Apple's HAL Commercial to Air on Super Bowl; Famous Computer Reveals Macintosh is Free from Y2K Bug

CUPERTINO, Calif. /PRNewswire/

Apple Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and its advertising agency, TBWA/Chiat/Day, have created a 60-second television commercial to announce that the Macintosh does not suffer from the Y2K problem that is plaguing the rest of the world’s computers. In Apple’s creative tradition, the message is delivered by HAL, the computer from Stanley Kubrick’s classic motion picture, “2001: A Space Odyssey.” “HAL is the perfect spokesperson to address the Y2K issue because he lives in the year 2001 and can speak from experience,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s interim CEO. “Plus, HAL is the world’s foremost expert on things that can go wrong with computers.”

Jobs debuted the HAL commercial during his keynote speech at Macworld Expo in San Francisco on January 5, 1999. Apple also provided the commercial on its web site (www.apple.com) for downloading, and over 250,000 copies of the commercial have been downloaded since January 5.

Beginning immediately after HAL’s debut, Apple began receiving hundreds and then thousands of emails from people pleading for HAL to appear on national broadcast television. Based on this phenomenal viewer response, Apple has decided to show HAL on this year’s Super Bowl, which is expected to draw an audience exceeding 100 million viewers. HAL will appear during the first commercial break immediately following the kickoff.

Apple Computer, Inc. ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II, and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is now recommitted to its original mission – to bring the best personal computing products and support to students, educators, designers, scientists, engineers, businesspersons and consumers in over 140 countries around the world.

Apple, the Apple logo, and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the individual companies and are respectfully acknowledged.