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When the Mac first came out, Newsweek asked me what I…

“When the Mac first came out, Newsweek asked me what I [thought] of it. I said: Well, it's the first personal computer worth criticizing. So at the end of the presentation, Steve came up to me and said: Is the iPhone worth criticizing? And I said: Make the screen five inches by eight inches, and…” quote by Alan Kay
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“When the Mac first came out, Newsweek asked me what I [thought] of it. I said: Well, it's the first personal computer worth criticizing. So at the end of the presentation, Steve came up to me and said: Is the iPhone worth criticizing? And I said: Make the screen five inches by eight inches, and you'll rule the world.”

Alan Kay

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker critiques early personal computers, suggesting a larger screen could dominate the market.

In simple terms: A bigger screen would be powerful.

Key Takeaway

Consider user experience in design.

Themes

technology innovation design competition vision

Mood

critical forward‑thinking

Type

tech design

When to use this quote

  • designing new devices
  • evaluating screen sizes
  • strategic tech planning

Key Concepts

human-computer interaction product strategy market dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

  • What other features drive device success?
  • Is screen size always the key?
A Different Perspective

The comment may oversimplify market factors beyond screen size.

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