This Media Arts CD is presented as a digital magazine. The cardboard folder serves both as printed content overview and as packaging for the CD. The folder measures 5.5 x 7 inches and contains a CD-ROM. The interior and exterior of the folder and the CD use a matching design. The package is clearly branded using the Apple Garamond font and a translucent blue Apple logo.
The full title of the package is Apple Media Arts News for the Creative Community, and the interior text conveys:
“Apple Media Arts presents news for the creative community. Profiles of innovators, iconoclasts, and industry leaders. The latest developments in design, publishing, and digital video. Apple tools and technologies that help you create your best work. With this edition, Apple Media Arts moves to the World Wide Web. Our focus: digital video production.”
This Media Album is a white vinyl 2-ring binder that measures 135mm x 185mm x 40mm. It contains 7 plastic CD pages, CD-ROMs, and 2 card stock inserts (1 folds out into 3 panels).
The interior card stock page includes the welcome message:
“Check out all of the cost-saving, high-impact Apple marketing materials on your three new CDs-especially the new lifestyle images!”
Each of the plastic CD pages contains a CD-ROM on one side and a paper insert on the other side that describes the contents of the CD. CDs include a Marketing Toolkit for the Performa line of Macintosh computers, Product Photo Libraries, Media Toolkits, and 3 Media Image Discs. All CD-ROMs are from 1994 and 1995.
The CD-ROMs contain a variety of file formats and applications designed to run on Macintosh Systems of the time (many do not open or run on modern macOS computers). Several of the images are compressed with now-defunct file concatenation formats (e.g., Stuffit). Other images appear to be in a now-unreadable Kodak PhotoCD format. However, a few folders contain JPEG images that can be opened (in 2023)—after manually appending each file name with “.jpg” so it can be recognized.
This VHS tape is in a bright red cardboard case and is titled, Making Connections: Learning, Language, and Technology. The cover of the VHS tape indicates that:
“This video is cosponsored by Apple Computer, Inc., the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE), and Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).”
Three schools are featured in this video, Sneed Elementary (Alief, Texas); Marine Park Middle School (Brooklyn, New York), and Santa Fé Indian School (Santa Fé, New Mexico). The box provides a description of the program:
“Technology can be a powerful tool in helping students master their first or second language. This video demonstrates how multimedia technologies enhance the eurriculum in ESL (English as a Second language) and Bilingual classrooms around the United States. The schools featured effectively demonstrate how technology helps develop the literacy skills of students at different levels of language development.”
This 4-page brochure measures 5.5 x 6.5 inches and is printed on heavy, matte-finish paper. The brochure describes how to use iLife ’05 apps to “make your iLife projects bloom” and “Expand your creativity and share your photos, movies, and music with the world.”
The “grow” concept is presumably an extension of the artwork on the iLife ’05 packaging—a bright red flower blooming from a bright green root system of stylized graphics of music and video creation imagery.
The back of the brochure is an advertisement for iWork ’05. The brochure also includes a separate installation guide and a set of “Software Coupons” that served as Proof of Purchase for the iLife suite.
With many thanks to the online records of Stanford University’s Green Library, I was able to locate an excellent description of this VHS tape in my collection that is also in their “Guide to the Apple Computer, Inc. Records M1007” collection in the Department of Special Collections and University Archives.
Stanford describes the segments of this 60-minute video:
Segment 1: Introduction with Tricia Kellison and Jim Pyle
Segment 2: University of California at Berkeley – Human Powered Vehicle case study
Segment 3: Alabama School of Fine Arts/Math and Science Division
Segment 4: University of California at Berkeley – Physiology Lab
Segment 5: Boston Technical High School – Algebra/Advanced Math
Segment 6: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Engineering in the “real world”
Segment 7: Johns Hopkins University – Astrophysics
Segment 8: Math & Science Curriculum Integration demo / Michael Jay
One of my Apple collection entries includes a set of books I titled the “Macintosh Advantage Collection (1996)” that contains the following materials:
50 Macintosh Advantages book (1996)
Why do People Prefer Macintosh? brochure (1996)
Why Macintosh? brochure (1996)
I recently acquired a brown cardboard shipping box measuring 11.5 x 8.75 x 6.5 inches, complete with its original shipping label to its original recipient—a former Apple sales rep. Apparently, the three items I cataloged above are a part of a larger collection for potential Apple customers that was used in late 1990s.
The shipping label refers to this box as Apple part 52241, and based upon the part numbers that follow, this box contains all its original contents. I have listed the part numbers below and matched them to their items. At the end of each part number an asterisk is followed by a number, likely indicating the quantity of each item (all quantities are “1” in this box, except for the 5 Apple logo window clings).
