Classic Computers, Enduring Ideas
Classic Computers, Enduring Ideas
The project “Buttons, in time” created by Cole DeRochie showcases an interactive timeline of Macintosh system buttons from 1984 to 2026, allowing users to explore the evolution of Mac interface buttons by clicking or dragging through different years. Users can also play each button’s pressed state, which triggers the classic Macintosh startup chime, providing an engaging way to experience the history of Mac UI elements.
An improved DingusPPC emulator now runs Apple’s unreleased Copland operating system build D11E4 from June 1996 directly in the browser, overcoming prior difficulties in running Copland on real hardware or emulators. The project includes necessary patches for booting Copland and supports interactive features like a debugger and sample applications, offering a rare opportunity to explore this historic Mac OS prototype in a modern emulation environment.
Apple Copland D11E4 Booting in Your Browser Read More »
This visual catalog showcases 75,052 icons from retro Macintosh software, allowing users to explore a vast collection of classic application and document icons. Hovering over each icon reveals detailed information such as file name, country of origin, media source, and for Finder files, file type and creator codes. The catalog also provides links to the original software media hosted at Macintosh Garden for further exploration.
Reflecting on Apple’s 50th anniversary, the article revisits early Mac application icons, which were simple 32×32 black-and-white images featuring tilted rectangles with symbolic hand images to indicate functionality, as seen in MacWrite and MacPaint. It highlights how these constraints and design patterns influenced both Apple’s and third-party software icons before evolving into less constrained, more whimsical designs. The discussion connects these early icon styles to current debates about Mac icon design and the so-called “squircle jail.”
Released in May 1991, Apple’s System 7 marked a pivotal upgrade for the Mac by introducing true multitasking, virtual memory, a modern Trash Can, and key features like Force Quit, file aliases, and Apple Events that are still foundational in macOS today. This transformative update significantly boosted productivity and extended the life of the classic Mac OS, ultimately bridging the gap to the later development of Mac OS X following the struggles of ambitious but failed projects in the 1990s.
35 Years Ago, the Mac Got an Era-Defining Upgrade Read More »
Franklin Computer Corporation built Apple ][ clones in the early 1980s, notably the ACE 100 series, which closely copied Apple’s designs including BIOS code, leading to legal battles. Their marketing featured the beloved Benjamin Franklin impersonator Ralph Archbold, whose image became closely tied to Franklin’s trademark despite the company’s controversial cloning practices. Though Franklin’s products were popular for their affordability and durability, the company eventually shifted away from desktop computers to handheld devices by the late 1980s.
https://buttondown.com/suchbadtechads/archive/franklin-ace-1000/
Franklin’s Bad Ads for Apple ][ Clones and the Beloved Impersonator They Relied On Read More »
The Apple Museum in Utrecht, Netherlands, showcases 50 years of Apple’s innovation through a curated collection that traces the company’s history from the original Apple I computer to modern devices like the Apple Watch. Opened in 2026, the museum offers visitors an immersive experience highlighting key moments and iconic products that have shaped personal computing and technology.
50 Years of Apple Innovation Read More »
In 1989, Apple engineers developed QuickTime, a revolutionary software-based multimedia platform that enabled Macs to play and edit video and audio without specialized hardware, changing the future of digital media. Despite initial skepticism and limited resources, the team’s innovative approach to software codecs and media synchronization resulted in a 1991 launch that opened up creative possibilities and set a standard for multimedia on computers.
The Mad Dash to Build the Future of Multimedia Read More »
Shelly Brisbin recounts how discovering the Macintosh and its desktop publishing capabilities in the mid-1980s transformed her career path, enabling her to overcome challenges related to her low vision and a difficult job market. By learning to use a Mac Plus with PageMaker, she launched a freelance publishing business and eventually secured a professional editing and layout job, with the skills gained continuing to benefit her throughout her career.
https://sixcolors.com/post/2026/04/another-life-changed-by-the-mac/
Another Life Changed by the Mac Read More »
In 1988, Antony Johnston’s introduction to the Macintosh Plus at his high school profoundly impacted his life by exposing him to a visual computer interface that made intuitive sense, unlike command-line systems. This experience led him to develop graphic design skills, ultimately shaping his career path into design and later professional writing, illustrating the transformative influence of early Mac computers.
https://sixcolors.com/post/2026/03/this-machine-changed-my-life/
This Machine Changed My Life Read More »
