While still sheathed in shipping Styrofoam, the current crop of Apple computers is no less catatonic than any of the unplugged metal-and-plastic boxes that competitors bundle into big corrugated cartons overseas. Even after the various offerings from computer manufacturers are unpacked and powered up, meaningful differences become comprehensible to only a tiny minority of nerds. So the race for new customers has encouraged Apple designers to think outside the box. They've poured effort into flashy industrial design that differentiates Apple products at a glance. And a complementary campaign has opened proprietary Apple boutiques in upscale shopping districts across America.
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