Black Apple (Was: 16kb variant of the IBM 5150

Apple and Bell & Howell Enter Education Market InfoWorld July 18, 1979 page 1 http://books.google.com/books?id=FT4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA1 Apple Computer Company, Inc. , has announced an agreement with Bell & Howell Company in which Bell & Howell will market a specially designed Apple II personal computer system. Bell & Howell's initial efforts will be in the field of education, in which the use of personal computers for instruction is growing rapidly. Industry sources project that annual sales to the education market will reach in excess of $400 million for personal computer hardware, and another $2 billion by 1982. The modified Apple will be a sturdier version with added security elements, such as a tamper-proof cover and theft protection features. The changes will be cosmetic; inside, it will be a standard Apple II, a spokesman said. Apple's Mike Markkula commented that Bell cl Howell's distribution network and leadership role in marketing to educators offers Apple Computer substantial access to markets difficult for retail-oriented companies to penetrate. "These strengths, combined with what we've learned about the needs of the educator, will give Apple and Bell & Howell a strong edge in a vital market," he said. Note: InfoWorld was called Intelligent Machines Journal then and the publisher was Jim Warren. He started this newspaper to publicize his Computers Fairs. Michael Holley -----Original Message----- From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Fred Cisin Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 10:08 PM To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts Subject: Black Apple (Was: 16kb variant of the IBM 5150 It never occured to me that any of the changes could have been "safety" related. I just assumed that they were an over-reaction to potential pilferage, and an automatic knee-jerk reaction of "you CAN'T let students into them!" There doesn't seem to be any argument that the affiliation with Hell and Bowel opened a LOT of doors, provided credibility, and bypassed a lot of skepticism and "policies" about a non-traditional computer. "any objections to the Math department's request for another $5,000 of AV equipment?" WITHOUT the B&H joint venture, would Apple have been able to really get into the educational market? NOTE: school administrative decisions are NOT based on technical merits.