Apple has killed off the 17in iMac G5 - at least, the machine is no longer available from either the UK or the US online AppleStores, or stores throughout Europe and Asia-Pacific, though it remains listed on the main Apple website. The move comes just days after Apple cut the price of the 20in iMac G5 by $200 in the States and £150 in Britain.

It was widely assumed that the price cuts were intended to help shift remaining stocks of the iMac G5 as Apple migrates to Intel-based machines. The Core Duo-equipped consumer desktop - known simply as the 'iMac' - was only launched in the second week of January and began shipping at that time, so Apple's done pretty well to rid itself of the 17in PowerPC-based model in a month.

A number of UK resellers still have stocks of the 17in iMac G5, so the machine hasn't disappeared completely. But it's days are surely numbered.

In any case, it was only a matter of time before it began doing more to steer buyers away from the PowerPC iMac to the Intel versions. Already, clicking on Apple website links connecting the iMac G5 to the AppleStore automatically reroutes you to the Intel iMac purchase page.

Meanwhile, Apple's Intel-based MacBook Pro, also announced in January, is due to ship this month, a move that should see the imminent demise of the 15in PowerBook G4 if not other models too. ®