John Paul M. Joaquin Tech 01.24.2023 20:Jan PM EST

Did You Know That Apple Released the First Macintosh on This Day 39 Years Ago?

Apple has made a name for itself since its founding on April 1, 1976, per the Library of Congress. Any adult who hears the word "Apple" immediately thinks of iPhones, iPads, AirPods, Air tags, and, of course, the Mac.

The Mac had seen its fair share of changes before it became the Mac we now know and love. As with many things, it started as something quite unremarkable for our time but was amazing during its first few years.

Here is the story of how the Macintosh, the daddy of the Macs, came to be:

The Release Of The First Macintosh Computer

Apple released the first Macintosh 39 years ago on Jan. 24, 1984, and according to Apple's statement about the new computer, it was a newsmaker.

According to History-Computer, the Macintosh is the brainchild of Jef Raskin, an Apple employee in the 1970s. He envisioned an easy-to-use, low-cost computer for the average consumer, which Apple also fancied.

The company then allowed him to hire employees to work on his vision, eventually releasing it to the public.

Apple described the Macintosh computer as "a sophisticated, affordably priced personal computer (PC)" designed for people from all walks of life, from business people and professionals, to even students.

It was based on a 32-bit architecture Apple developed for its Lisa computer, which is already advanced at the time.

This "state-of-the-art" feel at the time was due to the Macintosh combining computing power with ease of use for a unit smaller and lighter than most transportable computers at the time.

The Macintosh of the mid-1980s uses built-in user interface software and a high-resolution display to simulate the actual desktop working environment, providing its user with a notepad, file folders, a calculator, and other office tools.

As for its storage, the Macintosh only uses 64 kilobytes of read-only memory (ROM) and 128 kilobytes of RAM to support its desktop tools - a small and insufficient amount for our use in a time of terabytes of data.

At the time, people were still getting used to using computer mice, with Apple developing and commercializing it in 19083 through its Lisa computer, per CNBC. This technological advancement gave users the convenience of pointing and clicking items on the computer without the need to memorize numerous and confusing keyboard commands like many of the computers at the time.

Even then, Apple is widely used by creatives, with one of its Macintosh programs being dedicated to graphics. Meanwhile, the other is used for word processing; Apple offered both programs for free during the first 100 days after introduction.

Media And Public Reception

Thanks to Apple's extensive media marketing campaign, which includes a TV commercial shown during the 1984 Super Bowl, the company sold 70,000 units of its Macintosh computers for about $2,500 - the equivalent of $7, 352.74 in our time, per Calculator.net as of press time.

The Macintosh's impact wasn't immediately felt, but eventually, the computer's popularity made the company discontinue its "Mac Classic" line of computers in April 1986, per American History.