TUAW reader Gabriel Moore runs an Apple Certified Sales and Service store called Computer Evolution in Davenport, IA. He sent us a short note and link to a MobileMe Web Gallery with several pictures of a strange, Apple-labeled wooden box (picture above).
Gabriel writes "One of our customers noticed that we have a small collection of Old Macs in my service department and thought That he would give me something to add to the collection... Problem is I have no idea what it is or why it has the Apple name. Is this an after market fan boy box or a real product from Apple Computer? Any help from the readers or you would be awesome."
It looks like the 1980's Apple logotype, but I don't remember seeing a box like this anywhere. It's small enough that it could only contain something like an Apple IIc. Do any of you wonderful TUAW readers know what this box was used for? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Earlier this week, we pointed out an unboxing video of a pristine 20th Anniversary Mac. Of course, they're underpowered by today's standards, but many Apple collectors love them. To find one still sealed in its original factory box is a rare indeed.
During the video, we got a look at the obnoxious introductory QuickTime that shipped with these things, which begins, "There are some things in life which capture one's soul." Capture my soul? You mean the TAM is a ghost trap?
Check out the fancy CG graphics, self-important narration and the glinting TAM itself. Many thanks to propstoyou22 for sending us the video.
It was ten years ago today, February 27, 1998, that the Apple Newton was officially killed. During the five years that the Newt was in production it garnered nearly as many detractors as admirers, was the butt of jokes and set the ground work for Palm, Handspring and the like.
There's still an active community of Newton users out there, and they've made some incredible accomplishments in those ten years, like:
Here's a nice find. Peter Merholz recently got ahold of an original Mac User Manual from 1984 and has posted a bunch of pics along with commentary. The most interesting thing, of course, is seeing them trying to explain basic computing GUI concepts like click-and-drag and scrolling that we take so much for granted. Like Peter, I love the helpful simile that the "Finder is like a central hallway in the Macintosh house." You know, just looking at the thing makes me want a Mac classic!
Everyone loves a good list. The folks at Macworld have identified 30 significant Apple products. The top five contain no surprises, of course: The Mac 128k, the iMac, the iPod, the Apple II and the iTunes Store.
There are some unexpected choices as well, like item number 18: The Apple logo sticker. Before you scoff, consider that people are willing to buy these things from Ebay and Red Light Runner. When I bought my car three years ago, I brought a white sticker with me so I could affix it to the window before I even drove the car home. But that's me.
Also on the list are the ill-fated Cube and Newton, the 20th Anniversary Mac and the great Hypercard. Check it out.
Every one loves a good list post, and this one is certainly entertaining. Newlaunches.com has compiled their list of Top Ten Apple Products which Flopped. There are some gems in the list, including a couple of products I hadn't even heard of. Here they are:
Apple Cyberdog, which was an internet suite for the Mac OS back in 1996. I hadn't heard of this until now.
Taligent, an Apple and IBM collaborative OS
EWorld. Ah, now here's one I remember! An AOL-like online experience for Mac users in 1994, EWorld only lasted two years (but it was fun!).
Pippin. The Pippin was a game console that I've never had the chance to play with. Too bad.
The 20th Anniversary Mac. Waaay overpriced but super-cool to look at, the "TAM" as it's called is sought after by certain nerdy collectors...like me.
Motorola ROKR. Let's just move on.
Macintosh TV. Let's just move on.
Macintosh Portable. The $6500 "portable" Mac was about the size and weight of a baby dolphin. The rest should be self explanatory.
Apple Lisa. As the first personal computer to have a GUI and a mouse, it was a trailblazer. At a cost of $9,995US (that's $21,500US in Feb. 2007 dollars, Newlaunches points out), it didn't sell very well.
The Newton. Yes, yes, we all knew that the poor, maligned Newt would top the list. However, I love mine, so there.
Epic Empire is producing a 3 part documentary about Apple Computer. The first part (which is embedded in this post, or which can be seen here) details the rise of Apple Computer and the trouble the company faced with the introduction of the IBM PC.
This film looks well done (though I can't explain the musical choices) and I can't wait for the rest of it. Thanks, Lonely Star.
The AP has penned an article looking
back at Apple history in light of its fast approaching 30th birthday (what do you get the corporation that has
everything? An iPod case?). The article mentions a few of Apple's missteps, and kind of glosses over the dark times
(also known as the 90's) to end with the Apple that we all know and love today.
It boggles the mind to think
that it has only been 30 years since personal computing went mainstream (as we all know Apple ignited the personal
computing revolution).
I need to dig through the archives to find out when TUAW first launched and to let Hadley know important dates like when Scott and I first started blogging for TUAW. ;-)
It was 
Everyone loves a good list. The folks at Macworld have identified 
Every one loves a good list post, and this one is certainly entertaining. Newlaunches.com has compiled their list of 
The AP has penned an 
Hadley over at Apple Matters pinged me last week to let me know they were doing this, but today it is official: 
