A familiar icon for computer hobbyists and designers alike, the Macintosh computer was first sold in 1984. Within 15 years, the Macintosh would become one of the most widely used design tools on the market.

With the help and guidance of Xerox in 1984, Apple was the first company to develop the GUI (Graphical User Interface). Before that time, all operating systems ran on command lines. With the GUI, designers would be able to translate their work from the drafting table to the monitor. The processing power and reliable operating systems of later Macintosh computers would allow them to complete their work more efficiently.

Throughout the early 90’s, Apple had to compete with Windows-based machines. During that time, Apple developed System 7. This system had good colour management and handled memory better than the previous systems. The Quadra series of desktop computers was one of the best choice for designers, as they featured a fast processor and were greatly expandable. Apple also released a new series of laptop notebook, the Powerbooks which were also the first notebooks to feature trackpads. During the early 90’s, many innovations came from the company but it wasn’t until Steve Jobs came back to the helm that Apple’s popularity began to explode.

In 1999, Steve Jobs and his team of designers developed a computer that would revolutionize the way people looked at desktop computing- the inexpensive, aqua-coloured iMac. This product allowed the company to reclaim much of its market share, and practically financed all of Apple’s new projects. From that point on, all new Macintosh computers were designed to look attractive and marketable, and Apple has never been truly matched in that area of personal computing. However Jobs didn’t stop at looks. In 2000, the Unix-based operating system OS X came onto the market. Installed in all of the new Macintosh computers, X was also designed to work on Apple’s new line of servers. With its stability, open-sourced adaptability, and stunning graphical interface, X had changed the way designers would work. Operating systems previous to X were never as open or manageable, and searching for files and programs through folders and subsets of folders was time-consuming and aggravating. With X, everything was out in the open.

One of the most recent developments from Apple is the introduction of intel microprocessors. While the old-model chips will be available until 2007 in all Macintosh computers, the intel chip will allow the new Powerbooks to be upsized for a G5 processor. This advance, Steve Jobs says, “will help us create the best personal computers for the next ten years.”

In addition to the Macintosh line of computers, Apple has developed monitors and other peripherals to accomidate the growing need for professional-quality products. The Apple Cinema display debuted, in part, because of the design world’s necessity for proper colour-correction. Other monitors required too much syncing and adaptations for print work. Apple also developed a new line of flat-screen LCD displays, with sizes ranging from 20” up to a whopping 30” widescreen. Recently, Apple has also developed the customizable ‘Mighty Mouse’ in response to the world’s clamour for a mouse from the company with more than one button.

Presently, Apple sells a number of powerful machines and products for business or personal use. As of September 2005 the most powerful computer for sale by the company is the Power Mac G5. The G5 is a dual-processor 64bit supercomputer that is visually reminiscent of a cheese grater. For the student or personal home use, Apple sells a friendlier substitute called the iMac G5. In the notebook world, there are two models available: The sleek and business-ready powerbook, and a hit among college students, the iBook. Apple also sells alternative desktop models for personal and education use.