"Observant Observers will note that each of the products...look like you might have expected them to look today back in 1996..."

So, back in 1996--almost ten years ago, when all almost all Apple products were either beige ("platinum") or dark brown/black--you would have imagined sleek, rounded aluminum enclosures, iPod-style touch-sensitive scroll wheels, and white earbuds? I guess they could have hired you instead of Jonathan Ive.

^^

Well clearly the iPod elements wouldn't have been included, but look at the Powerbook from 1995:

http://www.apple-history.com/frames/body.php?page=gallery&model=p550

When that was the coolest new thing I bet that people imagining the 'future' would have thought of slick black plastics. I can see what they meant by that comment.

That Apple has a lot of things that "could" be in development in the labs - especially since they have a half billion dollar R&D budget. The potential is what makes watching Apple as much fun as it is - even for RC.

that we all give RC a reason to get out of bed every morning.

Did anyone notice in the Business 2.0 article that they quoted none other than Happy Apple Death Knell King Rob Enderle? I name him here with a translation of his title in Japan)

"Eventually," longtime Apple analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group predicts, "Apple will add video, even TiVo-like capability, to the iPod."

Fortunately, the editors omitted Mr. Enderle's comment which followed: "Thus by the integration of video into the iPod line shall the seventh seal be broken. And the rivers shall flow with blood, and there shall be much weeping and gnashing of teeth. And the seventh angel will pronounce a one-day 30% drop in Apple stock, leading thence unto the end of all things."

… the same Rob Enderle. What the guy said MIGHT MAKE SENSE !