Retailers Report Strong Sales of Apple iMac

Apple Computer Inc.’s iMac home computer debuted to strong sales as the company that pioneered easy, point-and-click computing looks to regain its legendary status. CompUSA Inc. and other Macintosh retailers on Saturday began selling the translucent blue, egg-shaped computer, which sells for $1,299, amid a blitz of advertising. But Apple’s largest retailer declined to say how many iMacs it sold, though it numbered in the “thousands,” CompUSA spokesman Larry Mondry said. “We sold more iMacs [Saturday] than we’ve ever sold of any computer on a single day.” ComputerWare, a 10-store Macintosh retailer in the San Francisco area, sold 225 iMacs between midnight and 2 a.m. Saturday and 425 for the day, a spokesman said. Officials at Cupertino-based Apple couldn’t be reached for comment.