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Second Fiddle No More (10/7/99)
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One thing about the iMac: it's a scene-stealer. Remember the surprise unveiling of the original iMac way back in May of last year? That was at the same event at which Steve took the wraps off the "Wall Street" Powerbook G3-- the sleekest, sexiest, curviest laptop around. But it was the iMac that grabbed all the headlines, and the poor Powerbook found itself mentioned only at the ends of the articles, in sentences like "Apple also unveiled a new Powerbook that is neither blue nor translucent and doesn't have the phrase 'Hello (Again)' on its screen."
And then at last Tuesday's "event," poor Mac OS 9 pretty much found itself in the same second-string situation; the new iMac was the toast of the media, and Apple's new operating system version got lost in the buzz. But that's why we're happy that Mac OS 9 is finally getting a bit more screen time now that the iMac frenzy is dying down a bit. For instance, Apple just announced rebates and special deals on Mac OS 9 for select customers-- and there was much rejoicing.
First of all, the rebate: if you're using Mac OS 8.5 or higher, you qualify for a $20 rebate after purchasing Mac OS 9, which costs $99. Granted, rebates are kind of lame, but just think how happy you'll be to get that $20 check you'd forgotten all about, when it finally shows up in 2006. Every little bit helps, right? And then there's the newly-reinstated Mac OS Up-To-Date program, for which MacInTouch has the details; anyone who buys a new Mac between October 5th and the 23rd can get Mac OS 9 for $19.95, shipping and handling included. And if you've got a Power Mac G4 or an iBook, you can get the $19.95 upgrade price regardless of when you bought the computer. Spiffy! Of course, it's not news that'll let Mac OS 9 unseat the iMac as Reigning Media Darling, but at least it's something.
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SceneLink (1830)
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And Now For A Word From Our Sponsors |
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 | | The above scene was taken from the 10/7/99 episode: October 7, 1999: Sure, the iMac's still generating all the buzz, but Mac OS 9 attracts a little attention with news of rebates and special deals for recent Mac buyers. Meanwhile, our local Sears proves that nothing good lasts forever, and Larry Ellison displays a surprising reluctance to describe Apple's new handheld in detail, complete with blueprints and white papers...
Other scenes from that episode: 1831: Suckier Side of Sears (10/7/99) So I just happen to be at the local mall to pick up a tux for a friend's wedding, and I figure, "Hey, let's wander up to the Sears computer department and check out the iGoods." Way back when Sears jumped into the whole iMac game, I recall finding a lovely blue iMac prominently displayed on a shelf at the end of the aisle, clearly visible and drawing the attention of anyone shopping for home stereo equipment, TVs, refrigerators, or washer/dryers... 1832: Larry Clams Up A Bit (10/7/99) Ah, good old Larry Ellison. What's not to like about this fine fellow? He's a member of the Apple board of directors. He's Steve Jobs' best friend. He's a vocal anti-Microsoft crusader. And in some photographs, he looks like he should play a diabolical villain named "Zodiac" in an upcoming James Bond movie...
Or view the entire episode as originally broadcast... | |  |
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