MacThe Mac computer – more formerly known as the Macintosh computer – is the number one rival of IBM-based personal computer. The Mac was invented by the Apple Corporation back in the late 1970’s and released in 1984. It has since become one of the biggies in the personal as well as professional computer market. The Mac was one of the first commercially successful personal computers to use a graphical user interface (GUI) and mouse instead of the then-standard command line interface. This would prove to be very beneficial to all users as the system was incredibly user-friendly and could be used by more people in the common market. Mac systems are mainly targeted at the home, education, and creative/professional markets. The Mac computers use vertical integration in all of their systems in that they create all parts of the computer system including the hardware and operating system. Other computers have one vendor for the operating system and multiple vendors that create the hardware. The original version of the Mac computer was released in 1984 with a ground-breaking commercial that aired during the Super Bowl. It featured a woman throwing a sledge hammer at a “Big Brother-like” video screen meant to represent IBM. The concept was that with the Mac, Apple would be bringing “power to the people” by challenging the text-based computers that were dominating the market at the time. Two days after the ad aired, the first Mac went on the market with a price tag of $2,495. It came bundled with two useful programs designed to show off its interface: MacWrite and MacPaint. Although the Mac garnered an immediate, enthusiastic following, it was too radical for some. Because the machine was entirely designed around the GUI, existing text-mode and command-driven programs had to be redesigned and rewritten; this was a challenging undertaking that many software developers shied away from, and resulted in an initial lack of software for the new system. Many users, accustomed to the arcane world of command lines, labeled the Mac a mere “toy.” Over the years, Apple would improve on the Mac design and release new version after new version. Apple would also become instrumental in introducing the new concept of the laptop computer with their release of the Power Book. Mac computers are extremely popular with the iMac desktop computer as well as the Mac mini laptop. Of course, as with all computer technology, Mac will continue to evolve and change as computer using needs change. However, we’re relatively sure that the Apple Mac computer line will remain in the forefront of the computer industry making the market truly free-choice and consumer driven.
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