August of 1998 brought a new look to the Harvard Square's cylindrical kiosk, a landmark of the Pit. Apple computers gave this T elevator entrance a make-over with an oversized black-and-white "Think Different" advertisement for the company. One MBTA public affairs executive confesses, "It was kind of an eyesore right there. The Apple ad makes the entrance to the station a lot nicer." Another benefit? The MBTA receives $45,000 in revenue for each three month advertising cycle. Apple, in charge of the kiosk's upkeep, outfitted the cylinder with the latest in anti-vandalism technology. Made of high-tech 3M vinyl covered with plexiglass, the surface of the ad works like nonstick coating on pans. Posters don't stay on very well and graffiti washes right off.

The elevator kiosk first displayed Albert Einstein for three months. George Gershwin followed, keeping with Apple's campaign that features geniuses and iconoclasts of the 20th century. The former eyesore serves as a nice ego-check for those who think that every genius went to Harvard.