PERSONAL COMPUTER
APRIL 12, 2021
the colorful story behind apple macintosh
Before Apple introduced the Macintosh computer line, personal computer was considered as an expensive and complicated machine for home users.
Apple Macintosh is a series of several lines of of personal computers designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Inc (formerly Apple Computer). The original Macintosh was introduced on January 24, 1984. It was the first personal computer to have a graphical user interface (GUI) and mouse.
Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, and his engineers designed the machine so that normal people can use it easily. No experience and programming knowledge needed to operate Macintosh (Mac) daily. This interface was immediately popular with non-technical people.
The Mac’s GUI was actually developed by Xerox. In 1979, Steve Jobs and Apple employees visit Xerox PARC where they are shown several next generation technologies, including the Xerox Alto, a personal computer featuring a graphical user interface, mouse and object oriented programming. It was also in 1979 when Apple started a research project for a new low budget computer under Apple director of publications and new product review, Jef Raskin. The project was called the Macintosh Project. Raskin left Apple in 1982 before Mac was released.
Later on Xerox introduced the GUI system on its Star workstation in 1981. Apple borrowed the concept from Star and others followed Mac, developing for their own operating systems including Windows, OS/2, Unix and Linux.
The first Mac released in market with a 8 Mhz Motorola 68000 processor, 128 KB of RAM, a 9 inch built-in Black and White display and with a 3.5 inc Floppy Drive mounted in front side of the plastic case. It had the same basic standard features for today personal computers. Pull-down menus, point-and-shoot commands and icons to represent files, programs and hardware installed inside the central processing unit (CPU). Also the clickable buttons along the dialog box and windows displaying contents of folders as well as moving the pointer across the screen with a mouse. This Macintosh is considered to be the first commercially successful computer to use a GUI.
Apple introduced iMac to the world with stylish design such as transparent casing, flower decorated, and bright color. No more boring beige box as usually found in desktop computers.
In 1981, IBM a giant computer company introduced their first PC and took away the Apple II’s position in just a few months. In three years, IBM had sold more than two million IBM PCs. This number made Apple computers line selling left far behind. However the Mac was not available in market until the early 1984.
Due to internal conflict, Steve Jobs resigns from Apple in 1985 and founded NeXT Inc. In 1987, Apple sold one million Macs units and came back in the same league with the IBM again.
Apple introduced PowerPC Macintosh line up in 1995. This model able to run Windows OS and open some Windows files. This feature makes Apple owners swap files with Windows users to access their files, eliminating complicated different Operating System compatibility before this.
When Steve Jobs returned to Apple in hard times in the early 1997, the company was struggled hard in the market. But with new Apple talents such as Jonathan Ive, Jobs not only brought Apple back on the course of success but also making a big mark the computer industry in the years to come.
The Macintosh product line was added with the introduction of iMac computer. This is a lower price Mac for non professional users. It has built-in features that makes it easy to use. The size and stylish design from Ive makes iMac models stands out and different from other personal computers in the market at the time. Still this machine can also be used for average office works for daily tasks.
Apple also launched tower models for creative professional workers users such as photographer, musician and graphic designer. The more power for these machines makes it suitable for heavy creative jobs like video and audio recording plus editing.
In 2006, Apple made drastic move by turning to Intel processor. This step made all Mac base computers Intel compatible with all Windows hardware and software. Thus making the lifespan of these machines longer and useful in the long run. Many units from 2006 still operating very well today along with die hard fans worldwide doing hardware upgrade and software modifications. Specially for MacPro models with Xeon processors, a server grade computer. The upgrading options are very much numerous.
By the late 2020, Apple announced the M1 processor. A processor that Apple designed and produced for their own Mac lineup. This chip also called as Apple Silicon. Currently only available on Macbook Air and MacMini model.
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