Sometimes affectionately called the “cheese grater,” the original Power Mac G5 first went on sale on June 23, 2003 — offering what was then Apple’s fastest-ever machine and the world’s first 64-bit personal computer.

Check out the video of Steve Jobs introducing the computer 13 years ago today.

 

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Internally, the Power Mac G5 boasted IBM’s PowerPC G5 CPU architecture. At the time it represented a massive step up from the aging Power Mac G4, which had been Apple’s high-end Mac range from 1999 until 2002. The G5 continued until Apple finally replaced it with the Mac Pro 10 years ago in August 2006.

The computers weren’t without their issues, since some models suffered from both noise and heating issues (a liquid-cooled version was made available in an attempt to counter this). However, the Power Mac G5‘s stunning industrial appearance remains one of my personal favorite Apple designs in history, and one that a large number of users still remember today. For trivia buffs, the Power Mac G5 was Apple’s first computer to include USB 2.0 ports.

The gorgeous design wasn’t just limited to the distinctive case: The Power Mac G5 was the first Apple computer to have its interior — which most users would never even see — designed by Jony Ive and his team so as to be aesthetically pleasing.

Do you have fond memories of the Power Macintosh G5? Leave your memories below.