By AppleInsider Staff

Published: 07:00 PM EST

First on AI -- In a move aimed at depleting inventory of older PowerPC Macs, Apple Computer on Wednesday slashed the price of its 20-inch 2.1GHz PowerPC-based iMac desktop.

The 20-inch PowerPC iMac now carries a suggest retail price of $1499 -- a $200 price reduction from $1699 -- Apple told its reseller partners in the United States. Apple also reduced the cost of the model in several other regions, AppleInsider was told.

Meanwhile, the company's 17-inch PowerPC iMac pricing remained unchanged. According to contacts, Apple has had little problem clearing inventory of this model at its original suggested retail price of $1299.

Last week limited inventories caused Apple to halt large reseller orders of the 17-inch PowerPC model in the United States. The model was also declared "end-of-life."

Apple's online store will continue to offer both the 17-inch and 20-inch PowerPC iMacs for individual customer orders while supplies last. The desktops are priced at $1299 and $1499, respectively.

Shoppers looking for additional savings may turn to Amazon.com, which is offering its customers $125 back on the 17-inch model ($1174.99) and $150 off the 20-inch ($1349.99).