Category: Information

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Making Connections: Learning, Language, and Technology VHS tape (1993)

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.”

Source: Apple

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Macintosh solutions for math and science, Apple TV Broadcast Number 57, VHS tape (March 19, 1992)

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
  • Segment 9: Question and answer

This video tape is in a plastic VHS case.

Source: Stanford University

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Why Macintosh? complete box set (1997)

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.

Source: Apple

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Apple User Group Connection items (1992-1993)

These two folders are printed with a logotype for the Apple User Group Connection program. Both include stickers that indicate they are for the Community/Education Edition of the program.

The folders are made of heavy white card stock with a matte finish, measure 9 x 12 inches, and the unique design of the inside back pocket allowed the pocket to expand to about 3/8 inch.

The interior of the folders are filled with 8.5 x 11-inch printed materials, brochures, and a book. Both folders included letters from the Apple User Group Connection instructing groups leaders to participate in some aspect of the program.

The included paperback book is titled Just Add Water: Community/Education Edition. The book describes itself on the cover as “A guide for starting, sustaining, and enjoying an Apple User Group in your community, university, or K-12 school district.” The back cover includes, “Inside you will find insights and proven tips on developing and maintaining programs that successfully serve members’ needs. Just Add Water, Community/Education Edition draws on the experiences of many successful User Groups.”

The folders also include three different issues of Quick Connect: The Apple Newsletter for Apple User Groups. The issues contain articles on Apple products, Apple leadership, education, and enterprise. The three issues in this collection are from May/June 1993, January/February 1993, and March/April 1993.

In addition to the folders and their contents, this User Group Connection collection also includes nine letters addressed to user group leaders using various salutations (e.g., Dear Apple User Group Ambassador, Dear K–12 Apple User Group Ambassador, Dear Education SIG Leader, etc.) [SIG = Special Interest Group]. The letters describe new programs, features, products, and other information pertaining to the User Groups. This collection is dated between 1992–1993.

Source: Apple

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APDA Tools for Developers magazine (February 1993)

Before Apple’s software developer program was referred to as “Apple Developer Program” (sometimes stylized as  Developer), the original developer program was started in 1980 by user group in the Pacific Northwest of the United States—the Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) User Group. The user group still exists as of 2023 and its website indicates:

“The Apple Programmers and Developers Association, or APDA, was started in 1980 by Don Williams in coordination with Apple, Inc. and A.P.P.L.E. The resulting tools produced by APDA were the tools with which all Apple programs have come to be and the resulting magazine which was produced quarterly was aptly named the APDAlog.”

Nearly a decade later, Apple reportedly purchased APDA. According to A.P.P.L.E.:

“In 1989, Apple Computer, Inc. bought APDA from A.P.P.L.E. for $3 Million and Apple began producing the APDA Log. The issues shown in this section are the ones produced by A.P.P.L.E. prior to Apple’s take over of the APDA.”

This magazine’s title is APDA Tools for Developers and was published by Apple in February 1993 as a successor to the APDA Log. This issue contains the following sections and articles:

  • What’s New: New and updated products
  • Getting Started in Macintosh Programming: Your first steps begin here
  • Essentials: Self-paced training courses, Technical Notes, Getting Started bundles, and more.
  • E.T.O.: Essentials, Tools, Objects: A subscription-based collection of powerful Apple development tools
  • Macintosh Programmer’s Workshop: This powerful development platform offers the flexibility you need
  • Object-Oriented Programming: MacApp, Macintosh Common Lisp, and other OOP tools and environments
  • Media Integration: QuickTime and other multimedia software development products
  • Apple UNIX Tools: A/UX development tools
  • Programming Languages & Libraries: Develop applications for the Macintosh with C, Pascal, and more
  • Debuggers & Supplemental Tools: MacsBug, Virtual User, ResEdit, and other programming tools
  • Networking & Communications: Extend your reach with DAL, MacTCP, MacX25, MacX.400, and SNA•ps
  • Hardware
  • Books & References

The magazine measures 8.5 x 10.75 inches.

Source: A.P.P.L.E.

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Macintosh Disability Resources letter, packet, and disk (1992)

As a company, Apple has historically focused upon making hardware and software that is accessible to all people. As of this writing in January 2023, Apple’s Accessibility features are available in categories of Vision, Hearing, Mobility, and Cognitive.

Apple’s Developer site provides a comprehensive set of tools for developers to use their Accessibility guidelines to create software, stating, “Apple operating systems provide extraordinary opportunities to deliver high-quality experiences to everyone, including people with disabilities.”

This letter, packet, and disk—now over 30 years old—attests to Apple’s long-time commitment to accessibility. Back in 1992, Apple called this division “Worldwide Disability Solutions.” This mailing was sent to education customers with a welcome letter, an information packet, and a 3.5-inch disk with a database of “Macintosh Disability Resources.” The disk contains “up-to-date information on the entire range of assistive hardware products for Macintosh computers.”

