Happy 25th birthday to Macintosh

Well, today is the day.  Twenty-five years ago on this day, a much-younger Steve Jobs introduced the Macintosh to 3000 attendees at the Flint Center at De Anza College in Cupertino.  It was to be the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a graphical user interface rather than a command line interface. 

As you can see below, Jobs didn't just catch his trademark showmanship stride recently.

"There wasn't a person in the room who didn't think this was history happening," recalled Richard Doherty, analyst with the Envisioneering Group, who was there.

This wasn't the first hint to the world that Macintosh was coming.  A few days earlier, Apple aired their famous '1984' ad.  They'd spent $1.5 million on producing what would become the gold standard in Superbowl ads.  The ad only ran one other time on TV (millions of times over in YouTube glory) but it not only changed the computer industry, it changed the advertising industry.

The ad wasn't an easy sell.  Apple's board wanted to can it until Steve Jobs and John Sculley convinced them to run it. Steve Wozniak even offered to foot the bill he liked it so much.

Mac512 has 'YouTubed' the VHS tape that came with the original Macintosh.

and part 2 (Bill Gates?)...

Computerworld's Ryan Faas put together a look inside what it was like building the Macintosh.  If you can't get enough about the original Mac, check Folklore.org or Wikipedia.

The original Mac cost $2495 with the following options:

• Imagewriter printer $595 ($495 if purchased with Macintosh)
• Numeric Keypad $129
• Modem 300 $225
• Modem 1200 $495
• Carrying Case $99
• 3 1/2-inch disk box (10 disks) $49
• MacWrite/MacPaint $195 (included free with each Macintosh during the introductory period)
• External Drive $495

As someone who has spent the better part of my life working and playing  with Macs, I certainly hope they'll be around another 25 years.  The platform is certainly as relevant and exciting as it has ever been.

Image from Wired

More from Computerworld:

• Opinion: The top 10 standout Macs of the past 25 years
• In the beginning: The making of the Mac
• The Mac at 25: Successes and regrets, Apple's had a few
• Opinion: Mac advertising masterpieces and missteps
• Timeline: Milestones in the Mac's history
• Opinion: What will Macs be like in 25 years?
• Have your say: Share your Mac memories

The Mac at 25: Full coverage