The Macintosh 128K, released on January 24, 1984, marked a significant milestone in the history of personal computing. It was the first Macintosh computer and played a crucial role in shaping the industry’s future.
The article commemorates the 40th anniversary of Apple’s groundbreaking release of the Macintosh 128K, highlighting its transformative impact on the computer industry. Drawing parallels to Apple’s current situation with the impending launch of the Vision Pro (February 2024,) the author underscores Macintosh’s historical significance as a bold leap forward that popularized essential concepts like the mouse, desktop metaphor, and graphics-led computing. The article emphasizes Apple’s longstanding approach of prioritizing being the best over being the first, citing the Macintosh’s success in contrast to the less successful Lisa released just a year earlier.
During Superbowl XVIII Apple ran their “1984” Super Bowl Commercial directed by Ridley Scott. It’s a classic ad that some might say is more relevant today than ever. See below a digitally enhanced video of the original commercial.