Macintosh

Mac (formerly Macintosh) is a line of desktop and laptop computers developed by Apple. Each Mac computer runs a version of macOS, Apple's computer operating system. As of 2023, nearly the entire lineup runs on custom-designed Apple Silicon processors.

The original Macintosh, released in 1984, was the first personal computer to have a graphical user interface or GUI. It was a small beige all-in-one machine with a 9-inch monochrome CRT display, sold with a bundled mouse and keyboard. Over the years, Apple has released many new models of Macs in many different form factors, including desktop computers, portable laptops, and all-in-one models. When the original iMac was introduced, the product line's name also changed from Macintosh to just Mac.

The current Mac line (as of 2023) includes the following models:

  • MacBook Air - A lightweight, portable computer designed for general use and travel
  • MacBook Pro - A more-powerful portable computer aimed at pro users
  • iMac - An all-in-one desktop designed for home, business, and educational users
  • Mac Mini - A compact system unit designed for general use, popular as a home / small business server
  • Mac Studio - A small, high-power desktop computer aimed at professional users.
  • Mac Pro - A professional full-tower system unit, aimed at professional users that need an expandable computer

NOTE: While Macs are technically personal computers, the term "PC" is often reserved for computers that run Windows or Linux; for decades, "Mac vs PC" was a hot subject of online debate. Unlike PCs, which can be built by different companies and packed with a licensed version of Windows, Apple designs and manufactures all models of Mac.

Updated February 8, 2023 by Brian P.

quizTest Your Knowledge

Which of the following statements best describes an audio sample?

A
It is the name of a codec used to compress an audio file.
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B
It is a digital audio effect that can be applied to a live recording.
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C
It is an audio recording longer than one minute in length.
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D
It is a digital snapshot of an analog signal at a given point in time.
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Correct! Incorrect!     View the Sample definition.
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