Tag: 1992

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NeXT MegaPixel Display (1992)

Shortly after Steve Jobs was ousted from Apple in 1985, he founded the company NExT, Inc. With headquarters in Redwood City, California, NeXT created computer workstations and software that was originally intended for education markets. Notably, a NeXT computer was used by Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau at CERN to develop the world’s first web server and web browser on the then-new World Wide Web. When NeXT was purchased by Apple in 1996 its core technologies were later used in future Apple products, including as a foundation for Mac OS X.

During its 11-years, NExT only developed a few hardware products, including the NExT Computer (later renamed the NExTcube), the Next Workstation, and several peripheral devices including the following:

  • NeXT Color Printer
  • NeXT External CD-ROM Drive
  • NeXT Keyboard
  • NeXT Laser Printer
  • NeXT MegaPixel Display
  • NeXT MegaPixel Color Display
  • NeXT Mouse
  • NeXTdimension color board

Sources report that NeXT only sold a total of 50,000 units among all its products combined. Thus, working NeXT computers are considered somewhat rare.

The story of the distinctive NeXT logo is intriguing. Steve Jobs asked well known designer Paul Rand to create options for him. Rand reportedly told Jobs “no,” and said “I will solve your problem for you and you will pay me.” Rand presented Jobs with a 20-page book that detailed the logo (tilted at 28º), branding, and the new stylized spelling, “NeXT.”

This NeXT MegaPixel Display 17-inch monitor shipped with a NeXTstation. It has built-in speakers to power the built-in audio support that was designed for the computer and NeXTSTEP operating system. Its industrial design includes an innovative metal tilting base and two rubber-coated rollers that allow it to easily move back and forth on a desktop or on the NeXTstation, despite the monitor’s 50-pound weight.

This display gets its signal from the NeXTstation’s 256 KB VRAM and can display 4 colors—black, white, and two shades of gray. It is 16 inches wide, by 17.3 inches tall, by 14 inches deep.

The NeXT MegaPixel Display 17-inch monitor has multiple ports. Inputs include a keyboard jack; 8-bit, 8012.8 Hz analog-to-digital (via mono microphone miniphone jack; and 16-bit, 44.1 kHz stereo digital-to-analog converter. Outputs include a stereo headphone miniphone jack; gold-plated stereo RCA line-out jacks, and an integrated mono speaker.

Wikipedia reports:

“A severe problem with this setup was that the monitor could not be switched off completely while the computer was powered on. The screen could be switched black but the cathode heater always remained on. This led to extreme screen dimming after some years of use, especially when the computer was not turned off overnight as in a server setup or in a busy software lab.”

This monitor, in fact, suffers from the dimming problem described above. Although it is still functional, the monitor needs to be repaired for the CRT to work properly again.

Sources: Wikipedia (NeXTstation, company, monitor); Internet Archive (Rand)

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NeXT Keyboard (1992)

Shortly after Steve Jobs was ousted from Apple in 1985, he founded the company NExT, Inc. With headquarters in Redwood City, California, NeXT created computer workstations and software that was originally intended for education markets. Notably, a NeXT computer was used by Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau at CERN to develop the world’s first web server and web browser on the then-new World Wide Web. When NeXT was purchased by Apple in 1996 its core technologies were later used in future Apple products, including as a foundation for Mac OS X.

During its 11-years, NExT only developed a few hardware products, including the NExT Computer (later renamed the NExTcube), the Next Workstation, and several peripheral devices including the following:

  • NeXT Color Printer
  • NeXT External CD-ROM Drive
  • NeXT Keyboard
  • NeXT Laser Printer
  • NeXT MegaPixel Display
  • NeXT MegaPixel Color Display
  • NeXT Mouse
  • NeXTdimension color board

Sources report that NeXT only sold a total of 50,000 units among all its products combined. Thus, working NeXT computers are considered somewhat rare.

This NeXTstation keyboard matches the color of the computer and has 85 full-stroke mechanical keys.

Sources: Wikipedia (NeXTstation, company); Internet Archive (Rand); Fandom (products)

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NeXT Mouse (1992)

Shortly after Steve Jobs was ousted from Apple in 1985, he founded the company NExT, Inc. With headquarters in Redwood City, California, NeXT created computer workstations and software that was originally intended for education markets. Notably, a NeXT computer was used by Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau at CERN to develop the world’s first web server and web browser on the then-new World Wide Web. When NeXT was purchased by Apple in 1996 its core technologies were later used in future Apple products, including as a foundation for Mac OS X.

During its 11-years, NExT only developed a few hardware products, including the NExT Computer (later renamed the NExTcube), the Next Workstation, and several peripheral devices including the following:

  • NeXT Color Printer
  • NeXT External CD-ROM Drive
  • NeXT Keyboard
  • NeXT Laser Printer
  • NeXT MegaPixel Display
  • NeXT MegaPixel Color Display
  • NeXT Mouse
  • NeXTdimension color board

Sources report that NeXT only sold a total of 50,000 units among all its products combined. Thus, working NeXT computers are considered somewhat rare.

This NeXTstation mouse matches the color of the computer, has 2 buttons, and uses opto-mechanical tracking. NeXT had at least two mouse designs, this rectangular version and a circular design.

Sources: Wikipedia (NeXTstation, company); Internet Archive (Rand); Fandom (products)

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Picasso book covers (1992)

This set of two book covers were presumably created for the education market for students to use to cover their textbooks (of the heavy, printed variety).

The book covers measure 10.75 x 26.25 inches and feature the original Macintosh “Picasso” logo on the front side, and the 6-color Apple logo on the back with the tagline “The power to be your best.”

The center of these book covers that would fall along the spine of the textbook have an Apple logo printed sideways and labels for “Name” and “Class” (with lines on which to write). All text is printed in the Apple Garamond font, Apple’s corporate font used between 1984 and 1993.

Both book covers are folded.

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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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Macintosh Resource Guide, Vocational Education (1992)

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.

Source: Apple, United States Department of Labor

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Macintosh Resource Guide, K–12 Business Education booklet (1992)

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.

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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Apple Education Review periodical (1992)

The Apple Education Review was an 8-page periodical aimed at the education market. This is Issue 2 from the 1992–1993 school year.

This issue contained five feature articles:

  • Multimedia Turns Five: What’s going on today? (celebrating HyperCard’s fifth “birthday”)
  • Education/Business Partnership
  • Research Review: Computers and Colleagues
  • News and Events
  • Spotlight on Innovation: Good-bye to Hide-and-Seek with Policies and Laws

The publication was printed on heavy white paper in two colors (black and gold) and the pages measured 8.5 x 11 inches.

Source: Apple

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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)