G3 servers on deck

After shoring up its desktop offerings with the new G3 Power Macs, Apple will reportedly turn its attention to its server line with two new systems scheduled for a January debut.

Sources said Apple is preparing a pair of servers based on its new Power Mac G3 line, which uses the PowerPC 750 processor (see 11.10.97, Page 1). Apple will reportedly show them off at January's Macworld Expo in San Francisco.

A 275-MHz server is expected to pack 128 Mbytes of RAM and two 4-Gbyte Wide Ultra SCSI-3 hard drives. Sources said that system will also come with a 24x CD-ROM drive and built-in Fast Ethernet; it will reportedly carry a price tag of about $6,600.

Apple is also expected to take the wraps off a 233-MHz version. Priced at $4,500, the machine will come with 64 Mbytes of RAM, a single 4-Gbyte Wide Ultra SCSI-3 drive, a 24x CD-ROM drive and built-in Fast Ethernet, according to sources.

Both machines will reportedly come with AppleShare IP 5.0, Apple's file- and Internet-server package, which is normally priced at $1,999 for an unlimited number of users. Apple is expected to discontinue the Apple Workgroup Server 7350 and 9650 when the new systems arrive.

Sources said the systems will mark a move by Apple to improve server performance through tweaked drivers. Apple is reportedly reworking its Ethernet drivers specifically for the systems to improve performance; one source said the systems' speeds will rival those of Windows NT servers.

After unveiling the new servers in January, Apple is expected to boost its high-end desktop line with a family of systems code-named Power Express in mid-March (see 11.24.97, Page 1).

Sources said Apple will use those machines as the basis for another new server. The company in April will reportedly release a server using a 300-MHz PowerPC 750. The system is expected to come with 128 Mbytes of RAM, two 4-Gbyte Wide Ultra SCSI-3 hard drives, a 24x CD-ROM and Fast Ethernet. The 300-MHz server will reportedly cost about $7,600.

Apple declined to comment.