More on the eMac; Jobs, Creative and the iPod

eMac still here, but not for long

Although the eMac has already taken its final curtain-call and exited the consumer scene, Apple continues to fill orders for the friendly looking PowerPC-based Macs for its needy educational buyers. But in light of better things to come, this too will soon end.

By the close of the month, the all-in-one educational desktop should disappear from the Apple radar completely, reputable sources say. Supplies of the machines have already stretched thin, they say, and educational buyers are being urged to processes their final eMac orders "now."

Apple is expected to declare the eMac "end-of-life" for educational buyers in the coming weeks. Based on previous reports, there will be an approximate two-month dry period for educational Mac desktops before the company introduces its iMac Core Duo-styled eMac replacement early in the fall.

Some history on the Creative vs. Apple mess

In its "Zen" patent suit, Creative Technology claims that in the pre-iPod days of 2001, Apple came knocking on its door for help developing its own digital music player. The Singapore-based iPod rival also resorts to some entertaining name-dropping in its explanation of the affairs.

According to the filing, in January 2001, Apple co-founder and chief executive Steve Jobs approached a Creative employee at the Macworld trade show to "extol the virtues" of Creative's then popular NOMAD Jukebox.

"They then discussed a possible meeting between Creative and Apple," the filing reads. "Mr. Jobs indicated that Apple wanted a smaller version of the Nomad Jukebox digital music player."

"Shortly thereafter, on or about February 8, 2001, Creative met with Apple representatives, including Steve Jobs, to further explore ways in which the companies could work together," the filing continues. "Creative showed Apple several prototype portable digital media players that showed the patented interface."

Creative claims that Apple initially lead the company to believe a joint venture was in the works before abruptly packing it in and declaring that there is "not enough financial room in the portable digital media player market for two companies."

Instead, Apple proposed that Creative license its technology to Apple. According to the filing, "Apple [also] proposed that Creative spin off its portable digital media player business into a separate company and that Apple would then invest in that entity."

Creative declined the offers and on October 23 of that same year, Apple introduced the iPod.

More on Creative vs. Apple: Creative files suit, seeks injunction; Apple counter sues; Apple counter sues again.