800,000 iMacs Sold in First 139 Days

iMac Continuing to Attract New Users and Wintel Converts

MACWORLD EXPO, SAN FRANCISCO - Jan. 5, 1999 - Sales of Apple's iMac continued very strong through the holiday season and year-end, with 800,000 units sold since the product shipped on August 15. iMac is the fastest-selling computer in Apple's history, and continues to attract significant percentages of first-time computer owners and Wintel computer converts, according to updated buyer surveys.

"During iMac's first 139 days, an iMac was sold every 15 seconds of every minute of every hour of every day of every week," said Steve Jobs, Apple's interim CEO. "iMac is truly the Internet-age computer for the rest of us, and it is bringing a lot of new people onto the Internet."

An iMac buyer survey conducted by the independent firm Audits & Surveys Worldwide in December 1998 revealed that the mix of first-time buyers and Wintel converts remains high. For iMacs purchased from October through early December 1998, approximately 32 percent were purchased by first-time computer owners, and another 13 percent were purchased by Wintel converts - totaling almost 45 percent of iMac buyers who are new to the Macintosh® platform. The remaining 55 percent are Macintosh owners who are either adding new systems or replacing old ones. These results are similar to the initial iMac buyer survey conducted in September 1998, which found that approximately 29 percent of iMac buyers were first-time computer owners and just over 12 percent were Wintel converts.*

iMac's overall ease of use and easy Internet access remain the primary reasons buyers are selecting iMac. More than 80 percent of all iMac owners are using their iMacs to access the Internet, with 65 percent surfing the web on their first day. Additionally, 42 percent of those accessing the Internet have already purchased products or services over the Internet.

Sales of iMac, which has garnered numerous "product of the year" awards for its innovative styling and all-in-one design, have contributed to solid gains in Apple's market share, and renewed interest from customers, channel partners and software developers. A wide range of software titles and third-party peripherals, also announced today, attest to the market resurgence of the Macintosh.

Apple Computer will formally report financial results from its fiscal first quarter on Jan. 13, 1999.

Apple Computer, Inc. ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II, and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is now recommitted to its original mission - to bring the best personal computing products and support to students, educators, designers, scientists, engineers, businesspersons and consumers in over 140 countries around the world.

Apple Canada Inc. is headquartered in Markham, Ontario and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Apple Computer, Inc. Apple products are available at more than 300 Authorized Apple Canada Dealer locations across Canada.

Apple Canada's home page on the World Wide Web: http://www.apple.com/ca/.

Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. All other brand names and companies mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and are hereby acknowledged.

* Based on the Audits & Surveys Worldwide telephone survey of U.S. iMac buyers who purchased through a representative sample of regional resellers, mail order distributors and computer superstores/consumer electronic stores, during the period from Oct. 1, 1998 to Dec. 7, 1998. A total of 1,315 telephone surveys were completed.

Media Contacts
Dennis Manning
Apple Canada Inc.
(905) 513-5878
manning1@apple.com

Heather Brittain
GENERATORIDEAWORKS PR
(416) 413-8915
heather.brittain@generator.ca