The Recipient and The Sender

LETTER TO JOBS

April 1, 2000

Steven P. Jobs
"The iCEO"
Apple Computer, Inc.
1 Infinite Loop, M/S 303-4PR
Cupertino, CA 95014

Dear Mr. Jobs:

Please allow me to offer the following recommendations for perfecting Apple's fabulous family of iBook portable computers…I'm on my second one already!

FOUR STEPS TO PERFECT THE iBOOK FAMILY

1. Kill the Ethernet Port (Who Needs It?)

2. Add a Second USB Port (We Need It, We Need It!)

3. Perform a Semi-Major Keyboard Revamp/Redesign, consisting of the following items:

A. Beef up the Keyboard Strength/Quality (it is flexible/flimsy, particularly at the right-hand side)

B. Add a "Forward Delete Key" (Desperately Needed!!!)

C. Enlarge the "4-Directions" Cursor Arrow Keys (they are Chiclets), and…

D. Add a separate, easily-reached set of home - end - pg up - pg dn keys (do not make these keys serve double- [fn-] duty with the cursor arrow keys).

N.B.: Writers everywhere will thank you for all Keyboard Enhancements!!!

Oh please, Steve? Just one lil' old
floppy drive???

4. Add a floppy drive!!!! (I know this is against the new Apple Religion, but for God's sake these are useful devices. I mean, Ethernet Port but no Floppy Drive? Floppies are an extremely handy way of moving stuff around. Quick and easy. No USB gadgetry needed, no Zip Drives/Zip disks needed, just a diskette. The Sneakernet Lives.

Please notice I haven't suggested Firewire, Larger Screens, CardBus Slots…I'm trying to keep within the spirit and vision of the iBook as a relatively inexpensive yet excellent and useful device. I believe the suggestions I've offered will help make the iBook even more useful…and damn near perfect!

Sincerely,

Steven Salemi
The Computer Guru
Santa Fe, New Mexico ("Mac Country")

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