Apple Confidential

I read Apple Confidential 2.0 last week. I have not had as much fun reading a technology book in a long, long time. Although the book is focused on the history of Apple, I found myself drawn back in time to those years when I first got involved in computing.

I started out my work in technology as an Apple certified developer. In those days, applications for the Mac were built on a Lisa. I had one of the first Macs to come in to Canada as well as one of the first Fat Macs. However, the business environment turned away from Apple in favour of the Wintel platform.

Apple was directly responsible for bringing to the public numerous innovations:

• The personal computer
• The graphical user interface
• The mouse
• 3.5 inch floppy disks
• Easy networking
• Laser printing
• Desktop publishing
• Personal digital assistants
• USB
• The death of the floppy disk
• Wireless networking (WiFi)
• The iPod
• Easy-to-use on-line music purchasing

And numerous software innovations such as OS X, iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and GarageBand.

There were remarkable failures: the Apple III, the Newton, the Pippin, eWorld and many Mac models and software tools.

The book describes failures, incompetence, greed, and bungled strategic decisions and highlights the successes and innovations of the company all within the context of arguably one of the most exciting periods of technology.