[WATCH] Touchscreen iMac G3 Prototype is a One-of-Its-Kind Almost 25 Years Ago—Still None for the Present?

Isaiah Richard, Tech Times 11 September 2023, 09:09 pm

Apple has been renowned for its revolutionary products since its early stages, and one of them is the iMac G3, but there was one limited-edition prototype that was modded to feature a touchscreen almost 25 years ago. While it did not come from Apple, the company that replaced its screen with touch-sensitive and pressure controls, Elo, was a known Value Added Reseller of the Cupertino giant.

A content creator known as Michael MJD has gotten his hands on this special computer of the renowned iMac G3, recently showcasing it on a blog to show the existence of such a device.

This Touchscreen iMac G3 is a Gem from 25 Years Ago

(Photo : Michael MJD via YouTube Screenshot)

One would not think that touchscreens were massive back in 1998 or 25 years ago, but some have already developed but were still quite expensive for the world. Elo, a Value Added Reseller of Apple during this age, has redeveloped the already iconic iMac G3 into a touchscreen device, also factoring in "touch pressure," as regarded by Michael MJD.

In the famed content creator's upload, there are two gems found in the computer, one is its touchscreen panel, and the other is a sticker of the Strawberry tray-loading side of the computer, saying that it is an "Engineering Prototype" from Elo.

So much history can be found in the device, and one of the most iconic is the touchscreen panel which was fitted on the computer, not originally offered by Apple. During this time, Elo was one of only three companies that offered third-party touchscreen swaps.

Michael MJD Features this Rare iMac G3

Michael MJD had the chance to restore this beaut from Apple and Elo, costing him as much as $1,800 to bring back the iMac G3's unique feature of touchscreen for its functions and use.

Ars Technica regarded that this special touchscreen iMac G3 would most likely set users to as much as $1,500 back in 1998, a hefty price even in the present.

Apple's Vintage Products

Anything that Apple makes is a significant product today, and it has been proven to be a valuable object, especially in the recent auctions in which it was listed and sold. It fetches more value if Steve Jobs' name is tied with it, including the first-ever iPhone from 2007 which the former CEO and founder had massive design influence, recently sold at an auction for as much as $63,000.

Before the Macintosh 128K, the first commercially available computer from Apple, there was a first-edition prototype that the Apple's founder duo designed between 1976 and 1977. This is called the Apple-1 prototype, and only 200 units were made by the founders in Jobs' garage in Palo Alto, California where it was conceptualized, selling for as much as $223,000 in an auction.

For now, there are no news regarding a Touchscreen iMac or MacBook from Apple, only speculations for one coming in the future despite previously available before. The iMac G3 may have been a more modern version of the computer, but its touchscreen version which was not commercially available from the company resurfaces now from Michael MJD, showcasing the tech from 25 years ago.