Newest Power Mac Extends Performance Lead Over Pentium PCs

Independent Study Shows PowerPC Processor-based Macintosh Systems are
World's Fastest Personal Computers

CUPERTINO, California--July 17, 1995--The newest Power Macintosh systems
from Apple Computer, Inc., outperformed Windows computers based on
equivalent clock-speed Pentium processors by 51% according to a recently
completed independent performance study by Competitive Assessment Services
(CAS).

Introduced on June 19, 1995, the New Power Macintosh 9500, which utililizes
the next generation PowerPC 604 processor running at either 120 or 132
MHz, extends the performance leadership established by the first Power Mac
models and places Apple in the position of providing the industry with the
world's fastest and most powerful personal computer.

Key findings from the report include (*):

-- Overall the Apple Power Macintosh 9500/132 was 63% faster than the 120
MHz Pentium processor based PC running Windows and 74% faster than the 100
MHz Pentium based system tested.

-- Overall the Apple Power Macintosh 9500/120 was 51% faster than the 120
MHz Pentium processor based PC and 62% faster than the 100 MHz Pentium
based system tested.

-- On the graphics and publishing applications tested the Apple Power
Macintosh 9500/132 was 102% faster than the 120 MHz Pentium based PC
tested and 123% faster than the 100 MHz Pentium based PC tested.

-- On the scientific and engineering applications tested the Apple Power
Macintosh 9500/132 was over 80% faster than the 120 MHz Pentium based PC
tested.

(*) CAS conducted these tests with virtual memory turned on, and noted that
users could expect even greater performance gains on the Power Mac 9500
with virtual memory turned off.

These CAS findings are similar to test results highlighted in an article
that recently appeared in PC WEEK (June 19, 1995, V. 13, Number 24, page
121) entitled "Apple's 9500s give PCs a Run for the Money." In tests run
by PC Week Labs, the 9500/132, running a PowerPC 604 at 132 MHz, performed
up to 130% faster than a 133 MHz Pentium system when running the
applications tested.

What CAS Tested

The application-level benchmarks included ten different applications
measured on 58 different tasks. The applications included spreadsheets,
word processors, a database, document layout, business graphics, and other
applications. The tasks measured included opening files, scrolling, spell
checking, spreadsheet recalculations, graphing and a variety of other
tasks. The applications used were Microsoft Excel, Word and FoxPro, Claris
Works from Claris, Wolfram Research's Mathematica, Macromedia Freehand,
Fractal Design Painter, FrameMaker from Frame Technology Corporation,
Deltagraph Professional from DeltaPoint and Ashlar Vellum.

The overall application level performance of the systems tested was:

Computer                              Relative Performance*

Apple Power Macintosh 9500/132            7.0
Apple Power Macintosh 9500/120            6.5
Pentium 120 MHz                           4.3
Pentium 100 MHz                           4.0
Pentium 90 MHz                            3.7
486DX 33 MHz                              1.0

* In multiples of the performance of a 33 MHz 486DX

About the Testing by CAS

The application level testing was conducted by Competitive Assessment
Services on equivalently configured Power Macintosh and x86
processor-based PCs running Windows. The tests consisted of measuring the
actual elapsed time required to perform various tasks. Unlike
processor-only or low-level benchmarks, the test results reflect
application-level performance running real applications on actual systems.
The tasks involved a mix of integer, floating point, disk and graphics
activities.

This new report also reaffirms the sharp contrast between artificial
benchmarks like SPECmarks and real-world applications tests. SPEC
performance ratings are subject to tuning by manufacturers, and therefore,
are not necessarily representative of actual application-level
performance. CAS found Power Macintosh 9500 overall performance on
applications tested to be much higher than Pentium processor-based
computers running at the same clock speed. Performance can vary from
application to application; Apple encourages customers to perform their
own tests.

Located in Huntington Beach, California, Competitive Assessment Services
are providers of comparative computer quality standards. CAS reports
testing scores as Geometric Mean Index scores. Apple Computer analyzed the
results obtained by CAS in order to determine relative performance results
as reported in the various application groups.

CAS is an independent test facility. CAS has been contracted by Apple
Computer, Inc., (Apple) to perform a specific suite of benchmarks with
industry standard applications as tested on personal computer systems. The
test procedures are designed to take full advantage of both Apple and
Intel-based personal computer system architecture. CAS closely monitors
test procedures to ensure reproducible system configurations and test
results.

Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized pioneer and innovator in the information
industry, creates powerful solutions based on easy to use personal
computers, servers, peripherals, software, online services, and personal
digital assistants. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple
(NASDAQ:AAPL) develops, manufactures, licenses and markets products,
technologies and services for the business, education, consumer,
scientific & engineering and government markets in over 140 countries.

Customer Information Contact: If you are considering the purchase of an
Apple product and would like to have product information faxed to you,
please call 1-800-462-4396 in the U.S. or (415) 598- 4329 in Canada. If
you do not have a fax machine or would like to locate an Apple authorized
reseller near you, please call 1-800- 538-9696. Customers outside the U.S.
should contact their local Apple representatives for information.

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

Apple Computer Inc
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014
408-996-1010
 
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