Apple G4

The iMac G4 (often called Lamp or Sunflower) is an all-in-one personal computer designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple Computer, Inc. from January 2002 to August 2004. It replaced the iMac G3 and was succeeded by the iMac G5. This G4 was donated by Ruth Harris of Waban Massachusetts in 2021.

It was originally known as the New iMac, while the existing iMac G3 continued to be sold for several months. During this time, Apple had all but eliminated CRT displays from its product line. However, the LCD iMacs were unable to match the low price point of the iMac G3, largely due to the higher cost of the LCD technology at the time. The iMac G3 was obsolete by this point, but low-cost machines were particularly important for the education market. Because of this affordability issue, Apple created the eMac in April 2002 and ended production of the iMac G3. The iMac G4 was then marketed as the "iMac" until its discontinuation, then was retroactively labeled iMac G4 to distinguish itself from the succeeding iMac G5 in August 2004.


Apple advertised the iMac G4 as having the adjustability of a desk lamp, and was nicknamed the "iLamp", similar to "Luxo Jr.", who was featured in a short film produced by Pixar, another venture of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. One of the advertisements for the machine featured it sitting in a store window "reacting" to every move made by a passer-by on the street. At the end, when the man sticks out his tongue, the iMac responds by opening its optical drive.[1] It was also known as the "Sunflower".