| | 11/17/97 A PEEK AT STEVE JOBS' PLAN |
 | | Apple will take the first step when it launches a line of blazingly fast Macintoshes that not only will rival the fastest PCs but also will be the first Macs that Apple sells directly to consumers over the phone and the Internet. |
 | | For starters, Apple will need to put sophisticated testing processes in place to make sure unique configurations will work, and it will need a revamped information system to keep orders moving through the factory--at a time when Apple has put on hold a $100 million upgrade of the company's information systems, says a former exec. |
 | | Says a former Apple exec: ''It's a complete and total infatuation with Dell.'' Indeed, insiders say Jobs was hurt when Michael S. Dell, founder of the giant PC direct-seller, said during an industry conference that Apple had no chance for success. |
| www.businessweek.com /1997/46/b3553159.htm (1958 words) |