The picture you see to the right of this text may not seem as “finished” as your aluminum MacBook Pro or your space-saving Mac Mini. But this system, the Apple II, was one of the first systems that Apple Computer produced, and back then, it was a revolutionary item.
Back then, in 1977, it wasn’t even called a Macintosh. That came later. The system pictured cost at the least $1298, with a relatively measly 1.0 MHz processor and a 6 colors maximum display. To think how much innovation must have went on in Silicon Valley, Cal. since then is a compelling thought.
I, typing on my Sony VAIO VGN-CR490, may not seem to be the one to praise a movie that deals with the subject of Macs. However, although it did not change my mind about being a “Mac or PC,” it was very informative and interesting for one who hasn’t studied the details of Apple’s history.
“Welcome to Macintosh,” co-directed by Rober Baca and Joshua Rizzo, delves into the history of the enigmatic computer company beginning at its roots, namely when they hadn’t even produced any actual hardware yet. The film then takes a journey through the Apple I, the Apple II, the Apple III, the Macintosh computers, and so on and so forth.
What I find interesting about this documentary, however, is that it admits Apple’s mistakes. For example, it mentions the Apple Newton MessagePad (pictured to the right), which had many issues and never really caught on with a demanding market. However, it is also mentioned that Apple had relatively few mistakes in its career, with almost none so far under Steve Jobs.
The film, as with most documentaries, is interview-based, and multiple Mac-addicts, per sé, show everything they know and believe about the computer company. One person is interviewed who has a whole building with collected Apple computers in every nook and cranny. He notes how he always wants to get rid of them, but he feels a personal connection with them.
That is a recurring motif throughout the documentary, of people having a strong connection with their computers. At one point, it is mentioned that some people keep their Macs and use them to their capacity, until they cease to work. Now that is a connection.
With Apple, it is always what’s ahead in the future. Steve Jobs, according to the documentary, is the main “visionary” in the company, and he is the one to say, “Hey, what if we make a phone?”
If you’re even vaguely interested in computers, I would recommend “Welcome to Macintosh” to you. You don’t have to know what RAM is or the average speed of an Intel processor. All you have to do is to have an open mindset, and let the information flow in.
I’ve included the trailer below and a link to the official site (click on the logo above). After you see the movie, please comment and tell me if you agree with me.
Thanks Logan! I plan to watch this as I am a big Mac fan. Not the burger…
I appreciate the open-mindedness! Keep it up!