The Macintosh, or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a graphical user interface rather than a command-line interface.

Through the second half of the 1980s, the company built market share only to see it dissipate in the 1990s as the personal computer market shifted towards IBM PC compatible machines running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows. Apple consolidated multiple consumer-level desktop models into the 1998 iMac all-in-one, which was a sales success and saw the Macintosh brand revitalized. Current Mac systems are mainly targeted at the home, education, and creative professional markets. They are: the aforementioned (though upgraded) iMac and the entry-level Mac mini desktop models, the workstation-level Mac Pro tower, the MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops, and the Xserve server.

Production of the Mac is based on a vertical integration model in that Apple facilitates all aspects of its hardware and creates its own operating system that is pre-installed on all Mac computers. This is in contrast to most IBM PC compatibles, where multiple sellers create hardware intended to run another company's operating software. Apple exclusively produces Mac hardware, choosing internal systems, designs, and prices. Apple does use third party components, however. Current Mac CPUs use Intel's x86 architecture; models from 1994-2006 used the AIM alliance's PowerPC and models from 1984-1994 used Motorola's 68k. Apple also develops the operating system for the Mac, currently Mac OS X version 10.6 "Snow Leopard". The modern Mac, like other personal computers, is capable of running alternative operating systems such as Linux, FreeBSD, and, in the case of Intel-based Macs, Microsoft Windows. However, Apple does not license Mac OS X for use on non-Apple computers.

Apple Inc. is an American consumer electronics corporation headquartered in Cupertino, California, formerly known as Apple Computer Inc. it was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.

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The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers....

• Here's to the crazy ones.

  The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo.

  You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them.

  Because they change things. They push the human race forward. While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.

  Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

  • Apple TV Ads: Think Different.mov (1998).

Apple iPhone Gadget of the Year In addition to naming it the Invention of the Year, Time also includes iPhone among its candidates for Gadget of the Year. iPhone, Time editors say, “changed the way we think about how mobile media devices should look, feel and perform. The design is exceptional inside and out: It’s got a slick glass-and–stainless steel case and an elegant touch screen loaded with eye candy.” Ready to cast your vote? [Nov 02, 2007]

• Everyone wants a MacBook Pro because they are so bitchin'.
  • Steve Jobs, Apple Shareholders Meeting, April 27th, 2006. (2006).

• Well, looks like you've got lots of stuff to do, before you do any stuff
  • "Mac", Get a Mac Ad Campaign (2006).