the new Apple iMac

From: Adam Jenkins <adam_at_merlin.net.au>
Date: Thu May 7 18:53:43 1998

Looks ok, but not really to my taste. But I can't see it having much
success - the problem in the consumer market (which I gather this is aimed
for) is that impressions count for everything. People think they want a
floppy, as all computers have one, a CD-Rom drive, and expansion. Whether
or not they actually need them is a moot point. I assume that version 2
will have the drives. Remember the reaction to the Apple ][c? It didn't
matter that all of the things most people wanted to add to the expansion
slots were already built into the computer - the ][ had expansion slots,
the ][+ had slots and the ][e had slots Therefore a lot of people weren't
interested in buying the ][c. It was still clearly a success, but this did
limit sales. The iMac is even worse.

It does follow with my impressions of Steve Jobs. He is indeed a man with
vision, but there is only really the one vision and he doesn't like anyone
elses. This isn't a bad thing, as it is a good idea, but I fear it is part
of the reason so many of the most interesting projects at Apple were cut.
They just didn't match Jobs' idea of what was worthwhile.

Adam.
Received on Thu May 07 1998 - 18:53:43 BST