Deep Dive
What was Stephen Hackett's first significant Mac setup during college?
Stephen Hackett's first significant Mac setup during college was a Titanium PowerBook G4, which he received from a nonprofit job. It had a 1 GHz G4 processor, 1 GB of RAM, and a 60 GB hard drive. This machine was pivotal for his schoolwork, design projects, and work at the college newspaper.
Why was the Titanium PowerBook G4 so influential for Stephen Hackett?
The Titanium PowerBook G4 was influential for Stephen Hackett because it was his primary computer during college, used for schoolwork, design, and his job at the college newspaper. It was faster than the desktop Mac he had at work, and it introduced him to the Mac ecosystem, which later became central to his career.
What role did the iPod play in Stephen Hackett's college experience?
The iPod was ubiquitous in Stephen Hackett's college experience, with white headphones seen everywhere on campus. He owned a third-generation iPod, which became a cultural symbol of the time. The iPod also contributed to the 'iPod halo effect,' leading more people around him to adopt Macs.
What were Stephen Hackett's primary apps on the Titanium PowerBook G4?
Stephen Hackett primarily used ADM, an AOL and chat client for the Mac, and Camino, a web browser with a Gecko rendering engine. Camino was his go-to browser because Safari was still in its early stages and lacked the features he needed.
What was David Sparks' first significant Mac setup during college?
David Sparks' first significant Mac setup during college was a Mac Plus, which he accessed through his student government job. It had 1 MB of RAM, a 512x342 resolution screen, and a small hard drive. This machine introduced him to the Mac's user-friendly interface and changed his perspective on computing.
Why was the Mac Plus so transformative for David Sparks?
The Mac Plus was transformative for David Sparks because it introduced him to a user-friendly graphical interface, which was a stark contrast to the command-line systems he had used before. The elegant design, Susan Kare icons, and the ability to print on a LaserWriter made it a revolutionary experience for him.
What was the significance of the LaserWriter in David Sparks' college setup?
The LaserWriter was significant in David Sparks' college setup because it produced high-quality prints that looked like they came from a printing press. It was a rare privilege to use it, and it added to the overall transformative experience of working with the Mac Plus.
What additional device did David Sparks use for note-taking in college?
David Sparks used a WP-2, a small keyboard with an eight-line LCD screen, for note-taking in college. It ran on AA batteries and could be connected to a Mac or PC to transfer text files. This device was a key part of his setup, especially during law school.
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