Choice: Whodathunkit? (10/20/00)
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Heads up-- Apple's sales are in a slump, so the company's enacting a few measures to try to move a little more product. Among those changes, according to MacWEEK, is the apparent elimination of the "Apple Store Exclusive." You know what we mean, right? Right now you can't waltz into your local Apple dealer (heck, you probably shouldn't be waltzing anywhere without a dance floor, but that's a whole 'nother story), plunk down a couple grand, and stroll out with a 500 MHz Cube. Sure, you can probably pick up a 450 MHz model or two-- with the slow sales, we doubt you'll have much trouble finding them-- but the 500 MHz version is only available from the Apple Store. So far.

But it seems that's all about to change. For instance, ClubMac is already advertising the Key Lime iBook Special Edition on its site-- formerly an Apple Store Exclusive. And soon other products will follow suit, which means that not long from now you'll be able to pick up the much-beloved Pro Mouse and the not-quite-as-beloved Pro Keyboard at your local CompUSA, if you're so inclined. Yes, folks, it's a startling move, to be sure, but in a drastic departure from long-standing tradition, Apple is actually making it easier for us to buy its products. (Don't panic.)

Now, we doubt that every online exclusive will by winging its way to retail; in particular, we just can't see the Mac OS X public beta appearing on the shelves at our local Micro Center. Moreover, we imagine that certain build-to-order options (such as the Radeon upgrade to the Cube) will keep traffic at the Apple Store chugging along nicely. Our only real concern with this whole scheme is a public health issue. We imagine that, soon, Key Lime iBooks will appear as demo models at retail outlets, thus allowing for the possible accidental exposure of the color to people whose hearts or retinas can't take it.

Then again, our understanding is that the real Key Lime iBooks aren't nearly as painful as the photos on Apple's web site make it appear-- and reports of Key Lime casualties at the Apple Expo in Paris where it was first unveiled were few and far between. In fact, we're rather excited at the prospect of finally being able to see Apple's most controversial color in person without actually having to slap another $1799 on the ol' credit card. Don't worry; we'll bring a welder's mask just in case.


 
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And Now For A Word From Our Sponsors
 

From the writer/creator of AtAT, a Pandemic Dad Joke taken WAYYYYYY too far


 

The above scene was taken from the 10/20/00 episode:

October 20, 2000: The stock market is insane-- so AtAT now feels right at home. Meanwhile, Apple looks to boost sales by releasing "Apple Store Exclusives" into the retail channel, and speculation as to the portable equivalent of the Cube has people drooling already...

Other scenes from that episode:

  • 2625: We Have Met The Enemy... (10/20/00)   Everyone knows that Wall Street is a harsh mistress-- and with the recent surge in online trading (which opened up the world of trading stocks to anyone with an Internet connection, a few hundred bucks, and a functioning mouse hand) she's an ever-increasingly irrational mistress as well...

  • 2627: Hey, We Want One Already (10/20/00)   When Apple extended its four-cornered Grid O' Products to make room for the Cube, who knew the newcomer would wreak so much havoc? Suddenly the simplicity of Apple's product plan was broken; no longer could we choose a Mac based purely on two binary variables: form factor (desktop or portable) and demographic (consumer or professional)...

Or view the entire episode as originally broadcast...

Vote Early, Vote Often!
Why did you tune in to this '90s relic of a soap opera?
Nostalgia is the next best thing to feeling alive
My name is Rip Van Winkle and I just woke up; what did I miss?
I'm trying to pretend the last 20 years never happened
I mean, if it worked for Friends, why not?
I came here looking for a receptacle in which to place the cremated remains of my deceased Java applets (think about it)

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