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Not to be confused with Microsoft Office for the Macintosh.

The Macintosh Office was marketed by Apple Computer in 1985, which was to comprise (apart from Macs) a file server, the AppleTalk local area network, and a LaserWriter laser printer.

Background[]

Apple_Super_Bowl_Commercial_Lemmings_1985

Apple Super Bowl Commercial Lemmings 1985

In response to the declining sales that the early Macintosh 128K and 512K were producing at the time, Apple developed the Macintosh Office in an effort to address that.[1] The Lemmings commercial was aired during Super Bowl XIX on January 20, 1985 to introduce the Macintosh Office, showing a group of blindfolded business people to the tune of the "Heigh-Ho" song ftom Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Everyone, except for the last person, falls down a cliff, still blindfolded. Compared to the "1984" Super Bowl advertisement, Lemmings was severely criticized by customers; one had even accused Apple of indirectly promoting the Holocaust.[2]

According to a press release during Apple's shareholder meeting on January 23rd, the Macintosh Office was scheduled to be released in the second quarter of 1985. However, the file server failed to ship as scheduled.[1][3] The LaserWriter shipped in March 1985 along with AppleTalk networking, but was criticized for its high price. The subsequent release of Aldus PageMaker in July 1985, followed by the more powerful Macintosh Plus in January 1986 initiated the desktop publishing revolution and helped save the Macintosh platform.[1][4]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Today in Apple history: Macintosh Office gets down to business by Luke Dormehl, Cult of Mac. 2024-01-23.
  2. Today in Apple history: Sequel to ‘1984’ Mac ad bombs hard by Luke Dormehl, Cult of Mac. 2024-01-20.
  3. Apple Computer, Inc. Introduces the Macintosh Office by Regis McKenna Inc., Apple Computer, Inc. 1985-01-23. Archived at Tech Insider.
  4. Desktop Publishing 1985-1991: The Apple Computer Story, Museum Victoria Collections. Accessed 2024-10-07.

External links[]

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