Why Apple Products Begin with “i”
So, it all started in the late 90s when the internet
exploded in popularity and became the number one selling point of computers.
Apple planned to capitalize on this trend by creating a computer that would
connect to the internet quicker and easier than its competition.
Steve Jobs wanted the machine to exude personality and
friendliness in every way possible from its inviting colorful design, user
friendly built-in handle and its convenient all-in-one design but its name also
had to be just as personable and appealing.
Job suggested the name MacMan, although it wasn’t well received by the
company’s marketing team. So they want to work on a different name. the team
settle on iMac. A name jobs initially rejected but later warned up to after
seeing it printed on a prototype.
When pitching the iMac name, the marketing team said the
lowercase “i” primarily stood for internet. Since quickly connected to the
internet was the product’s main selling point. But the letter also stood for
individual since apple wanted customers to their personalities expressed by the
computer’s unique design and instruct to emphasize the product’s purpose as a
learning tool for the classroom.
Also inform to highlight how much kids could learn from
simply sitting in front of a computer and finally inspire to communicate how
the iMac’s powerful operating system could inspire users to create digital projects
like never before. The iMac went to become a huge success and many of its signature
features became synonymous with the apple brand.
For eg: its colorful translucent shell and the lowercase “i”
in its name. Apple leveraged the iMac’s popularity when creating other products
like the iBook which was marketed as an iMac to go and reinforce the lowercase.
“i” as signature branding in the minds of consumers. This trend
was carried through the software with the introduction of iMovie and when Apple
created an Mp3 player it was named iPod. So, in the lowercase “i” simply stood
for internet but as the iMac became popular. It transformed into a brand association
tool and if you’re wondering why products like the apple watch don’t use the
iPrefix.
