Happy Anniversary, Mac

By Caroline Walker - January 24, 2009 Today marks the 25th anniversary of the unveiling of a product that would change the whole face of how we communicate, work, design, create and  connect: the Apple Macintosh. I remember the commercials that would pop up in the 80s -- (check out the completely creepy yet utterly epic launch ad below) -- and the ceremonial unveiling of my family's first home computer, the Apple IIc, which of course came complete with Oregon Trail, Lemonade Stand and Paint. The Apple Macintosh revolutionized computing by developing what's apparently called Graphical User Interface (GUI), or the thing that makes using these machines so easy for laymen like me. We don't have to memorize codes and complicated commands to fly through files and programs, thank god. We just point our mice on the pretty little icons and go to town. Now I'm no techie (obviously), which may detract from my credibility on the content of this post. It may, however, prove the point that as a consumer and a normal, everyday Mac user, these machines have changed our lives and opened the platform for rapid technological advances over the past twenty years. It's not an elitist concept anymore to have access to information and an electronic workspace. Though Macs ain't cheap, they introduced the idea that computers shouldn't be limited to fancy office spaces and the exorbitantly wealthy. In the decades that have followed the launch of the original Macintosh, we've seen a rebirth of Mac in the form of iMacs and MacBooks galore. Purists may argue that our lives have become too dependent upon gadgets and machines, but they are few and far between. The tool of choice for artists, musicians and designers, Mac sofware caters to a creative consumer as well as business minds. With iPods and iPhones and iWhoKnowsWhatElses on their way, I'm certain that new versions of Apple products will keep us on our toes and pushing forward in technology exploration. The birth of the Mac: definitely a good thing. From my MacBook, over and out.