Happy 38th Birthday, Macintosh 128K!
The very first Macintosh was released on January 24th, 1984. 38 years ago. And it was super, duper cool.
38 years ago, on January 24, 1984, the original Apple Macintosh was released upon the world.
This specific model, later known as the “Macintosh 128K”, was an absolutely gorgeous machine.
Even the internals were beautiful.
Even the ads were fantastic. Heck. I look at these ads for the original Macintosh and I want one right now, in 2022!
Oh, and check out this ad! Showing off all those glorious internals. “What makes it tick. And talk.”
And the software that powered it was no slouch, itself!
I mean, just look at it! On a screen capable of only black and white pixels (no shades of gray) in a resolution of 512 × 342. For 1984… that just looked downright classy!
Amazing, isn’t it? And here is the earliest “About” window for the Macintosh System. Far different looking that that of later versions, to be sure.
One fun side note: Just a few months after the release of the first Macintosh, “Macintosh System Software” was updated to version 1.1.
And, with it, came a completely new “About” screen. One of a vector art styled mountain. This about window went away rather quickly. But I rather dig it.
One final diversion: Many people recall the famous Macintosh Super Bowl advertisement… which played during Super Bowl XVIII on the 22nd… two days before the original launch.
Happy 38th birthday, Mac!
Current subscriber exclusives for The Lunduke Journal:
Full pass to LundukeFest.
eBooks: Lunduke's Dad Jokes About Computers, vol. 1, Linux for Hank (kids book), Half a Decade of Linux-y Shenanigans, Lunduke Journal Quarterly - Volume 1, Paper Doll Tux, Road-Sign Hank & the Aliens (comic book), Operating System Not Found (choose your own adventure)
Games: Linux Tycoon (Linux, Windows, DOS), 2299 (Linux, Windows)
+ Exclusive Podcasts, Articles, & 24x7 Telnet BBS Access