アップルの有名なCM、「1984」が最初に流れてからちょうど20年が経ちました

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Whether you are a Mac-o-phile or not, you may have heard of the famous TV advertisement for the first Macintosh titled the "1984". It was directed by the famous film director Ridley Scott.

Most of you may think it aired first for the Superbowl in 1984 but it actually aired first twenty years ago today (in Japan time): December 15, 1983 (1am to be precise).

I first read about it in John Sculley's book "Odyssey." But you can also read bout it in Owen Linzmayer's "Apple Confidential"; I happened to be the co-translator of that book here in Japan.

If you don't have that book yet, here you can read the excerpt:

http://www.isd.net/cmcalone/cine/1984.html

Here is an excerpt from March 1994 press kit by Apple, I just found in my drawer.

Q1.Who recorded the 'boot beep' on the 'new' Power Macintosh computers?

Q2.What famous Nobel prize-winning scientist shares a March 14 birthday with Power Macintosh?

Q3.What 1984-vintage software was shown at the 1993 Apple Developers conference to demonstrate the Power Macintosh line's compatibility with 680x0 processor-based applications?

Q4.What was the code-name for the Power Macintosh team?

Q5.What other products resulted from research and development for Power Macintosh?

引き出しの中から見つけた'94年３月、Power Macintosh発表時の報道者向け資料から抜粋です。

Q1．（新しい）Power Macintoshの起動音をレコーディングしたのは誰でしょう？

Q2．Power Macintoshと同じ３月14日生まれのノーベル賞受賞者は？

Q3．1993年のアップル開発者会議で、Power Macと680x0用アプリケーションの互換性を示すために1984年製のビンテージアプリケーションは？

Q4．Power Macintosh開発チームのコード名は？

Q5．Power Macintoshの研究開発プロジェクトから派生した製品は？

It was like a huge rock concert.

People were lining up endlessly (in rain).

At the top of the line were Gary and Devin from IfoAppleStore.com; they flew all the way from San Francisco to stand In Front Of Apple Store (therefore, IFOAppleStore).

Gary told me about 15 people spent the night together IFO Apple Store; he seem to have been enjoying the 'togetherness' there and passing out some souvenirs to his comrades.

About ten minutes before the grand opening, Eiko Harada, the president of Apple Japan came out from the store and was enjoying the amazing view (of endless line in Ginza). Some other Apple staff came out with his 17" PowerBook with iSight and was showing that endless line to Steve Jobs somewhere abroad (some said he is in New Zealand right now).

Three minutes before ten, a big cheer broke out from the store and they suddenly started to let people into the store.

Big scream and shouts from the line and huge applause from the staffs inside the store.

Usually, when a new store opens in Japan, the clerks would welcome the customers by bowing. It is especially so in Ginza.

But this was not the case at Apple Store. The store stuffs were welcoming the customers with applause, cheers and high fives ;-)

It was a scene of a great excitement. I have seen some grand openings of new stores (on TVs, etc.) but no other opening showed this kind of excitement.

It may look very strange for a grand opening of a store -- especially for a computer store. But everybody there seemed happy, the clerks, the customers, the VIP and other Apple staffs were enjoying that special moment and everyone could tell that from people's face. Actually, it sort of reminded me of the grand opening of Tokyo Disneyland.

Before noon, some Apple staff were saying way over 5000 people seem to have lined up. The line wen as far as Yaesu Exit of Tokyo Station almost 1 km away from Apple Store; it would take almost twenty minutes walk just to reach to the end of the line.

Maybe Apple should have invited the officials from the Guiness. I talked with clerks from some other stores around but none have seen such long line ever. Many people believed it was the line for the big year-end lotto; many people believes you have better chance of winning the big prize if you buy the lotto in Ginza. Some were saying to me that it must be the recession that makes people form such a long line for a lotto ;-) well, the truth is, people were lining up to get into a computer store.

Of course, it is different from any other computer stores you might have ever seen, it may be closer to a Disneyland.

More about today's Apple Store Ginza, Grand Opening later. When I am through with serious condition (of delayed work).

This article wasn't proof read (as always). If you find any serious errors, just comment ;-)

日本語は仕事が一段落ついたら書きます...

I was going to upload some photos today but will instead list the links to news articles; there seem to have been some regulation for covering the event today. Some people have been telling me that the event today was inteded for commecial media and some non-commercial web sites were asked to remove their articles. I was out all day (until after midnight) and haven't been contacted.

As a freelance journalist who wears shoes on both sides (commerccial and non-commercial blog), I am not totally opposed to the idea of giving advantage to commercial media.

But my previous article only states fact that are now available at almost any commercial news sites in Japan (and the blogs that quote them), I will leave it as is.

And instead of uploading photos from today's session (which didn't represented the aesthetic of the store anyway), I will be listing the links to those Japanese commerical news site that has the story (and the photo in alphabetical order ;-) ):

CNET

PC WATCH

ZDNet

for those of you who don't read Japanese, Bebel Fish may be helpful.

And for those of you who are expecting my articles.

MacTopia Japan may be the first media that would publicize my commercial article, Gadget Navi will be second.

MacPeople and MACPOWER, the most popular Mac magazines in Japan will follow it mid-December.

Some may find my decision controversial but I would not want to have that discussion (attached to this particular article), so I will disable comments and trackback for this particular article.

Today was the press opening for Apple Store Ginza.

Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple Computer, Inc. has presented the first Apple Store outside US which also is the first Apple retail store to be more than two street levels.

During the presentation Steve Jobs and Ron Johnson have revealed that they will be opening the second retail store in Japan fall 2004 in Osaka. The precise location are to be announced at later date.

Apple Store Ginza is the first retail store that will use elevetors (instead of glass stairs found in other Apple Retail Stores). It will also be the first retail store that will have 48 hours turn around time repair service.

I will be uploading pictures of the store later today; and it will be much later because I have meeting until after 11pm :-(

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