The Apple Mac was one of the first microcomputers with a graphical user interface.
Today Apple offers three current models of desktop computers with the iMac, the Mac mini and the Mac Pro.
The first
Mac
was
introduced
by
Steve Jobs
in April 1984
.
With the iMac, Apple presented a
desktop computer
with a computer integrated into the screen
at the end of the 1990s
.
Selected
current models of
the Mac from year of construction 2021 are equipped with the new in-house
M1 chip
.
Cupertino, California - With the announcement of the new
M1 chip
at the end of 2020, Apple heralded the end of its bond with chip manufacturer Intel.
At this point in time, the
Mac can
look back
on a long
history
.
It was one of the first computers with a graphical user interface in the mid-1980s.
Apple later set the standard for design with the first iMac.
Mac: History - from the Apple Lisa to the Mac Pro
The
current models
of today's iMac go back to the Macintosh 128k.
Steve Jobs
, who founded the Apple company together with
Ronald Wayne
in Cupertino / California in 1976, presented the
desktop computer
in January 1984. The Macintosh 128k acted as the successor to the Apple Lisa presented a year earlier.
This already had a mouse as an input device and a graphical user interface.
The acronym
Mac
, which Apple officially used after a few years,
quickly caught on
.
Even the first Mac was a so-called all-in-one computer: the computer unit, drives and monitor formed one unit.
A keyboard and mouse were connected to it.
Today's Mac models continue to follow this principle.
From the mid-1980s onwards, Apple regularly launched new computers with technical improvements.
The main ones were the following:
Mac XL: technically processed successor to the Apple Lisa (1985)
Mac SE: All-in-one computer with optional internal hard drive (1986)
Mac II: first and one of the few Macs without an all-in-one design (1987)
Macintosh Portable: Apple's first notebook (1989)
Macintosh Quadra: first DOS-compatible Mac, which should primarily appeal to Windows users (1994)
Power Mac: Desktop computer with a new, faster processor (1994)
iMac: first Mac with USB and SCSI connection in the new all-in-one design (1998)
Power Mac G4 Cube: cube-shaped compact calculator made of acrylic (2001)
Mac mini: compact desktop computer based on the G4 Cube (2005)
Mac: Current models at a glance
As of January 2021, Apple has the following
current models of
the
Mac
in its range:
iMac in two monitor sizes (21.5 and 27 inches screen diagonal), three processor strengths, 8 or 16 gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabytes or 1 terabyte of hard drive capacity
Mac mini including the new Apple
M1 chip
iMac Pro, professional
desktop computer
with up to 18-core CPU (maximum 4.3 gigahertz), 27-inch display and up to 256 gigabytes of RAM
The current operating system of the Mac from the 2020/2021 generation is macOS Big Sur.
Mac: This is the M1 chip
Since the end of 2020, Apple has been
gradually converting
the computer architecture of the
Mac
desktop computer
and MacBook to in-house
M1 chips
.
Previously, the company relied on processors from Intel in the majority of computers, while AMD chips were in professional computers.
The processors from our own production are called Apple Silicon.
The first of the new generation is the M1 chip.
It offers a 16-core CPU and an 8-core GPU (graphics engine) and thus delivers up to 3.5 times more processor performance than a 1.2 GHz Intel quad-core processor.
These were installed in the MacBook Air, among other things.
The Apple chip is also supposed to improve the performance of the macOS operating system.
Windows cannot be installed on Apple Silicon computers (for the time being).
Mac: accessories
Essential
accessories
such as a keyboard and mouse are usually included with the
Mac
.
In addition, Apple also offers the peripheral devices separately.
Other useful accessories for the
desktop computer
:
USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter for connecting the Mac to an HDMI display
Stand and castor kits for the Mac Pro
Apple Afterburner card to speed up video editing
Memory kits, additional memory bars