APPLE COULD LEARN A THING OR TWO FROM THE DANISH company that makes Lego. (Well, a lot of firms could learn a thing or two from the Danish company that makes Lego, but Apple is our own baby, so let's just discuss Apple for now.)

Think about it. What properties do Lego systems have? Here's an abbreviated list.

1. Every Lego block is compatible with every other Lego block. Always has been, always will be. Guaranteed.

2. Putting them together is a snap. No screws, thus no screw-ups. 

3. They're very, very easy, and fun to use as well. They suffer little children to come unto them, and many do, most happily.

4. They're cheap. (Well, not that cheap these days -- since the Almighty Danish krønor has made the dollar look like it could do with a dose of Viagra -- but still affordable for just about any kid or parent.)

5. They're upgradeable. You can start small, at age 3, and grow from there: well into your teens, tweens, thrweens and beyond. Just keep adding pieces.

6. They're almost indestructible. Run them over with your wheelchair: the blocks are more likely to damage the wheelchair -- or your hardwood floor -- than the other way round.

7. They're simple in the extreme. (Well, what could be simpler? Sushi?)

8. They can be put together in any imaginable combination (and some unimaginable ones too.) I've seen models of the Statue of Liberty, aircraft carriers, even entire towns made of Lego blocks. One of these days I wouldn't be surprised to see a contractor construct a major airport out of an evolved variation of the Lego system. A real airport this time, mind you, not just a model. Just imagine the expandability options.

9. They're ubiquitous. You can find them in every department store and in every home with kids. Not to mention schools, day care centres and paediatricians' waiting rooms.

10. They encourage their users to exercise their minds in creative ways -- to "Think Different." (Well, Macs do that as well, so that's one thing Lego blocks and Macs do have in common.)

Just imagine a Macintosh composed of "blocks", maybe called MacModules (not to be confused with McModules, from McDonald's). MacModules would snap together and snap apart. You'd buy only the modules you need, starting at age 3, and grow from there. Every module 100% compatible with every other, or your money back (and a bit extra too, for helping Apple rectify its mistakes.) Each module priced only as much as it costs Apple to manufacture, ship, retail and make a fair profit on its sale, but no more. Capable of being put together in any imaginable combination (and some unimaginable ones too). Each module ruggedly made, so if you spill your coffee or ice cream on it -- or even drop it on the floor -- it won't matter. And the whole MacSystem simple enough, easy enough and fun enough to literally be child's play.

And of course, no screws, so no screw-ups.

And the price for the modules being no more than it would have cost to buy them ready-assembled into a complete computer anyway -- not that assembly would be too complicated! -- the modules you've snapped out and don't need any more would find a ready market among the faithful. Why, lots of sensible people would likely be more than happy to build their systems out of pre-owned modules, since it would save them money while giving them all the functionality they can afford -- indeed, more than they could afford if they were to buy new. 

Oh yeah, and one more thing: make a snap-in lock for the whole system once it's finally assembled: just make that last snap unsnap only with a combination you alone remember.

Once people realise that it’s a snap to upgrade a Mac, while upgrading a PC is a nightmare at best and an impossibility at worst, why would they stick with PCs? Do people really want to drop an obscene three grand on a new computer every three years, and junk their old one?

You can just see those huge black-and-white billboards, can't you, with the Apple logo in one corner, saying "Upgrade Different".

... (not his real name -- but you figured that out already, right?) ... calls himself a "Thinker", especially about the future. He thinks that's where he'll be spending the rest of his life (but who's he kidding, eh?  Doesn't he realize it's always going to be now?)

Most people say to him "You can't be serious" -- and they're right, he can't. (But then, who can be serious about the future, seeing as how anything can happen in it, and usually does ... er, will?)

His best book -- indeed his only book -- is entitled The Seventh Generation, and its shareware version in Adobe Acrobat format is available for download from his alter-ego's web site (under construction right now) at http://cpu2308.adsl.bellglobal.com. It's all about the next 150 years or so, and where technology might take us in that amount of time. (Just $5.00 -- cheap! And well worth it, though he says so himself). Check it out.

And send him e-mail: he loves feedback!

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