New iMacs from Apple in three weeks? (plus 1997 Apple-Microsoft deal explained)

“The latest word is that the brand new iMac will make its debut on Tuesday, August 7, just in time for production to ramp up to meet back-to-school needs, ” ThinkSecret reports via PC Magazine.

“Published reports indicate Apple will include a new keyboard with the iMac, a sensible decision given the iMac’s fresh aluminum enclosure,” ThinkSecret reports.

“Think Secret sources have also cautiously suggested that Apple’s next iLife suite may find its way onto the new iMacs, as well… Surely more by coincidence than anything else, August 7 will also mark one decade since Bill Gates, then Microsoft’s CEO, took the stage at Macworld Expo Boston to announce Microsoft’s renewed commitment to the Mac. That event, which many Apple watchers likened to a scene out of 1984 with the giant projection of Bill Gates appearing behind Apple CEO Steve Jobs onstage, had been attributed to reviving confidence in Apple at the time, which many had left for dead following several consecutive struggling quarters. Gates at the time also announced a $500 million investment in Apple; the stock has since appreciated roughly 20-fold,” ThinkSecret reports.

Full article here.

MacDailyNews Note: Microsoft invested $150 million in Apple, not $500 million. At the time, Apple had $1.2 billion in cash on hand and a stock market value of about $3.3 billion (Apple’s market value today is $121.4 billion); the investment amounted to about 4.5 percent of Apple and was largely symbolic. The $150 million was in non-voting shares and was reportedly divested by Microsoft in 2000-2001 (bad investment move to sell, MS). More importantly, Apple and Microsoft entered into cross-licensing agreements for patents (not for technology), Microsoft committed to Office for Mac for a period of five years (ended 2002, Office for Mac continues to be developed), Apple agreed to inflict Internet Explorer as the default Mac browser (long since expired, thankfully), and Microsoft paid an undisclosed amount to Apple to settle ongoing lawsuits. Because the stock did not confer voting rights, Apple maintained complete independence from Microsoft.

Macworld Expo Boston 1997 – Steve Jobs revs up the RDF and grins and bears it while explaining the Microsoft deal:

47 Comments

  1. That’s a nice rendering. I remember Apple followed the design cues of the iPod to create the current look of the iMac. I can assume they would do the same with the new iMac and the iPhone. Although Multi-touch will not be coming to the new iMac.

  2. I’ve had people argue with me breathlessly that Bill Gates owns Apple because of this event. Amazing how the uninformed can miss out on details and stories like this can become ingrained in people minds even 10 years later.

  3. ARGHH, iMacs are for old ladies. In fact it’s become obvious to me ove r the past months that Apple’s entire product line is gay except the MacPro.

    If you are as upset as I at the fact that the switch to Intel has not yielded a more affordable Core2Duo headless/desktop/tower then please go here and voice your opinion in a polite way.

    http://www.apple.com/feedback/macpro.html

    Even if you’re not frustrated personally, I’m sure you know someone who would buy a Mac if only there was an affordable headless option. They would love to us OSX but need Windows and they wouldn’t buy a computer with a built-in display and integrated video.

    As a long time user and stock-holder I am in the unfortunate position of potentially having to switch to XP due to Apple’s/Jobs’s stubborn unwillingness to fill out their product line with a reasonably priced tower. Screw iMacs and iPhones and all this iCrap. Jobs is milking this iGarbage for all it’s worth.

  4. Sorry, don’t see Apple releasing any new models until Leopard comes out. Once Leopard is released, you’ll likely then see a new Mac product shipping with it installed. Doesn’t make sense to sell a product that would need an upgrade in 3 months…

  5. Argh. The black plastic part on the back of the iPhone is a compromise so that the antenna would work, not part of the designer’s vision. Ive did a great job at making it look natural but it’s still a wart in the design. You’re not going to see it on an iMac where it’s completely unnecessary.

  6. I really don’t like the look of aluminum. I really hope there will be some shine white or black plastic on it. The cinema displays even have white accent; I would have to think the new iMacs would too.

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