Buzz
A little over a year ago, Macworld magazine ceased its print editions. Its legacy is monumental, beginning in 1984 with the Mac's introduction and continuing for over three decades. While the print version has ended, Macworld persists digitally. Today, we revisit its inaugural issue, which has been archived on The Internet Archive.
1. Understanding the Mouse
On page 28, Macworld Assistant Editor Daniel Farber delves into Apple's innovative mouse. He provides extensive background—rightly acknowledging Doug Engelbart as the original inventor and noting that Apple's Lisa computer featured a mouse prior to the Mac. Farber elaborates on how the mouse enhances the natural human ability to point, a concept that required detailed explanation in 1984. The piece examines the Mac mouse's design, including its single button, accurate scrolling mechanism (with a removable ball), and the "double-click" functionality.
Retro moment: "The combination of a mouse and a computer on a modern office desk or your home workspace might appear quite odd. Is it a fusion of advanced technology and the rodent world, or perhaps a nod to Silicon Valley's quirky humor?" Ah, mouse humor—a hallmark of '80s computing. I don’t miss it.
Prescient moment: "While the mouse may not be the final solution for computer interaction, it remains the most effective tool yet created to bridge the gap between computers and their users."
2. Guide to Typefaces (Fonts)
On pages 106-107, Macworld offers a detailed overview of the top fonts for MacWrite, highlighting the point sizes that ensure optimal readability in print.
Retro moment: Printing the "outline" version of every font, despite its less-than-ideal appearance.
Technically impressive moment: Featuring eight (!) fonts in the lineup: New York, Geneva, Toronto, Monaco, Venice, Chicago, Athens, and London. Many of these were proportional, a departure from the monospaced fonts common at the time. (It’s worth noting that the Mac came with additional fonts, but the list included a "ransom note" style font, a dingbat font, and a handwriting font, none of which were particularly appealing in print.)
3. Conversation with Bill Gates
Longtime Mac enthusiasts recall Microsoft's significant presence on the platform, even in its early days. Microsoft Excel first launched on the Mac, and Microsoft Word became the preferred word processor for many Mac users throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Bill Gates played such a pivotal role in the Mac's software ecosystem that he appeared at early Mac events, and Macworld dedicated pages 42-45 of its debut issue to an interview with him.
Retro moment: "You can equip a PC with a high-quality graphics board, add a Microsoft mouse, and install the required software, but that’s not the PC’s primary focus. The PC is mainly used in text mode, and until now, it’s mostly been used without a mouse; you couldn’t achieve the Mac’s performance or graphics on a PC at a similar price." -Bill Gates. Oh, how things have evolved. (Fun fact: I’m currently using a Microsoft mouse. It’s fantastic.)
4. Massive Microsoft Advertisement
Microsoft secured two full-page ads to showcase its top-tier software. (The magazine also included two in-depth articles highlighting Microsoft Multiplan, the spreadsheet that came before Excel.)
Retro moment: "MICROSOFT BASIC. The industry standard. Enhanced with special commands for the mouse and bit-mapped graphics." Indeed, BASIC was available on the Mac, though it never gained the same traction as on other platforms, largely due to the Mac’s graphical interface.
5. The Mac Team Celebrates the Macworld Team
Following the Mac’s launch, Apple’s Mac team captured an iconic photograph (shown above, right) featuring the team responsible for the computer. When Macworld debuted, the magazine’s team recreated a similar group photo. Apple celebrated this milestone with a two-page ad congratulating the magazine team.
Retro moment: The fashion, hairstyles, and beards of the era.
(All images provided by The Internet Archive. For an extensive assortment of Macworld scans, explore their newly added Macworld Magazine collection.)
