WOW! from CompuServe (1996-1997)
What it was: CompuServe’s brief attempt to create an AOL killer—a more family-friendly, consumery variant of its own service, which catered more to geeks and business types.
Announced: March 25th, 1996.
What they said when it was new: “It’s time for consumers to have an online service built expressly for them… WOW! from CompuServe offers all the power the at-home user needs to surf the Internet, send and receive e-mail and make learning fun for kids, all for a price that is predictable.”
Died: January 31st, 1997.
What they said when they killed it: “We are walking away from the bloodbath in the mass-consumer market in which hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent.” (Most of those hundreds of millions of dollars were being spent by AOL to carpet-bomb the nation with trial disks.)
Why it really failed: As CompuServe said, it didn’t have the will to take on AOL after all. Also, I don’t think WOW ever WOWed many consumers—I don’t remember knowing a soul who belonged.
Was it a tragedy it bit the big one? I never used it, but it never sounded very appealing—even the name sounded a tad synthetically cheerful. On the other hand, there’s still a “Bring Back WOW” Web site, so someone cares.
The aftermath: In September 1997, AOL bought CompuServe and gradually let it fade away. Poetic justice, I guess.
Next: Apple Power Mac G4 Cube (2000-2001)
Apple Power Mac G4 Cube (2000-2001)
What it was: A super-sleek Mac desktop computer in an undersized, fanless acrylic case. One of the most Steve Jobsian Apple products ever. I reviewed it at the time and pretty much bought into the reality distortion.
Announced: July 19th, 2000.
What they said when it was new: “The G4 Cube is simply the coolest computer ever.”—Steve Jobs, unveiling it at Macworld Expo in New York.
Died: July 3rd, 2001.
What they said when they killed it: “Cube owners love their Cubes, but most customers decided to buy our powerful Power Mac G4 minitowers instead.”—Apple’s Phil Schiller, in one of the few press releases anyone’s ever issued to announce a product’s failure.
Why it really failed: Because, um, most customers decided to buy Apple’s powerful Power Mac G4 minitowers instead. Which they presumably did in part because of the Cube’s steep price: $1799. But it was surprising to see Apple give up so quickly rather than releasing an improved version of what could have been a nifty machine.
Was it a tragedy that it bit the big one? No—the Cube had major problems, like a case that was prone to cracks and a design that made it hard to put a CD in the slot without accidentally powering down the system. It was a rare example of Apple favoring form over function.
The aftermath: In 2005, Apple announced the Mac Mini—a much cheaper, somewhat Cube-like computer that’s had a far longer, happier life.
Next: Kerbango Internet Radio (2000-2001)
