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It's... Internet Man! (9/30/98)
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Ladies and gentlemen, a round of applause, if you will, for this year's "Internet Man of the Year:" Steven P. Jobs. Yessiree, Apple's interim head honcho recently received the award from the SkyNet Internet Collective for his "outstanding achievements in the area of Information Technology and Product Innovation for the Internet." Get the whole story at MacCentral.
And just what prompted the bestowing of this great honor on the inimitable Mr. Jobs? Generally speaking, SkyNet claims it's the way that his leadership has brought Apple back into the spotlight as "the leader in innovative and user-friendly computer products." We certainly can't argue with that. But in a more specific sense, SkyNet is talking about the iMac and how it represents a dramatic step toward their golden vision of the Internet being as integral part of the home as the telephone is today. And we can't fault their logic-- the iMac is, by most accounts, an inexpensive and simple way to cruise the 'net in style. But we're a little surprised to hear SkyNet's honorary chairman refer to the iMac as "the first dedicated Internet terminal."
"Dedicated Internet terminal?" That's news to us. Apparently, iMac owners the world over are compromising the design integrity of their iMacs by using them for playing games, writing novels, balancing checkbooks, organizing CD collections, and other mundanely non-Internet-related stuff. We think that SkyNet might be taking the "i" in "iMac" a little too seriously; sure, the iMac is great for Internet access of all flavors, but really no more so than any other modern Macintosh. Not that that's a bad thing, by any means. But we think of the iMac's name as more of a catchy, evocative moniker and a great marketing ploy than a true description of the system's raison d'être. The iMac is a Mac-- an innovative Mac, and an Internet-friendly one to boot, but by no means is it even close to being a dedicated Internet-only device. But hey, whatever hauls in the awards, you know? After all, if a grainy black and white commercial based around an arguably ungrammatical phrase (yes, we've heard all the arguments both ways-- please don't go there) can win an Emmy, who are we to argue with Apple's marketing strategies?
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 | | The above scene was taken from the 9/30/98 episode: September 30, 1998: So just what would happen if Motorola suddenly decided to stop making PowerPC's? We may not have to wonder much longer... Meanwhile, Microsoft is frantically trying to prepare for its upcoming "Redmond Justice" court date by strongarming a couple of professors into turning over some confidential Netscape interviews, and Steve Jobs sheds his secret identity to reveal his alter ego, "Internet Man..."
Other scenes from that episode: 1046: Living on the Edge (9/30/98) There goes Robert Morgan, making people nervous again-- but we really can't fault him this time, because the information he's relating is appearing via other sources, as well. So as creepy as it sounds, we may well be facing a serious shake-up in Macland as Motorola prepares for a "major revamp" of its Semiconductor Products Sector... 1047: Stolen Research (9/30/98) The big "Redmond Justice" trial creeps ever closer-- can't you just smell it? In a mere two weeks (barring unforeseen delays, of course, but when does that ever happen in a lawsuit?), Microsoft and the Justice Department will finally square off in court to resolve the issue of Microsoft's alleged anticompetitive business practices...
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