Apple releases multiprocessor Power Mac line

The Power Macintosh 9500/180MP line is based on a card holding two 180MHz Power PC CPUs, matched with a basic specification of 32Mb RAM, 2Gb hard drive and eight-speed CD-ROM drive. Street price is expected to be around £3,910+VAT.

"It's true to say the Power Mac line is moving up the range," said James Dingwall business manager for Power Macintosh at Apple UK. "We're aiming at the technical publishing market and education where you don't necessarily want to have a particular software bundle. Publishing is a market where we have dominated but we think there's still more in it for us." Other key markets Apple is targeting with the release are Web and multimedia authoring. All systems include a copy of Adobe's PageMill Web publishing software.

Apple said it also expects card makers to make MP upgrade cards for the current Power Mac and Mac OS user base. In May, Apple announced its Apple MP API for developers of MP-aware software. Adobe, MacroMedia and Live Picture are among developers supporting the MP initiative.