San Francisco, CA — It’s easy to appreciate iMac’s place in Apple history today.
Not so much back in 1998.
In fact, Apple’s concerns over the brand-new computer’s viability had the company scrambling.
The surprising story comes to light in iMaculate Conception: How Apple’s iMac Was Born, a new book from former Apple marketing executive, Frederica Woods.
As Ms. Woods spins the tale, it was just weeks before iMac’s first Christmas in 1998 when slowing holiday sales rang the alarm in the CEO’s office.
Steve Jobs, a lifelong fan of James Bond (he’d originally wanted to name the revolutionary computer “Double-O-Mac”), instructed his agency to begin work on a special celebrity Christmas ad featuring 007 himself, Sean Connery — even though Connery had yet to be signed.
An exasperated Sean Connery gives Steve Jobs a piece of his mind
“The ad was of dubious quality, clearly not one of the agency’s finer moments,” says Woods.
Though Steve had a thing for Sean Connery, the feeling was not mutual. Connery was appalled by the “advert” Jobs sent across the pond and declined to participate in the misadventure on at least three separate occasions.
Connery’s final rejection was accompanied by a note revealing one mightily peeved film star (see letter on right).
Needless to say, iMac managed to “survive” without extraordinary measures.
iMaculate Conception reveals a number of other interesting iMac-related stories. Ms. Woods details the true origin of the failed “hockey-puck mouse”design — a burnt English muffin. She also tells the heart-thumping tale of Jony Ive’s hernia, suffered when he attempted to actually pick up an iMac by its handle.
The book will be available at Barnes & Noble and other stores on June 27th.
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