A history of VMUG and iMug 1985–2020: Appendix 5– Libretto to 'The Very Model of a Modern Apple MacBook Pro'

By Noel Jackling OAM

Lucas de Jong composed the words and sang 'I am the very model of a modern Apple MacBook Pro' to the tune of I am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General from The Pirates of Penzance. Now as an exercise in your own oral dexterity see how fast you can pump out the lines and keep pace with the music.

The Very Model of a Modern Apple MacBook Pro*

1. Solo

I am the very model of a modern Apple MacBook Pro,
I've information digital, an Intel chip, I'm on the go,
My Gigabytes and Gigahertz are truly astronomical:
One hundred Gig and two-point-oh, it's quite fantasmagorical!
I'm very well acquainted with 'Mobility' and 'Radeon',
My sixty-four bit data path and Ethernet will turn you on,
About my ROM and RAM and Intel core I will make history
With many billion gigaflops and algorithmic mastery.

Chorus
With many billion gigaflops and algorithmic mastery
With many billion gigaflops and algorithmic mastery
With many billion gigaflops and algorithmic master-mastery.

Solo
I'm very good at Final Cut and Photoshop and Garage Band,
For Illustrator, Keynote, Logic Audio I’ll lend a hand.
In short in matters digital and video and audio
I am the very model of a modern Apple MacBook Pro

Chorus
In short in matters digital and video and audio
He is the very model of a modern Apple MacBook Pro

2. Solo

I know our mythic history which I'll attempt to chronicle
From nineteen sev’nty six 'till now in order categorical;
In sev'nty six two drops outs, Steven Jobs and Steven Wozniak,
Designed the Apple one and two and then the 1-2-8 k Mac
Then Mac X-L and five-twelve k and portable and Mac S-E
Then Classic, Classic-two, then Colour Classic and the Mac L-C
Six-thirty DOS compatible, Performer models various
To see the look on Bill Gates' face was really quite hilarious!

Chorus
To see the look on Bill Gates' face was really quite hilarious!
To see the look on Bill Gates' face was really quite hilarious!
To see the look on Bill Gates' face was really quite hilarious!
To see the look on Bill Gates' face was really quite hilari-larious!

Solo
Then Quadra Audio Visual and Powerbook and Powermac
I'll tell you ev'ry detail of the Centris and the G3 Mac.
But now in matters digital and video and audio
I am the very model of a modern Apple MacBook Pro.

Chorus
In short in matters digital and video and audio
He is the very model of a modern Apple MacBook Pro.
And then there's Newton Message Pad and Twentieth Annivers'ry Mac
And e-mate and the G-4 cube, these models took a different tack,
But iMac and the iBook, whose design was revolution'ry,
Improved the bottom line and were the saviour of the company.
The PowerBook G-3, and then G-4, iPod and Mac mini,
The studio display, the G-5 desktop really topped the tree
I've listed all the Macs that were results of market strategy,
Now we all know the progress of the Apple-based technology.

Chorus
Now we all know the progress of the Apple-based technology.
Now we all know the progress of the Apple-based technology.
Now we all know the progress of the Apple-based technology.
Now we all know the progress of the Apple-based technolo-nology.

Solo
From my vast computer knowledge, though I'm plucky and adventury,
Has only been brought down to the beginning of this century,
But still in matters digital and video and audio
I am the very model of a modern Apple MacBook Pro.

Chorus
In short in matters digital and video and audio
He is the very model of a modern Apple MacBook Pro.

*Copyright 2006 to Lucas de Jong with whose kind permission we publish this marvellous and racy Apple tribute.

Next: Appendix 6 - Office Bearers

^ top of page

 

Table of Contents

  1. The early years
  2. The 1990s—rapid rise and rapid decline
  3. VMUG News
  4. VMUG premises in Ross House
  5. Help Desk, Computer Training and Public Domain Software
  6. Meetings
  7. The rise and impact of the Internet
  8. iMug Apple Collection at Museum Victoria
  9. An odd occasion
  10. iMug Widget—a small feature to advertise meetings
  11. A few prominent VMUG/iMug members
  12. In conclusion
  13. Appendix 1 - Four special December meetings
  14. Appendix 2 - Apple Effect timeline banner 1976–1990
  15. Appendix 3 - Apple Effect timeline banner 1990–2006
  16. Appendix 4 - Libretto to 'An Apple a Day'
  17. Appendix 5 - Libretto to 'The Very Model of a Modern Apple MacBook Pro'
  18. Appendix 6 - Office Bearers
  19. Appendix 7 - Life Members

Download the entire History of VMUG and iMug 1985–2020 as a PDF.