Macworld Magazines
My curiosity about Macworld magazines was sparked while cataloging the first issue and I was flipping through the pages. I discovered an article that featured Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, promoting the Macintosh computer, and so he could be said to have played a part in its success!
In each monthly issue Macworld that I read, it covered new and old Macintosh computers and technology, contributing to the success of the Apple Macintosh computer. I also learned that Macworld hosted an annual trade show devoted to the Macintosh platform, showcasing new products. I've included a few of the intriguing items I discovered while reading the premier issue from 1984 and another from 2005, over twenty years apart.
The Macworld magazine
In 1984, Macworld magazine released its first issue (Macworld Premier Issue), which included a variety of intriguing articles that reflected the enthusiasm surrounding the just released Macintosh. A few highlights are as follows:
Macintosh Mouse
Describing the Mouse:
The magazine revealed a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of Apple's ground-breaking mouse, explaining its history and how it came to be.Â
Macintosh Fonts
Chart (Fonts):
The new MacWrite word processor featured many fonts that would be new to many users. Macworld had an article about the fonts and evaluated readability.Â
Interview with Microsoft Bill Gates
Bill Gates interview
An interview with Bill Gates regarding the future of computing and Microsoft's place in the Mac ecosystem.
Macworld Magazine - December 2005Â
I was curious about what happened to Macworld. The physical version was still published until 2014, and many of those paper issues have been scanned and are available to find online.
I took a close look at the , which featured the Editors' Choice Awards honouring the year's top Mac software and hardware, and the theme "Think small", emphasizing small and effective goods parts of Apple's ecosystem.Â
You can read that whole issue, and many more, at the .
iPod nano
The iPod nano
The iPod Nano was a small, stylish and incredibly portable music player, which took the place of the iPod mini.
Mac Mini
Mac mini
An affordable, compact desktop that increases accessibility to Mac computing.
Automator
A Automator
A program designed to make repetitious operations easier for Mac users.
David Bunnel (Founder of Macworld Magazine)
In 1984, David Bunnell launched Macworld magazine. Having co-founded PC Magazine and PC World, Bunnell was already a computer publication expert, but Macworld marked his entry into the Apple ecosystem. It was also the ideal companion to Apple's new Macintosh, which offers a new vision for personal computing, and the first issue coincided with the release of the first Macintosh computer. Bunnell was able to sell the idea to Apple because of Bunnell's ability to recognize technological trends, plus his many industry contacts, which included a timely tip from Bill Gates regarding the Mac project (which can be found in the Macword Magazine Premiere Issue).Â
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Our collection of Macworld magazines
Although many Macworld issues can be read online, we have collected about a dozen issues. Physically flipping through to read the articles and gawk at the advertising is a total different experience. So if you'd like to see one yourself, just get in touch and we'll pull it from storage for you!
About the Author
Cristian is a Gr.12 high school student at Resurrection Catholic Secondary School and is one of the Computer Museum’s 2025 high-school co-op students. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games, going out with friends and learning new skills.