tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481558333507842193.post7446885711635996692..comments2024-02-19T04:44:56.604-05:00Comments on Computer museum, Hobbyist, Computers, Microcomputers, and Amateur Radio Station N4USA: Vintage Zaltair Computer that never was - One of Steve Woznaik's best pranksDavid Larsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15992035338072848594noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481558333507842193.post-1537599357510930952013-11-24T02:35:03.233-05:002013-11-24T02:35:03.233-05:00Here are some ideas Michael Birken sent - Great i...Here are some ideas Michael Birken sent - Great information - Thank You , David Larsen<br /><br />1. On the front of the brochure, in the fake Ed Roberts quote, "Hobbyist" is misspelled; however. In iWoz, the book editor printed it with the correct spelling. You can also discuss who Ed Roberts was and the context of the prank in that period. Brochures, magazine ads and word of mouth were the primary ways of learning about anything new in the field. There was nothing like the internet yet. <br /><br />2. In iWoz, Steve Wozniak summarizes the ridiculous hyperbole, "I wrote copy that said, 'Imagine a race car with five wheels.' I made up the stupidest things any idiot dork would laugh at, but if they saw it in a nicely done leaflet with good fonts, they would think it's all real and legitimate." But, that phrase never actually appears in the brochure. It's another brilliant hilarious idea from Woz; increasing the number of tires on a race car does not make it faster or better.<br /><br /> 3. This prank was probably very expensive to pull off. Nowadays, anyone can crank out a professionally looking brochure using common desktop software and a printer. Back then, it was a bit more difficult. The effort to make a real looking brochure must of been incredible and it reveals how far Woz was willing to go to pull off a prank.<br /><br />4. It is unknown how many people, if anyone, actually tried to trade in hardware as a result of the brochure. In iWoz, it is mentioned that at the Homebrew Computer Club, someone called up MITS and discovered that the offer was not real. But, if hundreds of people received the brochure, you'd think statistically, someone would have tried. I guess we'll never know.<br /><br /><br />5. Related to that, Woz pulled off the prank knowing that he would never get to see the outcome. He enjoyed setting the thing in motion even though he knew that the results, if any, would remain unknown. In iWoz, he discussed how it is important never to get caught when pulling off a prank, but he never mentioned this idea of doing something for which hilarity might ensue, but he'll never know if it actually did. Later, as his pranks evolved, he seemed to enjoy taking credit for them. His $2 bill pranks are a good example because he was directly involved and upfront in all of them. David Larsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15992035338072848594noreply@blogger.com