Curiously, two of the VHS video tapes in the box include both the NTSC and PAL formats—an odd choice since, generally, only NTSC was used in the United States.
Part number list and box contents:
52241—Part number for entire box
L02206A—6-color Apple logo sticker set
L02270A—Apple’s Operating System Strategy, March 1997, VHS tape (NTSC format) L02270APAL—Apple’s Operating System Strategy, March 1997, VHS tape (PAL format)
L02222A—Apple and NeXT: Combining unparalleled ease of use with industrial-strength performance, Information About Apple’s OS Strategy, January 1997, 8.5 x 11-inch whitepaper, 4 pages
L02181A—Apple Technology Update—Mac OS 7.6, January 1997 VHS tape (NTSC format)
L02177A—The 1997 Apple MacAdvocate CD-ROM. (Spring 1997)
L01760A—Macintosh or Windows? Spring 1996 VHS tape (NTSC format)
L01760APAL—Macintosh or Windows? Spring 1996 VHS tape (PAL format)
L01856A—Personal Computer Satisfaction: An Independent Study of People Who use Both Macintosh and Windows 95 Computers (Evans Research Associates) (1996)
L01973B—Go figure: A Quick Look at Some Important Apple Facts, 1.97 10-panel, full-color brochure (1997)
L01970A—Apple logo window clings (quantity 5)
L01667A—Why Macintosh? booklet (1996)
L00440C—50 Macintosh Advantages, Why Macintosh computers are better than PCs running Windows 95. 1996, 8.5 x 11-inch booklet
L01749A—Why do People Prefer Macintosh? (Why people think Macintosh computers are better than PCs running Windows, in their own words.) April 1996, 8.5 x 11-inch booklet
Not listed on box, likely sent with Mac OS 7.6 VHS tape: L02182A—Mac OS 7.6 At a glance tri-fold brochure (2-color)
While the above books are detailed in my previous post, a fascinating new addition to my collection is the seemingly innocuous Apple and NeXT whitepaper. The 4-page document is the first printed source I have seen that describes Apple’s plan to proceed after their acquisition of NeXT. The whitepaper describes the “Rhapsody” project—the operating system that eventually becomes Mac OS X—the basis for the macOS we use today, over 25 years later. The whitepaper includes this description:
“Rhapsody is the code name of the first system software effort planned from the prospective union of Apple and NeXT. Its intent is to extend the existing strengths of both companies to provide a computing environment that is both stronger and more flexible—and, ultimately, better able to meet the needs of our customers.”
This Why Macintosh? complete box set is a fascinating glimpse into Apple’s pre-Internet communications plan with customers at a pivotal time in their history—just after Steve Jobs returned to the company.
This Apple Resource Guide booklet focused upon K–12 Vocational Education. The book opens with Apple’s case for using “Technology to Change Vocational Education:”
“As the SCANS Report notes, the personal computer ‘has reconfigured the world of work as has perhaps no other invention since electricity or the assembly line.’ The nature of work is changing as is the ‘foundation needed to find and hold a good job.’ Technology holds a promise, not only of new kinds of work, but also of the means of attaining the skills and capabilities that will permit our work force to accomplish those tasks.”
Released in 1991, “The Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) examined the demands of the workplace and whether young people were capable of meeting those demands. Specifically, SCANS determined the level of skills required to enter employment” (United States Department of Labor).
In the next section of Apple’s booklet, the section titled “Why use the Macintosh computer?” lays out a use case for Macintosh in Vocational Programs. Three reasons include: “The software is easy to learn,” “It’s idea for graphics,” and “It helps build the foundations—and more.”
The book is primarily comprised of six case studies about vocational education programs across the United States that use Macintosh. Schools that are profiled include:
Delta County School District—District Planning Provides Computers and Opportunitites at All Schools
Auburn High School—Industrial Technology Benefits from Computer Technology
Butler Middle School—Learning the Engineering Behind the Magic of Technology
Walter Biddle Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences—Computer Links Agriculture and Business in Philadelphia School
Tulsa County Area Vocational-Technical School District #18—Educational Enhancement Center Serves All Students with Technology
Burkburnett High School—Business Class Keeps Curriculum and Technology Current
The booklet concludes with a series of Resources for Using Technology in Vocational Education.
The booklet measures 8.5 x 11 inches and is printed in black.
