posted
(Yeah, I've got to get in my monthly quota of Mac Evangelism. But this isn't an exhortation to go buy a Mac and nothing else, but a tribute to what Apple did.)
No, I didn't realize this myself, but I just read an article reminding everyone that it was today, back in 1998, that Apple first started shiping their original Bondi blue iMac, the computer that revolutionized the entire computer industry in one way or another.
What a long, strange road it's been. Five years ago Apple was on the edge of the abyss, now they're going strong in their own niche, and have a solid foundation to keep growing from while still innovating. Five years ago, all we had to look forward to were the usual boring grey or beige boxes. Although many people still prefer to have a more subdued look to their machines (especially in a professional environment), so many computers look a lot more interesting to one degree or another. It's not a matter of fashion -- it's aesthetics. Five years ago, everyone bitched and said the iMac would be a flop because there was no capability of expanding, since there were no ADP plugs or PCI slots. Now, USB rules the computing world -- and Apple started that trend.
I remember gazing with envy at those new, cool-looking iMacs that summer. As a high school student entering his senior year (and soon to head off to college), it was definitely time to think about getting a computer of my own. I had to wait until the next January before getting mine, but the day that my Blueberry iMac was delivered was one of the most exciting days of my life. (Sad, maybe, but true!)
Okay, so the iMac didn't take over the entire computer industry. That'd be an unrealistic expectation at all. But how many of the computer makers out there these days put COLOR on the outside of their products now, at least for some models? How many of them have at least SOME more attention and effort put into the appearance of their product? How many more people have started to buy a dedicated computer at a relatively low price, just for light use around the home?
Here's to Thinking Different!
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
Registered: Nov 2000
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I bought my first Mac last year - the first I'd used in some time - as I was tired of providing tech support for my wife's home office. Got an ibook and dropped from weekly tech hours to monthly (mostly installing software and updates). Have since bought an old cube to play with as she got tired of me using her "work" computer as a toy.
It is a niche market - but that has its advantages too.
Just thought MMan might need some help up on his soapbox and it beats talking about rape cases....
TK
-------------------- Twee bieren tevreden, zullen mijn vriend betalen.
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
This doesn't have anything to do with the iMac directly, but I just found a copy of Apple's famous "1984" commercial directed by Ridley Scott. I'd never seen it before -- it's pretty impressive, even today!
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted
I always find it both interesting and amusing that Apple Macintosh owners compose what amounts to love letters to their computers and to Apple Computer, Inc. Talk about brand loyalty and rooting for the underdog. Apple Mac owners do seem to LOVE their Macs.
Regarding that 1984 Macintosh commercial. What can you say? Director Ridley Scott and a pile of money, it was bound to be impressive even 19 years later! Remember that Ridley Scott got his start directing commercials before he started making feature films.
Registered: Jun 2003
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Saltah'na
Chinese Canadian, or 75% Commie Bastard.
Member # 33
posted
I think anyone who speaks about Macs should be banned off the face of the earth. We must rid the world of these scum....
-------------------- "And slowly, you come to realize, it's all as it should be, you can only do so much. If you're game enough, you could place your trust in me. For the love of life, there's a tradeoff, we could lose it all but we'll go down fighting...." - David Sylvian FreeSpace 2, the greatest space sim of all time, now remastered!
Registered: Mar 1999
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-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
Registered: Nov 2000
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Not bad! One thing it DOES do - is it explains a joke on Futurama the other night... when that guy from the 80's who was defrosted takes over the Delivery company and that is exactly what his idea for the ad is! LOL! What a classic - why did they cancel Futurama!?!
-------------------- "Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica." - Jim Halpert. (The Office)
posted
It's obvious that whoever made that film never bothered to figure out how to operate his operating system in the first place. You'd think that if someone were having so much trouble operating his computer, he might decide to go consult the Mac Help application on his hard disk. It's not that difficult to find, considering that there's a blindingly obvious "Help" menu in every single application...
Thinking different? Seems this guy wasn't thinking at all...
(Be it entered into the record that I did not fire the first shot in this latest Mac vs. Windows argument... I simply wanted to talk a bit about the iMac itself...)
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted
Except you prefaced this thread with a remark about getting in your "monthly quota of Mac Evangelism." Then you launch into a sermon gushing about how marvelous candy-colored computers are. Sounds to me you looking to stir up a few angry wasps.
-------------------- The philosopher's stone. Those who possess it are no longer bound by the laws of equivalent exchange in alchemy. They gain without sacrifice and create without equal exchange. We searched for it, and we found it.
Registered: Mar 1999
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Cartman
just made by the Presbyterian Church
Member # 256
posted
I AM STUNG
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted
Hmm... its funny to me when people argue about Mac versus PC and I see nothing drastically different with either. I grew up using MS DOS back in 1991 and then had to switch to Windows 3.0 sometime before 1993. Then I got Windows 95 at the same time I had to take a computer class using the Macs on school. By the time I write this, I can use either Windows XP or OSX Jaguar and still modify either computer OS to make it look and sound like its the Federation Starship Prometheus.
What's my point... they are computers that are suppose to help you do stuff. It doesn't matter if it's a PC from Dell or a Powerbook G4. People need to learn how to be versitle.
-------------------- "It speaks to some basic human needs: that there is a tomorrow, it's not all going to be over with a big splash and a bomb, that the human race is improving, that we have things to be proud of as humans." -Gene Roddenberry about Star Trek
Registered: May 1999
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![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
But this isn't an exhortation to go buy a Mac and nothing else, but a tribute to what Apple did.)![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Apple Mac owners do seem to LOVE their Macs.![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
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