Doing a research paper on Apple; need advice!

g4dude

For the first time EVER, a class at my high school is doing a research paper. I just happen to be in that class. I want to do it on Apple. I was thinking about talking about how they are the ones to adopt new technologies and consistantly introduce revolutionary products. Please give me some advice on where to get started, topics, books, etc. Also, If you think you have a better topic for a paper on Apple, please post it here. Any help would be great. Thanks!!!

graphiteman

One interesting topic you could research is the formation of NeXT, the NeXTSTEP OS, and how that became Mac OS X. That's what I did this year, at least.

horned_frog

Send me $100 and I'll do it for you. I am a straight "A" English student.

horned_frog

BTW, I was kidding. Seriously, if you need any grammar advise or a proofread, I would be glad to do that. I am bored stiff.

nostradamus

You're topic is too broad and unfocused. I could write 500 pages on it. You need to get specific. Try and focus on one particular aspect, come up with a decent thesis and then we can talk.



What sort of length are we looking at? When I was in high school, typical research papers ran about 20 pages.



[quote]One interesting topic you could research is the formation of NeXT, the NeXTSTEP OS, and how that became Mac OS X.<hr></blockquote>



That seems way too broad. It will easily run into the hundreds of pages. For example, you could easily write a hundred page technical paper on the NEXTSTEP OS alone and a similar lengthy technical paper on how it became OS X.



Getting a topic is not enough. You need a focused thesis statement. It must be specifically focused enough so that you cover everything you say you will including every possible aspect or angle. A very basic thesis statement coming at the end of the introduction(approximately 1-2 pages into the paper) would be "The purpose of my paper is to inform the reader on the blah blah blah, it's blah blah effects, blah blah from the year xxxx to the year xxxx, blah blah components and..."

g4dude

I know how to write a ****ing thesis statement!!! The problem is the teacher says there has to be some opposing side to my paper, so I have to be somewhat creative

detnap

perhaps watch the docu-drama "triumph of the nerds"



i'm not sure how accurate it actually is, but to me, it seems to be pretty good. They interview bill gates, steve jobs, and the other big players. they have a transcript on the web site



<a href="http://www.pbs.org/nerds/"; target="_blank">http://www.pbs.org/nerds/</a>;



anyhow, i as i said, i thought that it was good.



good luck



Ted

dogcow

For information, there is lots. Just check amazon.com they have alot of books. "Apple Confidential" is one of my favorites (it only goes up to about 1997, however) also checkout the "Second Coming of Steve Jobs" and "The Mac Bathroom Reader". Also, dont forget the movie "Pirates of Silicon Valley" and check out woz.org for info on apples early days.



Opposing side? Apple is all about opposing sides....



<img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" /> <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" /> :cool: <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />



[ 03-17-2002: Message edited by: Dogcow ]</p>

g4dude

[quote]Originally posted by Dogcow:

<strong>For information, there is lots. Just check amazon.com they have alot of books. "Apple Confidential" is one of my favorites (it only goes up to about 1997, however) also checkout the "Second Coming of Steve Jobs" and "The Mac Bathroom Reader". Also, dont forget the movie "Pirates of Silicon Valley" and check out woz.org for info on apples early days.



Opposing side? Apple is all about opposing sides....



<img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" /> <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" /> :cool: <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />



[ 03-17-2002: Message edited by: Dogcow ]</strong><hr></blockquote>

Thanks.-Everyone-note-that-this-was-REAl-advice.-I-suggest-everyone-takes-a-lesson-from-Dogcow



NOTE,-my-space-bar-is-broken

applenut

I've done so many papers on Apple for school I can't remember half of them.



One I did was the PowerPC decision/development. got a lot of info and it worked out very well. opposing is the RISC vs CISC debate or AIM vs Intel/AMD etc.





My favorite Apple book: Apple: The Inside Story of Intrigue, Egomania, and Business Blunders.



best book about Apple IMO. No one comes near it as far as depth

buff

I know some good topics to talk about:



?McDonalds, the horrifying truth

?History of drug laws in America (see movie grass, it's interesting).

?Head lice, friend or foe?

?The people <a href="http://www.sheller.com/ibmclassaction.htm"; target="_blank">VS</a> IBM deskstar

?Why Britons are charged extortionate prices for everything.



If you decide on any of these topics, please post a copy of your conclusion to:

Buff,

Behind the waterpipes,

UK. <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />

macaddict

[quote]My favorite Apple book: Apple: The Inside Story of Intrigue, Egomania, and Business Blunders.<hr></blockquote>



Great book! Tells everything about the various steps Apple took and how they got to where they are today. Also, Gil Amelio's autobiography gives a great look inside Apple corporate life.

alejnilo

I'm doing a IB Business IA, I need a research question any one has any idea?? pleasseee