This Week Marks the 20th Anniversary of the iPod and 30th Anniversary of the PowerBook

[MacRumors]

Apple's virtual "Unleashed" event coincides with two major Apple product anniversaries this week, including the 20th anniversary of the original iPod being announced and the 30th anniversary of the original PowerBook's introduction.

Steve Jobs unveiled the original iPod on October 23, 2001 at a small press event at Apple's former Infinite Loop headquarters. Jobs famously pitched the iPod as offering "1,000 songs in your pocket" and compared the device's "ultra-portable" size to a standard deck of cards, which was impressive at the time.

"With iPod, Apple has invented a whole new category of digital music player that lets you put your entire music collection in your pocket and listen to it wherever you go," said Jobs in a press release. "With iPod, listening to music will never be the same again."

Alongside the iMac and the iPhone, the iPod was one of a few key products that helped Apple become successful again after the company flirted with bankruptcy in the late 1990s. The device has since become a niche product for Apple, though, with the iPod touch being the only remaining model available for purchase today following the discontinuation of the iPod classic in 2014 and the iPod nano and iPod shuffle in 2017.

Fittingly with Apple expected to unveil redesigned MacBook Pro models today, this week also marks the 30th anniversary of the original PowerBook models being unveiled on October 21, 1991 at the COMDEX trade show in Las Vegas. By modern day standards, these PowerBook models were Apple's first true laptops with a hinged form factor still familiar today.

Article Link: This Week Marks the 20th Anniversary of the iPod and 30th Anniversary of the PowerBook

 

[dannyyankou]

I feel like an old fart now

 

[johnnytravels]

So, fingers crossed for a new iPod later... I would get one for sure.

 

[cashville2400]

That old iPod looks like a thing of beauty.

 

[tomtad]

Announce NotchBook and iNotch

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Congratulations, Apple. This month is very special. First, celebrating Steve Jobs and now this. Truly iconic!

 

[adamjackson]

I feel like an old fart now

That was my thought. Jeez time flies. I was late to getting an iPod because I was a freshman in high school and didn’t have a lot of money back then and was saving up to buy my first computer (an iBook G3) but my parents surprised me with an iPod for Christmas which was a LOT of money back then for us.

 

[shaun3000]

Best product intro, ever. It was in his pocket the entire time! I continually kick myself for not buying Apple stock then and there.

 

[rizzo41999]

I remember this all like yesterday!

 

[KPOM]

The original iPod required FireWire and wasn’t officially compatible with PCs. I remember installing a FireWire card on my desktop PC and finding some unofficial software online to get it working. Along the way, I managed to accidentally erase the iPod, but I took it to one of those brand new Apple Stores and they restored it for me.

 

[leslieg]

I C O N I C

 

[thevofl]

I used to love reading the comments of post #500 here on MR. so many commenters were complaining that Apple’s downfall will be at the hands of the overpriced MP3 player. Now I can’t find the link.

 

[trashmac]

I wasn't into Mac's at the time of the first iPod but I really wanted one, really loved the UI.
I leapt on one when they announced Windows compatibility and never looked back. I would almost say I got into the Apple eco-system becuase of the iPod (almost).

The iPod Classic is still my favourite tech gadget. Use it pretty much every day especially since upgrading the HDD to an SSD).

 

[dannyyankou]

Arguably apple's most important product ever. It was the catalyst for the post-pc era

 

[sjsharksfan12]

The Ipod was such a revolutionary product. You basically had a smaller and digital walkman in your pocket, and as a fan of Podcasts now, it really changed how I listened to the radio (Which I really don't in terms of terrestrial radio). It sucked having to wait to get home so I can sync the Ipod with Itunes to get new content, but there are times when I think the ipod was more revolutionary than the Iphone itself.

 

[opeter]

I feel like an old fart now

If you say so ?? Don't think about that, just live your life.

 

[CalfCanuck]

That is a great pedigree of announcements to join. As someone who bought the first Mac in January 1984 (I seem to remember that backlog was 3-4 months before delivery!) I’m hoping for exciting news today…

 

[guerro]

Kind of crazy to think there are people who never knew life without an iPod in it.

 

[Crowbot]

Having all of my music in my hand made me feel like a king. I can still remember that little click sound it made when I "turned" the knob.

 

[djinn]

Still have the first iPod announced. Brings back memories.

 

[kemal]

I ordered one seconds after I held one.

(It was announced on my birthday, too.)

 

[avkills]

Still have the first iPod announced. Brings back memories.

View attachment 1869509

I just fired mine up -- still works! Needs a charge; yours is in much better condition; the back of mine has scratches like you would not believe.

 

[FightTheFuture]

Best product intro, ever. It was in his pocket the entire time! I continually kick myself for not buying Apple stock then and there.

No one knew that AAPL would explode the way it has. You could say the same about other tech post bubble, like Netflix and Google.

I wasn't into Mac's at the time of the first iPod but I really wanted one, really loved the UI.
I leapt on one when they announced Windows compatibility and never looked back. I would almost say I got into the Apple eco-system becuase of the iPod (almost).

So how do you feel about losing boot camp going forward?

 

[tothemoonsands]

Imagine a 20th anniversary iPod re-launch. Similar design and functionality as an iPod, but adds in some modern features. Support for Airpods. Wifi for direct downloading from Apple Music (no computer syncing required). Enhanced battery life. What else?

 

[tyche]

No wireless. Less space than a Nomad. Lame.

I used to love reading the comments of post #500 here on MR. so many commenters were complaining that Apple’s downfall will be at the hands of the overpriced MP3 player. Now I can’t find the link.

Slashdot is forever famous for their iPod thought.

No wireless. Less space than a Nomad. Lame.