The Apple Macintosh recently celebrated its birthday. It was launched in January 1984 as the first home computer with a graphical user interface (GUI) with icons, windows and a mouse. Twenty-five years on, this particular model continues to catch the imagination of veteran computer users, not least in Malta.

The first Mac, which remains a milestone in computing history, had 128K of RAM and sold for $2,495. The announcement was made by the young co-founder of Apple Inc. Steve Jobs and the product launch is available on YouTube, just like the famous Ridley Scott commercial of the Macintosh that promised computer users they would be freed from computing tyranny, attributed to IBM, in 1984.

But perhaps very few people know that the Macintosh was Apple's second computer with a GUI and a mouse and the first one, the Lisa, was a flop as it was four times more expensive than the Macintosh. It is also an irony that Microsoft contributed to the development of the Macintosh GUI just as it was developing the first version of Windows.

"The Macintosh left a big impression on me," recalls Mark Lightfoot, director at a graphic design and consulting firm who is an ardent Mac user and a shareholder of Apple Inc. "I first encountered it when I was studying graphic design in London. Macs were the first computers I used for desktop publishing.

"I have an original 1984 Mac at home and I turn it on once in a while for fun. It boots up in about three seconds!"

Original 1984 Macs are still available for sale on eBay, some of them in working condition. After the first model was released, Apple continued the development of the model to keep it up to date with the latest computer processing technologies.

"I can't forget the great Macintosh SE having a double-sided floppy drive, a 20Mb external chunky hard drive and a nine inch monochrome display. Honestly, it worked wonders and I think at that time it was iconic," according to Adrian Micallef, brand manager at SG Solutions Ltd, Malta's representative of Apple. "I remember well also the LC which, in my view, was the coolest computer at the time. It was an all-in-one Mac with a slim form factor and I recall lots of good memories there. I also do miss the 'Happy Mac' icon when switching on the Macintosh back then."

The 1980s witnessed the introduction of the home computer but it was very different back then, with computers from the different manufacturers unable to communicate and share information and software just like we do today with Windows, Mac and Linux compatible machines.

"I must say that it wasn't easy for the local computer users back then," explained Mr Micallef. "However all those who 'risked' to switch to the Apple platform at the time, proved themselves right and today can look back and say that the step was more than worth it. The fact that they were more productive, faster, more user friendly and most of all more reliable says it all."

There seems to be a general agreement that the iMac, launched in 1998 and still available as Apple's main desktop computer today, is a true descendant of the 1984 Macintosh.

However, with Apple founder and CEO Steve Jobs on long leave for health reasons, industry observers are questioning whether an Apple without Jobs would keep the same momentum in design and innovation. Mac users however are quite confident that Apple will continue to impress in terms of design, functionality and quality.

"There was always something about the Apple machines, especially the design touches that left an impression. Industrial design will always be an integral part of what Apple is all about. The concepts and values that gave birth to the original Macintosh are very much alive in the current iMac because Apple is always trying to break new ground. Steve Jobs is always looking forward and this is instilled in his team. It's his legacy," concluded Mr Lightfoot.

The iMac, the descendant of the 1984 Macintosh, and all other Apple products are available from iCenter of Pietà.


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