Steve Jobs’ Vision: The Story of Mr. Macintosh, the Mysterious Character Inside Every Apple Mac
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the release of the Apple Macintosh, a groundbreaking computer that revolutionized the tech industry. To celebrate this milestone, the Folon Foundation has shared an intriguing anecdote about a little-known character that was meant to inhabit every Macintosh machine: Mr. Macintosh, also known as Mac Man.
The story begins in 1982 when Steve Jobs, the visionary co-founder of Apple, shared his idea with Mac designer Andy Hertzfeld. Jobs described Mr. Macintosh as a mysterious little man who would occasionally appear on the screen, surprising the owner with a wink before disappearing again. Hertzfeld recalls Jobs saying, “It will be so quick that you won’t be sure if you saw him or not. We’ll plant references in the manuals to the legend of Mr. Macintosh, and no one will know if he’s real or not.”
Although the concept intrigued the team, they had to prioritize other essential tasks, and the implementation of Mr. Macintosh was put on hold. It wasn’t until a few months later that Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon entered the picture. Jobs believed that Folon’s artistic style, characterized by a playful and profound sensibility, would be a perfect fit for bringing Mr. Macintosh to life.
Folon visited Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino in the spring of 1983 to showcase his sketches to the team. He was fascinated by the embryonic Macintosh he saw in 1982 and shared his enthusiasm with the developers. Unfortunately, due to technical constraints such as limited ROM, disk space, and development time, Apple had to abandon its plans for Mr. Macintosh.
Despite the project’s cancellation, Folon’s collaboration with Apple left behind some highly sought-after collectibles. Apple created buttons featuring Folon’s drawings of Mr. Macintosh, which were given away at trade shows. Additionally, a Mac poster featuring Folon’s artwork became a coveted item among Mac enthusiasts. One particularly interesting artifact is a letter that was once auctioned, demonstrating the continued friendship between Folon and Jobs.
While these items are rare and hard to come by, they offer a glimpse into the rich history of the Macintosh and the creative ideas that shaped its development. Among the treasures, one stands out: an original Mac circuit board adorned with Folon’s iconic Mac Man next to the copyright notice. This unique piece encapsulates the spirit of innovation and artistic collaboration that defined Apple’s early years.
As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Macintosh, let us remember the visionary minds behind its creation and the fascinating stories that make it an enduring icon in the world of technology.
Image Credits: Digibarn Computer Museum