TechStuff TechStuff Classic: The Macintosh Story Part 3
Dec 29, 2023
From Steve Jobs' return to supply chain issues, the podcast explores the changes in Apple and the Macintosh story. Topics include the acquisition of Next, the launch of the iMac project, the introduction of Firewire, supply chain problems, and Apple's innovations in the early 2000s. It also discusses the redesign of the INAC computer, the introduction of the Mac Mini, and the impact of Steve Jobs' death on Apple and the Mac.
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Renaming System Killed The Mac Clone Market
- Jobs ended Apple's Mac cloning program by renaming System to Mac OS and renegotiating licenses to block clones from running the newest OS.
- This move eliminated cheaper licensed Mac clones within about a year and protected Apple's hardware sales.
Ship A Clear, Upgradable Consumer Package
- Design products that target a clear market and offer tangible specs that customers can upgrade, like the 1998 iMac's upgradable RAM and integrated display.
- The iMac paired a 233 MHz G3, 32 MB RAM, 4 GB HDD and a CRT display, and users could increase RAM beyond advertised limits.
FireWire Boosted Mac Media Workflows
- FireWire became a standard Mac port to move large audio/video files faster than SCSI, initially at 400 megabits/sec (~50 MB/s).
- Apple adopted FireWire widely from ~2001–2008 to serve creative professionals moving big media files.