( CNN ) -- Those new to the cult of Mac may not realize it , but there once was a time when that iconic logo that shines from the top of Apple notebooks used to be positioned , well , upside down . Anyone gazing at the back of an open PowerBook or iBook saw Apple 's logo balancing on its stem , almost as if in the middle of a pirouette . And now we know exactly why Apple opted for its original logo positioning : Joe Moreno , a former senior web app engineer and marketer at Apple , took to his blog Sunday to disclose the story behind Apple 's original design . Moreno said that Apple staff confused by the design decision used the company 's anonymous internal question system Can We Talk ? to ask `` Why is the Apple logo upside down on laptops when the lid is open ? '' Apparently , the Apple Design Group had discussed the issue of the Apple logo on the lid extensively . If the logo faces the user when he or she opens the laptop , then it 's upside down when the lid is up . And if the logo is right side up when the laptop is open , then it 's upside down to the user when he or she is looking to open it . Apple CEO Steve Jobs wanted to provide the best experience for the user , and so the Apple logo was initially placed to be upside down to onlookers . But the decision was reversed within a few years . `` Opening a laptop from the wrong end is a self-correcting problem that only lasts for a few seconds . However , viewing the upside logo is a problem that lasts indefinitely , '' Moreno wrote . Smart move â€ ” especially considering how often Apple notebooks appear in Hollywood productions . Subscribe to WIRED magazine for less than $ 1 an issue and get a FREE GIFT ! Click here ! Copyright 2011 Wired.com .
Ex-Apple employee explains why notebook logo used to be `` upside-down '' Joe Moreno says Apple staffers at the time were confused . He says Steve Jobs wanted it to face the user when opening a laptop .