The aspirational welcome letter reads:

At Apple Computer, we have always believed that with a good idea and a lot of determination, anyone can do just about anything.
That’s the inspiration behind our company.
It’s the inspiration behind the computers we make.
And it’s the inspiration behind the people at Apple who are working to change the way the world understands disability. And what it means to be disabled.
Apple’s Worldwide Disability Solutions Group was formed in 1985. Our principal focus then, as now, was the individual. Young and old. His needs. Her wants. His dreams. Her imagination.
Technology, of course, was important to us, too. But our computers have always been secondary. People have always mattered most. Especially people who live with a label.
These are the people who, every day, tell us how Macintosh computers are helping them to express themselves. In words. In letters. In music. In pictures. In numbers. In whatever ways that matter to them.
These are the people who are now living their lives out loud. Or quietly. It’s their choice.
And that, in the end, is the point. Our technology. Their choices. Just as it should be.

Sources: Apple (Accessibility, Developer)

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Getting Started With the Apple Web Page Construction Kit booklet and CD-ROM set (1997)

This booklet and set of CD-ROMs included software and how-to guides to teach a user to create the elements of a web page at a time when the Internet was still considered new and unknown by many. In true Apple style, the set provided easy-to-use tools and directions “that can help you build creative and engaging Web pages of your own—without any complicated programming.”

In 1997 the “World Wide Web” was defined as “the fastest growing part of the Internet.” The guide provided a handy definition of a Web page:

“Using Web browser software, you can view color images, animation, and video, and even hear sound on the Web. The documents that you view on the Web are known as Web pages, and can contain links to other pages so that when you click a word or image that has been designated as a link, your browser will automatically display the contents of the linked page.”

The three CD-ROMs included in the kit were an Apple Web Page Construction Kit CD (containing Kaboom! Special Edition and Web Explosion Special Edition from Nova Development Corporation and WwwART from Microfrontier. Inc.), Claris Home Page 2.0, and WebPainter.

The kit was comprised of a 7.5 x 9.25-inch booklet and a single frosted vinyl CD packet containing 3 CDs. This kit was shipped in a cardboard box that I do not have in my collection.

Source: Apple

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Apple product poster (July 1993)

This fold-out poster is from July 1993 and lists product names and feature grids of every Apple product available at the time. Its headline reads “Everything you need to know about Apple products” in Apple Garamond, Apple’s corporate font used between 1984 and 2003. Folded, the poster measures 8.5 x 11 inches—but it unfolds into 16 panels to reveal a 34-inch wide x 44-inch long poster (nearly 3 x 4 feet).

The poster is printed on one side and includes the following product categories:

  • Macintosh Computers (25 options)
  • PowerBook Computers (11 options)
  • Displays (9 options)
  • Printers (12 options)
  • Networking
  • Peripherals

The list of devices offered included separate devices with different names and configurations—creating a dizzying array of options for consumers.

I was able to unfold this poster, perhaps for the first time, carefully enough to provide a photo from above that offers high enough resolution to read most of the grids.

The poster is printed on heavy white paper (yellowing slightly with age), primarily with black ink and dark green accents.

Source: Apple

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StartingLine: Apple Marketing Communications Catalog (Spring 1993)

This catalog is titled StartingLine: Apple Marketing Communications Catalog and was released in Spring 1993. It measures 8.5 x 11 inches and is spiral-bound with white plastic. The front and back covers feature colorful, brush-stroke stylized graphics of the types of products featured in the catalog. The cover describes the contents of the catalog as containing:

Ad Slicks
Literature
Product Art
Merchandise
Photography
Videos
Data Sheets
Over 150 new items to choose from

The Table of Contents reveals four major sections: Product Materials, Merchandising, Markets and Solutions, and Additional Information. The catalog provides a welcome message:

“Welcome to the Spring 1993 edition of StartingLine, Apple’s marketing communications catalog. As you can see, there have been some exciting changes. We’ve combined the Print, Revue, Merch, and Video catalogs into a single volume with hundreds of new items to line up to all your marketing and sales support programs. Plus, as always, we’ve included a completely updated Apple Media ToolKit CD-ROM, Apple’s electronic source for customizable marketing communications materials.”

For a collector, the Merchandising section of this catalog is a treasure trove of Apple-logo item information from the time. Included below are photos of the entire Merchandising section that provide product shots and descriptions. This source has allowed me to confirm provenance, date, and an “official” description for several items in my collection.

Source: Apple

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Apple Education Event Materials Folder, “Managing Technology in the 90’s” (1995)

If you are an educational leader who wants to learn about managing technology—in 1995—this historic snapshot is for you!

This glossy white folder (measuring 9.25 x 11.75 inches) has a metallic red Apple logo in the lower-right corner and contains everything that was used in an Apple Education event on August 3, 1995, titled “Managing Technology in the 90’s.” This was one of three events held in Illinois (Drury Lane Theatre, Oak Brook Terrace) during August 1995.

The folder contains the following items:

  • Embossed invitation to the event
  • Agenda
  • 2 brochures: Recommended Products At a Glance, Apple Education Series At a Glance
  • 3 handouts: Finding the Promise of Educational Technology (David Dwyer, 1993); Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow Research: Teacher Beliefs and Practices; and a Bibliography of Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow sources
  • Packet of detailed information about Apple devices available at the time
  • Apple Facts (product booklet, April 1995)
  • Pad of paper for note taking

Apple Education’s aims at the time—ideas that are still viable today—were discussed in one of the brochures:

“Welcome to the Apple Education Series. We know that educators today are eager to integrate technology into the classroom. But that need requires more than just a computer—you need well-thought-out, education-specific products and programs that include hardware, software, technical support, and curriculum tools flexible enough to accommodate different teaching styles and individual student needs.”

Source: Apple