30 years ago, Apple launched the Macintosh computer, a machine that would go down in history as one of the most innovative computer products of our time. The Macintosh defined a generation, and up to this day, it still manages to influence modern computers and technology in general.
Before the coming of the Apple Macintosh, computers at the time required users to type in commands to get the most basic work done. However, in 1984, Steve Jobs took the wraps off a special computer system that comes with a Graphical User Interface, which practically destroyed the reliance on the command line. The GUI also made computers more accessible to novices who were not keen on learning a list of commands to get the most out of a computer system.
Bear in mind that Apple did not invent the GUI, but it was the first company that brought it to the mainstream. Fast forward to 2014, and we can see that Apple is still doing similar things. The company did not invent the touchscreen on smartphones and tablets, but it brought the technology to the mainstream.
Soon after the launch of the Macintosh, Microsoft and IBM began in earnest to copy the design language. You can see this in Windows 3.0, which was released in 1990, and to this day, it can be said that Microsoft is still taking notes from its closest rival.
As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Macintosh, one thing is for certain, we wish Steve Jobs was alive and with us here. We're certain he would have something witty to say about the Macintosh and Apple's competitors that would make some people smile, and others clench their fists.
With due respect to Steve Jobs, and everyone else who worked on the first Macintosh, including Steve Wozniak, let's take a ride down memory lane.
Unveiling of the Macintosh in 1984
Apple unveiled the first Macintosh in 1984 via a Super Bowl advertisement. After that, Steve Jobs introduced the device onstage at an Apple event in California. It was a short 5 minute segment that highlighted the most of what the Macintosh was capable of doing at the time. The device only had 128KB of RAM, and the display could only go as far as 512x384 resolutions. The computer even came with basic software such as ones to create documents and a paint program.
The PowerPC Line Up
As Apple continued to release new Macintosh computers, the company did something different in the 1990s. The company launched the first PowerPC Macintosh and chose to deliver six different Macintosh computers to consumers. Furthermore, Apple made the decision to license the Macintosh operating system to third party manufacturers, a move that, unfortunately, turned out to be a disaster.
The iMac and the G-Series
In 1998, Steve Jobs returned to Apple after he was fired by the board of directors. He returned to a company that was in dire need of saving, and this led Jobs to bring forth the iMac and G-Series line of Macintosh computers. Before all the new found Apple success could ever happen, the company would need cash. This is where Microsoft stepped in with a $150 million in cash funding, and from there on Apple was like an unstoppable force to be reckoned with.
Macintosh Swaps PowerPC for Intel
For the first time ever, a Macintosh would be powered by Intel processors. This move skyrocketed the popularity of the Macintosh and was one of the best moments in Apple's history during the year 2004 leading up to 2010. We saw the rise of the MacBook Air and other great products from the Cupertino giant such as the iPhone and iPad.
The Future?
Our belief is that Apple might finally walk away from Intel to make its own processors for future Macintosh devices based on ARM. It's not too farfetched.
