A Historic Launch in California
On January 24, 1984, at the Flint Center in Cupertino, California, a 28-year-old Steve Jobs stepped onstage in a tuxedo to introduce the Macintosh, Apple’s long-anticipated personal computer.
Two days earlier, during Super Bowl XVIII, Apple had aired its now-famous “1984” commercial, directed by Ridley Scott, which depicted the Macintosh as a liberator from conformity, directly challenging IBM’s dominance in the computer industry.
A Computer Unlike Any Before
Jobs unzipped the 17-pound Macintosh from its case, plugged it in, and demonstrated its user-friendly graphical interface, a major departure from the text-based commands of the time.
Applications like MacWrite and MacPaint showcased the power of the new system, while the mouse—a rarity in 1984—allowed users to select programs visually instead of typing code. At $2,495, the Macintosh was positioned as an accessible yet powerful personal computer.
The Impact and Early Reactions
Reactions from critics were mixed but leaned positive. Some, like Erik Sandberg-Diment of The New York Times, criticized the small nine-inch black-and-white display and the lack of a numeric keypad.
However, he praised the Macintosh’s high-resolution graphics and intuitive design, calling it “visually oriented rather than word oriented.” Larry Magid of the Los Angeles Times highlighted its revolutionary “desktop” concept and noted how naturally users adapted to the mouse.
A Turning Point in Tech History
Although Microsoft’s Windows would later dominate the personal computing market, the Macintosh introduced concepts that transformed the industry, from visual interfaces to intuitive user interaction.
In 1984, Apple set a new standard, reshaping how people thought about computers and cementing the Macintosh launch as one of technology’s most defining moments.
On Jan 24, 1984, 28-year-old Steve Jobs in a tux unveiled Apple’s Macintosh.
Two days earlier, Apple's “1984” Super Bowl ad likened IBM to Big Brother and drove hype.
A live demo followed, revealing a visual, mouse-driven computer to a cheering crowd…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/BY24FHHRkE
— Fascinating True Stories (@FascinatingTrue) September 2, 2025
Solid article! Good stuff!