APPLE'S iMAC: THE RIGHT MACHINE -- FOR SOME OF THE REST OF US

It's cool. It's blue. It's fast. It's cheap. But is it for you?

In a world where desktop computers have become as dull as they are alike, Apple's new $1,299 iMac is an exciting departure. Harking back to the original Macintosh, it's an all-in-one design, incorporating a 233MHz PowerPC G3 processor, 32 MB of RAM, a 4-GB hard drive, a CD-ROM, a 56K modem, and a 15-in. (13.8-in viewable) monitor in a futuristic, translucent teal-and-white case.

It's hardly surprising that the iMac has generated tremendous excitement, both among Apple fans and in the computing world at large. By coming up with an exciting design aimed at consumers, and at a price that many will find attractive, this machine is CEO Steve Jobs's way of shouting very loudly: "Apple is back!"

As a revolutionary design, it wouldn't do to make a lot of compromises -- and the iMac doesn't. There's no internal floppy drive and no way to add any internal devices. And all of the various ways of attaching accessories that Macs have acquired over the past 15 years are gone: Apple Desktop Bus, SCSI, LocalTalk, and printer and modem ports. All of them have been replaced by the new Universal Serial Bus.

These are not necessarily disadvantages. The compact design and relatively low price, along with a built-in Ethernet port and software that simplifies network connections, make the iMac ideal for use in wired dorm rooms or networked schools. Without question, the iMac's G3 processor, which is on a par with a fast Intel Pentium II, makes it as speedy as any computer in its price class. And while the Mac operating system lags behind Windows in some areas, especially its ability to run multiple programs simultaneously, it remains elegant and easy to learn.

The lack of flexibility and expandability, however, mean that iMac is a computer for only some of the rest of us. Unlike the original Mac, where opening the case required special tools and voided the warranty, the iMac can be opened with a standard Phillips screwdriver, and Apple even includes instructions in its electronic manual.

But I would follow Apple's suggestion and leave opening the case to a qualified technician. The first thing many buyers may want to do is add memory, since a processor as fast as the G3 deserves at least 64 MB of RAM. Even as simple a task as popping in a memory module, about the only thing you can do inside the case, requires a complete disassembly of the unit. It took me only five minutes to get the iMac up and running out of the box. But it took about 20 minutes to gain access to the memory slots -- and a harrowing hour for the tricky reassembly.

For a considerable range of devices, iMac's USB-only approach will be no problem, mainly because only software need be changed to allow the iMac to use USB accessories designed for use with the dominant Windows PCs. Hewlett-Packard and Canon are shipping USB printers for the iMac, and Epson offers a converter cable for its AppleTalk-enabled inkjets. Several manufacturers are selling USB scanners. Imation provides a $149 SuperDisk that can candle both 120-MB LS-120 disks and conventional 1.44-MB floppies. And Kodak offers both digital still and video cameras. I dislike the round mouse that comes with the iMac -- I find it hard to orient properly -- and while for the moment it's the only USB mouse available, alternative pointing devices, including trackballs, are sure to appear soon.

Storage devices are a bigger issue. USB's 1.5-MB per second top speed is fast enough for a floppy, but it cannot handle a external hard disk drive. Don't even think about using an iMac with a CD writer. And the only way you'll be able to get a DVD player is if Apple or a third-party vendor offers one as a substitute for the built-in CD-ROM drive.

Then there's the built-in monitor. While gargantuan compared to the 9-in. tube in the original Mac, iMac's display (which, of course, is not upgradable) seems dinky in a world where 17-in. screens are the norm and 19-inchers are becoming popular. It also limits iMac's usability as a cheap entry point to the desktop publishing that Apple does so well. The iMac will run Adobe Photoshop faster than most $2,500 Pentium IIs, but I wouldn't want to do a lot of image editing -- or Web page design or desktop publishing -- on that screen.

Still, for buyers who value simplicity and compactness over flexibility and power, the iMac could be an ideal choice. It's the most attractively priced product Apple has ever offered. Clearly, the Macintosh, which seemed on its last legs 18 months ago, is not going away. The availability of software remains an issue, with business applications in particular lagging far behind Windows. But the situation is improving, and Microsoft Office 98 for the Mac is actually superior in many ways to the current Windows version.

The iMac obviously has struck the fancy of lots of Mac enthusiasts, and if it appeals to you, you may have to wait to get one. Apple reports 150,000 advance orders, and stores, many of which have been accepting orders for weeks, quickly ran out of their initial allocations. The company expects production to catch up with demand some time this fall, but for now, patience will be required.

By Stephen H. Wildstrom in Washington