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Photos: What should be crowned the king of Apple cool?
…fruity innovation and tasty design

By Seb Janacek

Published: Thursday 24 January 2008

2: G3 iMac

This was the computer that turned around Apple's flagging fortunes and marked Steve Jobs's ascendancy to the top of the company he co-founded. The Bondi Blue iMac was the first successful collaboration between Jobs and Jonathan Ive, a relationship that has borne much fruit and sales since.

The translucent iMac, which Jobs relished in unveiling to the world in 1998, was a huge commercial success. The distinctive all-in-one design and clear, coloured plastic inspired many imitators and many lawsuits. Over time, the form factor evolved into a sunflower - or angle-poise lamp depending on how you look at it - to a flat-panel all-in-one. However, it's the G3 iMac that history will consider a true design icon. Definitely Apple's sexiest product but missing out on the number one spot because of the lack of revolution inside the case.

Photo credit: Apple

See what Apple's got up its sleeve for 2008 at this year's Macworld