Welcome to Macintosh (film)

Plot

The film focuses on the history of computer company Apple Inc., and its Macintosh line of computers specifically. It discusses the company's employees, philosophy, practices, and interviews people who were working at Apple when the Macintosh was first released.

Production

Ars Technica noted that neither Steve Jobs nor Steve Wozniak, the founders of Apple Inc., appear in the film. However, several notable figures in the history of the Macintosh appear in the film, including Mac engineers Andy Hertzfeld and Jim Reekes, former Apple Evangelist Guy Kawasaki, and Ron Wayne, a "short-lived but original co-founder of Apple Computer".

Release

Welcome to Macintosh was shown at five film festivals. The film's studio released a trailer on YouTube on November 29, 2008. The movie was released on DVD on December 15, 2008, and includes three hours of extra and deleted scenes. In early 2009, the studio setup group screenings for the film with seven Mac and Apple user groups in seven American cities (Rockville, Maryland; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Scottsdale, Arizona; Nashville, Tennessee; Washington, D.C.; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Providence, Rhode Island), which include more than 700 people who signed up to attend the events.

Technology website Ars Technica describes Welcome to Macintosh as a film that "mixes history, criticism and an unapologetic revelry of all things Apple", and wrote, "If you liked Pirates of Silicon Valley or read Revolution in the Valley, then this film is for you." After watching the film, Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak was pleased with the results, and appreciated how "unbelievable" it was to see people "say that great of things about [him]". He also noted that the film was "so on the mark", and that it was the best independent film regarding Apple that he has seen.