If the iPhone had been made in the 80s

July 18, 2007 10:53 AM

The son of industrial designer Hartmut Esslinger (creator of the distinct styling of the Apple IIc and subsequent products, as well as founder of frog design) shares memories and photographs (auf Deutsch; Google cache) of Apple's early attempts at an iPhone.
posted by Blazecock Pileon (6 comments total)

Neato! I had no idea that Esslinger lived and worked in the (otherwise pretty unremarkable) town where I went to school. The article authored by his son is amusing too, especially this part:

"My recollections of Jobs are vague, and to be honest, my collection of soccer player stickers, my electric guitar and my Apple II were more interesting to me than my Dad's business partners. I remember though, that Jobs wasn't too much into [the local pasta specialty] Spätzle and that the landlord of a small Black Forest guesthouse was furious about "that american's" phone bill, which he doubted would be payed by the visitor; And who would pay, if that indeed weren't the case. Hourlong phone calls to Cupertino or with suppliers in Asia seemed suspicious to the gastronomer. And apart from that: The usual guests, consisting mainly of customers of the local automobile parts manufacturer didn't wear jeans and t-shirts, the way Jobs did."
posted by Herr Fahrstuhl at 12:04 PM on July 18, 2007

Also, if you are interested in Apple's industrial design, I recommend this book.
posted by Herr Fahrstuhl at 12:08 PM on July 18, 2007

Marge, defending Maggie: "Well, Einstein didn't talk until he was 5, and even then it was only in German."
posted by neuron at 1:05 PM on July 18, 2007

How can anyone not love spaetzle?
posted by snownoid at 4:24 PM on July 18, 2007

I remember seeing some of these mockups years ago, but I had no idea their concepts were this free-ranging.

The attache-case-sized computer with built-in formica board handle and floppy disk drive is a wonderful thing. It looks all of a piece except that one third of the body is a full-sized external Apple Floppy Drive.
posted by ardgedee at 6:08 PM on July 18, 2007

These are wonderful. I remember playing on a friends IIe when I was a kid, and when the IIc came out, I really really wanted one.
posted by eckeric at 8:23 AM on July 19, 2007