The
Macintosh (often called "the Mac"), introduced in 1984 by
Apple Computer, was the first widely-sold personal computer
with a graphical user interface (GUI).
The
Mac was designed to provide users with a natural, intuitively
understandable, and, in general, "user-friendly" computer
interface. Many of the user interface ideas in the Macintosh
derived from experiments at the Xerox Parc laboratory in
the early 1970s, including the mouse, the use of icons or
small visual images to represent objects or actions, the
point-and-click and click-and-drag actions, and a number
of window operation ideas.
Microsoft
was successful in adapting user interface concepts first
made popular by the Mac in its first Windows operating system.
The
Macintosh has its own operating system, Mac OS.
Originally
built on a line of Motorola microprocessors, Mac versions
today are powered by the PowerPC microprocessor, which was
developed jointly by Apple, Motorola, and IBM.
The
Mac is actually a line of personal computers, configured
for individual users and businesses with different needs.
A recent product, iMac, provides the Mac technology and
interface in a low-cost package.
While
Mac users represent only about 5% of the total numbers of
personal computer users, Macs are highly popular and almost
a cultural necessity among graphic designers and online
visual artists and the companies they work for. In general,
Mac users tend to be enthusiasts.
times since Jul 11th, 2000.