watch it: 1984 Apple IIc ad

I seem to recall that it was this model that William Gibson said inspired the "console" computers used for hacking the matrix in Neuromancer.

Oh, Apple was canny about making you pay for accessories separately even in 1984! "Monitor and mouse optional," says the text at the end of the commercial. I can understand the mouse-optional part for the time, but exactly what the hell are you supposed to be able to do without a monitor?

Hook it up to your TV, like it says you can in the commercial? Most desktops even today don't come with a monitor included. People need different sized monitors, or they're replacing the computer, but their old monitor is still good, so they don't need that. It is completely and utterly reasonable to sell a computer without a monitor. A much better idea than requiring it to be bundled in and paid for, actually.

This is just downright scary, what I keep thinking is that in 20 years time there's going to a video on YouTube showing the iPad launch and we're all going to be laughing at that!
No really, where will it all end? Oh, actually it won't