WiredPen

Introduced to the world during SuperBowl ads, the Macintosh debuted in 1984 with an 8 MHz 68000 processor, 128 KB RAM, 64 KB ROM, a 3.5″ 400 KB floppy drive, a 1-bit 512×342 pixel b&w monitor, a keyboard and mouse, DB-9 modem and printer ports, and a couple of applications (MacWrite, MacPaint).

And it would have set you back $2500.

The 50th anniversary issue of Playboy (January 2004) ranked it number one among the 50 products that have most “changed the world.” They also ranked the iPod number 12.
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The European Commission (EC) revealed Tuesday that it has reached a provisional decision in its investigation of Microsoft’s alleged anti-competitive practices. The EC has been investigating the server market as well as the market for media players.

Documents leaked to various European media suggest that the EC may request changes in the Windows operating system as well as impose fines. The Financial Times reported Sunday that the EC has set May 1 as a deadline for imposing penalties.

Links: The Guardian (28 Jan); BBC (27 Jan); Silicon.com (27 Jan); ArtsTechnica (27 Jan); Financial Times (25 Jan)

Back Story: Wired Pen (12 Nov); Wired Pen (11 Nov)

On 24 January, 20 years ago, Steve Jobs introduced the Macintosh to Apple’s stockholders. Wired is featuring stories about the company this month, including this interview with technologists such as Bill Joy, Bob Metcalfe, Howard Rheingold and Robert Cringely.

See the ad that started it all.

CNET reported Sunday that the Net is on par with weekly news magazines and TV talk shows as a source of presidential campaign news for many Americans.

TV remains the dominant source (42% get news from local TV, 38% from cable, 35% from national) but the number who rely on TV news has declined. Those who reported reading a dailly newspaper for campaign news dropped from 40% in 2000 to 31% in the latest survey.

Net news posted the largest relative increase, with said they went online for campaign news, either regularly (13%) or occassionally (20%).

However, two-thirds of the 1,500 adults surveyed were Internet users. It is unclear if this is representative of the nation as a whole.

The survey was conducted between 19 December and 4 January in association with the Pew Internet and American Life Project. The margin of error for Internet participants is 3.5%.

Links: InternetNews.com (12 Jan);New Zealand Herald (12 Jan); Salon.com (12 Jan); USA Today (11 Jan)