As Macintosh approaches 25, The Register offers up an Apple Inc. report card
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - 04:39 PM EST "In two short months, Apple's Macintosh will turn 25 years old. My, how tempus doth fugit," Rik Myslewski writes for The Register."To mark the awesome inevitability of January 24, 2009 following January 24, 1984 after exactly one quarter-century, tech pundits will bloviate, Apple-bashers will execrate, and Jobsian fanboyz will venerate the munificence that flows unabated from The Great Steve. The din will be deafening," Myslewski writes. "To avoid the crowds, we at The Reg decided to go first."
"Follow along as we run the rule over Apple Inc. (née Apple Computer, Inc.). We'll examine how the company has transformed itself in recent years, how its products stack up against the rest, and what lurks beneath its outward display of iconic style, forward-looking rectitude, and edgy innovation," Myslewski writes.
"We'll also give Apple its report card, slicing and dicing the 25-five-year operation into bite-sized letter grades. Just so you can easily tell your friends. Our goal is a noble one: To arm you, dear reader, against the slings and arrows of outrageous commentary that will assault you from all corners come January," Myslewski writes. "Don't say we didn't warn you."
The Register covers:
• The Rise and Fall and Rise of Steve (Steve I Era: B+)
• The worst public presentation ever given by a sentient being... (No Steve Era: D-)
• The 'Very Painful and Expensive Mistake' (Jobsian Head Growth: A)
• The Apple Matterhorn (Jobsian Dough Growth: A-)
• The iPod Blankets Western World and Super Bowl (Walkman-Killer Growth: A)
• iTunes and the Halo Effect (Jobsian Other Growth: A-)
Myslewski offers a final thought, "Although the world economy is swiftly flushing itself down the crapper, Apple's impressive $25bn in cash reserves will help it weather the reduced consumer and business spending during the expanding fiscal hideousness. When the current economic tsunami finally recedes, Apple should be in a far better position than many of its washed-out-to-sea competitors, especially in the music-download and smartphone spheres."
Full article here.


Snappiness = A+