Features

CUPERTINO, Calif. — In an effort to capture more school sales, Apple Computer Inc. on Monday introduced a line of Macintosh computers that will be sold only to educators and students. 

The “eMac” computers, featuring 17-inch cathode ray tube monitors and 700 gigahertz G4 processors, are priced at $999 and $1,199 — less than the flat-panel iMacs introduced in January. 

The new computers are expected to be available starting in May. 

Though shaped like the first iMacs unveiled in 1998, the eMacs are about a third of an inch shorter than the original iMac. They also include 16-watt stereo speakers and a CD-recordable drive. 

A DVD drive is available on the more expensive eMac. 

Apple has seen its share of new sales in the education market decline in recent years, according to the research firm IDC. 

In the fourth quarter, Apple’s share fell 20 percent to 14.7 percent. Dell Computer Corp., meanwhile, saw its share increase from 36.8 percent in the third quarter to 39 percent in the fourth. 

Also Monday, Apple unveiled a new line of Titanium PowerBook laptops, with faster processors, a new high-resolution display and built-in Gigabit networking capabilities. 

The top-of-the-line Titanium, with an 800 GHz processor, is priced at $3,199. A 667-MHz version runs $2,499.