Back to the future - The early years of Apple

[col.bris]

My history with Apple goes back to 1978 when I purchased an Apple II when I lived in Monterey, California USA. Since then I have been fortunate to either use or purchased most of the computers that Apple ever released. I have seen the good times and bad times and as an Apple specialist reseller in Australia I sometimes wondered if Apple would survive. That is is all in the past now as Apple is now providing products like the iPAD, iPod's and iMacs etc that have put them in the forefront of the industry

When I found this forum I was delighted, as it provided a natural resource of information from you the users about the iPad but what stands out is the huge number of members whom are buying iPads and Apple technology for the first time. Learning more about Apple can be to your advantage and one way to find out about the history of Apple is to view the documentary "Welcome to Macintosh" that is available in the US iTUNES store
This documentary about Apple is quite amazing and it is available for rent for $3.99 or $14.99 to purchase. I personally believe it is definitely worth viewing to get a better understanding about Apple.

I hope you like it .......Cheers
Colin Down Under
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The following is a brief of the documentary. It is available in standard format on the ipad, ipod touch, iphone and AppleTV . It is also available in HD on the iPAD and AppleTV
Apple - iTunes - Download and rent Welcome to Macintosh

"Welcome to Macintosh" is the first documentary of its kind to mix history, criticism and an unapologetic revelry of all things Apple into a movie experience. The film explores the early years of Apple, the many challenges Apple has faced, and what the future may hold for the company and it's products. Ex-Apple employees, engineers and community members offer insight on the company's innovations, failures, cultural impact and what the future may be like beyond the reign of its co-founder Steve Jobs. Interviews include notable Apple personalities Andy Hertzfeld, co-creator of the original Macintosh, Guy Kawasaki, long time Mac evangelist, Leander Kahney, author of the book "Cult of Mac", Jim Reekes, creator of the Macintosh start-up sound and Ron Wayne, original co-founder of the Apple Computer Company.

Welcome to Macintosh is also available streaming from Netflix.

 

[DavidNM]

After my Apple II, I remember buying my first Mac Box for about $2500. Lugging it in the office and having people look at me like I had grown horns.

 

[iVan]

Thank you, col.bris. That definitely will fall in the category of things I'll get.

 

[IpadOne]

Poor of me i can’t rent it (not available in SG iTunes store), colin like you i be an early user of Macintosh, i have bough Apple LcII , powerbook 100/160, macintosh classic/classic color, Spartacus (witch my ex wife stolen) , Macintosh Cube and now all iPhones model, MB, MBP, iPad wifi & iPad 3G … during 10 almost years i become PeeCee user , when i return i Mac i have realize how simple and useful are their products

In the eyes of many people Apple is more expensive than PC , that’s wrong at all we have a white MacBook 3 years old i want to change it for the latest 15’’ MBP , i didn’t find any reasons because this machine work fine and never give us any trouble … in same time we have some dell Vostro same age all they already return 3 or 4 times for change important part … and i prefer to don’t talk about the hassle and cost of OS update in PeeCee.

I am pretty sure our grand children will keep continue to have Apple products.

 

[Seadog]

I started with a Vic 20. When Apple came out with the original LC, I bought the first one in the area. A hefty investment back then.

 

[Neopad]

Welcome to Macintosh is also available streaming from Netflix. Great show!

 

[henry2]

when i first saw Mac computers back in the early 80s time frame.. i really was not into the tech back then as iam now ..for i was married and my wife wanted a computer for the kids to have and learn on in the house..or me it was another thing that cost me money in the house..sorry that was the truth in my eyes at the time ..for i really did not understand the whole thing about computer just yet and had not had my eyes open up to the world of the computer ..

my kids where the computer people in the house..only did i get out of the military and went into the field of law enforcement did i even begin to think about the computers for then they where becomeing into the field with terminals in the partol car and then that where i really started to get into the whole area of computers after that the internet took off and here we are now ..

but to me apple was not really on my mind as a computer intill i really started looking at the apple product the Iphone and simple it was to use ..then came the Ipad unit and the Imac unit .. to me i wished i had picked the units up along time ago ..but i did not and now iam makeing up for lost time..

 

[Sonny Burnett]

I started with an Atari 800, when the Apple II was out then moved to an Atari Mega 2 ST and the next thing that I purchased was a Power Macintosh 7100/66 back in 94 when I was in college. In 98 I bought an Intel PII and in 2003 a P4. I went on to purchase a Mac Mini in 2007 along with an iPod Nano that year as well. Last year I purchased an Intel Quad Core PC. I am planning on picking up a 64GB WiFi + 3G next week.

As far as movies go I enjoyed the Pirates of Silicon Valley and according to Woz the movie was dead on in its portrayal of events.

 

[kheldour]

hey Col.bris - nice hint for the book.

Here my little list:

- 1978 a TI-57 programmable calculator
- 1980 a TI-58 with magnet card reader unit.
- 1981 Apple II (and a twin 5,25"-Floppy-Drive - Floppies at that time where about $30 each!!!)
- 1983 Basic-Programming course on a Sanyo-Computer with Cassette-Drive.
- 1985 PC Apricot F1e with 3.5" Floppy and 256MB of RAM
- 1986 Atari ST1040 with 20MB-RLL-Harddrive (self-soldered controller)
- 1987 Amiga 500
- 1988 Amiga 2000
- 1989 PC-40-III 286 with 40MB Harddrive

my first Mac was a PowerMac 9600 on MacOS 8.1 in 1998

 

[col.bris]

This is so cool seeing the response from all of you... We all go back along way. I actually formed the Monterey Macintosh Users Group around 1985 can't remember that far back lol and I can remember Guy Kawasaki attending one of our meetings as a special guest Back then in Monterey we had many early developers living there one in particular was Robin Casady , Creator of Fluent fonts whom formed Casady & Green inc a Macintosh software publisher and developer. Back then it was non stop excitement watching the evolution of the Macintosh I can also remember when we installed a 10mb Hyper Hard Drive in to a Macplus.. wow it was so big compared to the 128k floppy. LOL glad you liked my post

 

[JMK]

My first computer was a PC made by AST. I got it in 1991 for $1700. 25 Mhz, 80 Mb disk.
2400 baud modem, i think.

It was top of the line back then.

Your internet came with a shell account. The WWW was just becoming public.
I think that back then you really could reach the end of the Web if you wanted to.

 

[figmo10]

This is my first Apple product. When it becomes time to replace my aging desktop PC, I may go Apple....it would seem to make sense if I enjoy the iPad.

 

[kheldour]

____________________________________
The following is a brief of the documentary. It is available in standard format on the ipad, ipod touch, iphone and AppleTV . It is also available in HD on the iPAD and AppleTV
Apple - iTunes - Download and rent Welcome to Macintosh

Hey guys, I found the full movie FREE to look on the web:

Here is the documentary: Welcome to Macintosh

 

[Gayle]

Thank you Col.bris--just watched on NetFlix and really enjoyed the movie.

 

[IpadOne]

Apple January 1984

i believe most of us have read this magazine …. this is the cover of the number one …..

A rumor pretend, some days ago after take the picture Steve call the editor saying have change is mind and don’t want to be in the cover but the editor lie saying thats too late it’s already print …. the beginning of the Apple saga