Apple Computer has unveiled its latest Macintosh computer line, touting it as the fastest in the industry, and said prospects were looking up for the once hard-pressed company.

Speaking at the Macworld Expo, Apple chief executive Mr Steve Jobs said the new 400 megahertz Power Mac G3 was up to 20 per cent faster than the next most rapid computer on the market.

Jobs predicted that the new computers would give an added boost to Apple's financial fortunes, which have seen a remarkable revival. "Next week, we'll be announcing our fifth consecutive profitable quarter," he said.

Apple announced earnings of $106 million for the quarter ending in September, compared with a loss of $161 million for the same period in 1997.

Apple's turnaround has been attributed in part to the introduction in August of the iMac, which was designed to be affordable and easy for new computer users to hook up to the Internet.

The iMac was the best selling personal computer in North America in November and helped Apple increase its share of the market from five to 10 per cent