Insanely Great: The Life and Times of Macintosh, the Computer that Changed Everything
by Steven Levy
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"From the moment the public met Macintosh - introduced by an apocalyptic commercial that had a nation rubbing its eyes in astonishment - it was clear that there had never been anything like it. Its creators had been commanded to devise a personal computer that was not just good, not just great, but "insanely great" - so great that it would change the world. And it did. Macintosh won over a fanatic cult audience with its friendly interface, its attention to aesthetic detail, and what could show more only be called its quirky personality. It invaded not only people's offices and homes, but their minds as well. The Mac also catapulted the computer industry into an unprecedented mix of technics, economics, and show biz. Eventually, the essence of Macintosh found its way to nearly all computers, and has fundamentally changed the way we deal with information. Like the Model T or the Apollo mission, Macintosh thrust America into a new millennium." "Now, on the Mac's tenth anniversary, Insanely Great tells the exciting story of the machine that became a kind of Manhattan Project in a box. Veteran technology writer and Macworld columnist Steven Levy zooms in on the machine - the product of the collective will of its sometimes maniacal creators and its dedicated users - as well as the fortunes of the unique company responsible for the Mac's evolution. Levy looks beneath the surface of our stormy romance with silicon and software, at how the Mac proved to be a harbinger of our changing relationship with technology. And he tells how he - a self-described proto-Luddite - became a convert, seduced by a machine and its vision." "Full of insider anecdotes, peppered with Levy's sharp commentary - and created entirely on the machine it celebrates - Insanely Great is the definitive book on the most important computer ever made. It is a must-have for Mac users, as well as for anyone curious about how we've arrived at the portal of the interactive era."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved show lessTags
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I have worked with computers since the late 70's. So reading computer books was just part of my job. I read Tracy Kidders Soul of a New Machine in the late 80's and it was a real buzz to "see" all that background stuff. So I slowly got hooked on computer history.
I always wondered how Xerox discovered Windows, Apple made the first Windows interface and Microsoft sold it to the world. This book explained all this to me in gorgeous detail and so much more as well. It was such a good read I remember thinking about reading it slowly to make the fun last longer. I am amazed to see that nobody has yet given this a 5 star rating. Guess it just pushed the right buttons for me.
I am not a Mac guy or a programmer, just a corporate PC tech kinda guy.
I always wondered how Xerox discovered Windows, Apple made the first Windows interface and Microsoft sold it to the world. This book explained all this to me in gorgeous detail and so much more as well. It was such a good read I remember thinking about reading it slowly to make the fun last longer. I am amazed to see that nobody has yet given this a 5 star rating. Guess it just pushed the right buttons for me.
I am not a Mac guy or a programmer, just a corporate PC tech kinda guy.
The creation of the Mac in 1984 catapulted America into the digital millennium, captured a fanatic cult audience, and transformed the computer industry into an unprecedented mix of technics, economics, and show business. Now veteran technology writer and MacWorld columnist Steven Levy zooms in on the great machine and the fortunes of the unique company responsible for its evolution. Loaded with anecdote and insight, peppered with sharp commentary, created entirely on the computer it celebrates, and now with a new afterword on the PowerMac, Insanely Great is the definitive book on the most important computer ever made. It is a must-have for Mac users and anyone curious about how we've arrived at the portal of the interactive era.
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13 Works 5,480 Members
Steven Levy is a senior editor for "Newsweek." For ten years he wrote the "Iconoclast" column for "MacWorld" magazine. His previous books include "Hackers" & "Artificial Life." (Bowker Author Biography)
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Steve Jobs
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Technology, General Nonfiction, Business, History
- DDC/MDS
- 338.761004165 — Society, government, & culture Economics Production Business Enterprises By Industry Service
- LCC
- QA76.8 .M3 .L487 — Science Mathematics Mathematics Instruments and machines Calculating machines Electronic computers. Computer science
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 459
- Popularity
- 66,281
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.72)
- Languages
- English, Japanese
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 4
