January 18, 2001: Dual G4 Chips Arrive

Comparing the clock speed of two radically different chips and coming to a conclusion about their performance isn't the most accurate metric in the history of computing. Still the "Megahertz Myth" was compelling to consumers; after all bigger numbers are always better when comparing computers, right?

Apple knew it needed to do something about the Megahertz disparity, but its chip manufacturer (Motorola) wasn't making any progress in that area. Faced with an untenable perceived gap, Apple thought outside the box and released G4s with dual 500-MHz chips. The campaign slogan "Two Brains Are Better Than One" was only marginally accurate, since very few programs could take advantage of both processors (an issue addressed in OS X).

While performance might not have improved for the average user, the pros appreciated the difference. But the original G4 Apple dualies didn't last long. Introduced in July 2000, they were discontinued on this day, January 18, 2001 and replaced by dual 533-MHz models.