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Anything Seem Familiar? (7/30/98)
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We're pretty sure there isn't a single soul tuning in to watch this show who isn't aware at how the rest of the PC industry tends to treat Apple as a free source of excellent research and development. It's no big secret that often when Apple starts using something cool, that feature starts showing up several months later in computers from manufacturers all over the world. Think mouse, GUI, laptop trackpad, etc.
However, this is the first time we recall hearing about a company copying an Apple marketing move. (Heck, until very recently, who on earth would want to?) According to a ZDNet article, however, troubled mega-giant Compaq is planning to set up a store-within-a-store program at Radio Shacks around the country. The Compaq "Learning Centers" will feature that company's low-cost Presario systems, to be demonstrated by specially-trained salesfolk. Any of this ringing any bells?
What would really shake things up is if mega-successful Wintel manufacturers like Compaq and Dell start copying some of Apple's classic stupid business moves. Get enough of those going and the playing field will never be the same again. ;-) In the meantime, if anyone sees a great big stocking ladder blocking access to the Presarios in their local Radio Shack, drop up a line; that would be just too funny a correlation to ignore...
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SceneLink (899)
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And Now For A Word From Our Sponsors |
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 | | The above scene was taken from the 7/30/98 episode: July 30, 1998: What's this? Apple has reportedly stopped production of its entire product line in order to devote all its resources to crank out iMac after iMac. Meanwhile, Compaq and Radio Shack win the first annual "CompUSA and Apple Retail Lookalike Contest," while CompUSA prepares iMac ad campaigns a little less dorky than that inexplicable coupon book...
Other scenes from that episode: 898: Cramming for Finals (7/30/98) While reminiscing about the heady days of college, your AtAT staff members recall the adrenaline-and-caffeine-drenched thrill of skipping class all semester long, only to spend the last nine days before the final permanently camped out in the 24-hour coffee house, desperately trying to cram three or four months' worth of learning into a week and a half before exam time... 900: Buying a Clue (7/30/98) Okay, so the coupon book was undeniably lame. CompUSA offering iMac buyers a $5 discount on a 50-pack of floppy disks probably ranks as one of the most atrocious marketing gaffes in the history of the computer industry...
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