This Apple Resource Guide booklet focused upon K–12 Business Education. The book opens with Apple’s case for using Macintosh in Business Education programs for “Meeting the Challenges with Technology.” It reads:
“In today’s competitive global economy, business education is more important than ever before. The need for trained, skilled workers is growing rapidly, but nearly half of all students who complete high school still do not continue on with their education. These students need—and want—preparation in the skills that will enable them to earn a living right out of high school.”
The next section, Why use the Macintosh computer?, lays out a use case for Macintosh in business education.
“A growing number of business education teachers have selected the Apple Macintosh as the standard microcomputer for their classrooms. For them, the choice was clear… The software is easy to learn… It’s powerful and easy to use.”
The book is primarily comprised of six case studies about business education programs across the United States that use Macintosh. Schools that are profiled include:
Abilene High School—New Technology Tools Transform a Business Department
Enterprise Village—The Enterprise Village Experience
Marcos De Niza High School—Student Entrepreneurs Develop Business Plans
Steel Valley Senior High School—Macintosh Moves Steel Valley High Into Office of the Future
Trinity High School—Making Connections in Business Law
Yarmouth High School—A Small Department Manages Big Innovations
The booklet concludes with a series of Resources for Using Technology in Business Education.
The booklet measures 8.5 x 11 inches and is printed in black.
On September 13, 2000, Steve Jobs released the Mac OS X Public Beta at Apple Expo in Paris. During the unveiling, Jobs said:
“Mac OS X is the future of the Macintosh, and the most technically advanced personal computer operating system ever. We’re excited to have our users test drive this public beta version and provide us with their valuable feedback.”
Somewhat controversially, Apple charged $29.95 for the software—a Beta version that was known to be buggy and not quite finished. The issue was not that the operating system was buggy and unfinished—that is the definition of a software “Beta”—but that Apple was charging faithful users to get an early look at the future of their products while testing it for the purpose of improving the final release. In an article at the time, a writer at Ars Technica provided a balanced opinion:
“Taken all together, ‘Mac OS X Public Beta’…means that for $29.95 you get an unfinished, buggy version of Apple’s next generation operating system. Charging for public beta software is increasingly common among the big software companies… If you don’t want to pay for buggy software, don’t buy the beta.”
The Mac OS X public beta was a completely new operating system for the Mac and provided the foundation of the macOS we still use today—over 20 years later. Apple’s press release described some highlights of Mac OS X:
“Mac OS X features true memory protection, pre-emptive multi-tasking, and symmetric multiprocessing when running on the new dual-processor Power Mac G4 line. Mac OS X includes Apple’s new Quartz 2D graphics engine (based on the Internet-standard Portable Document Format) for stunning graphics and broad font support; OpenGL for spectacular 3D graphics and gaming, and QuickTime for streaming audio and video. In addition, Mac OS X features Apple’s new user interface named ‘Aqua,’ which combines superior ease-of-use with amazing new functionality such as the ‘Dock,’ a breakthrough for organizing applications, documents and miniaturized windows.”
This white cardboard folder measures 8 x 9.5 x 0.25 inches and opens to reveal a compartment for a single CD. Unfortunately, the original installer CD is not included in this folder. The welcome message in the folder reads:
“Dear Mac OS X Beta Tester,
You are holding the future of the Macintosh in your hands.
Mac OS X is a new, super-modern operating system that will usher in a new era for the Macintosh. New from the ground up, Mac OS X is specifically designed for the Internet and includes advanced technologies for incredible improvements in stability and performance. It also features a stunning new interface called Aqua.
This Public Beta will give you a chance to start using Mac OS X and give us a chance to hear what you think. Let us know by visiting our website at www.apple.com/macosx.
Thanks for your help and for being a part of Apple history. We couldn’t do it without you.”
Mac OS X Panther, Version 10.3, was the fourth major release of the Mac OS X [ten] operating system, and the second to be referred to by its codename, “Panther,” in its product marketing. Previous versions were codenamed “Cheetah” (Version 10.0) and “Puma” (Version 10.1), but they were referred to only by their version numbers. Version 10.2 was publicly announced as “Jaguar,” and this version, 10.3, continued the “big cat” codenames with “Panther.”
According to Apple, “Panther delivers more than 150 breakthrough new features including a completely new Finder that provides one-click access to a user’s favorite files and folders; Exposé, a revolutionary new way to instantly see all open windows at once; and iChat AV, a complete desktop video conferencing solution for business, education and consumers.”
This set includes all installer CDs and a set of three 7.5 x 9-inch booklets, including installation directions, the software license, and a “Welcome to Panther” booklet describing the operating system’s main features. The set is packaged in a 8.25 x 9.25-inch clear plastic envelope.
When it was released on October 24, 2003, this Mac OS X upgrade cost US$129.
