMac’s release just months later, the Molar Mac was quickly overshadowed.

Interestingly, the iPhone 16e, set to launch soon, is also generating divided opinions. Like the G3 AIO, it may not fit neatly into Apple’s usual product categories, making it another “weird” product that challenges expectations.

For those interested in Apple’s history, the Power Macintosh G3 All-in-One remains a fascinating piece of the company’s journey, bridging the gap between old-school computing and the modern, sleek Apple devices we know today.