--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I first got to Apple, which was in…" description: "\"When I first got to Apple, which was in '84, the Mac was already out, and 'Newsweek' contacted me and asked me what I thought of the Mac. I said, 'Well..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/alan-kay-7358_apple_when-i-first-got-to-apple-which-was-in-8_1104425.jpg" --- # When I first got to Apple, which was in '84, the Mac was… ![“When I first got to Apple, which was in '84, the Mac was already out, and 'Newsweek' contacted me and asked me what I thought of the Mac. I said, 'Well, the Mac is the first personal computer good enough to be criticized.'” quote by Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/alan-kay-7358_apple_when-i-first-got-to-apple-which-was-in-8_1104425.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/alan-kay-7358_apple_when-i-first-got-to-apple-which-was-in-8_1104425.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/alan-kay-7358_apple_when-i-first-got-to-apple-which-was-in-8_1104425.jpg) > “When I first got to Apple, which was in '84, the Mac was already out, and 'Newsweek' contacted me and asked me what I thought of the Mac. I said, 'Well, the Mac is the first personal computer good enough to be criticized.'” [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 Mac was the first personal computer good enough to be critiqued, implying it reached a quality threshold. **In simple terms:** Mac set a new standard for personal computers. Key Takeaway Recognize when products become critique‑ready. Themes technology innovation quality Mood analytical reflective Type observational historical When to use this quote - product launch - review processes - competitor analysis Key Concepts design user experience industry standards Questions to Reflect On - When does critique become constructive? - What standards define 'good enough'? A Different Perspective Critique may focus on flaws over strengths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apple/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [First person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-person/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-enough/) [Mac Personal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mac-personal-2911100/) [Mac Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mac-said-427062/) [Said Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-mac-2911102/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Thought Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-mac-2911101/) [Well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well/) ## Related quotes > [“I want you, here, with me, before I close my eyes.” “That you have,” Mac said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaje-harper/i-want-you-here-with-me-before-i-close-my-eyes-that-you-have-mac-said/) [Kaje Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaje-harper/) > [“Call me Mac," he said. Mackadocious is more like it. "For the next month, I will be your writing instructor..." Lip Macking Good. "It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/call-me-mac-he-said-mackadocious-is-more-like-it-for-the-next-month-i/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [Mac." He said my name and laughed. "What a name for something like you. Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/mac-he-said-my-name-and-laughed-what-a-name-for-something-like-you-mac/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“She's a social worker, Karen," Mac said when I told the group. "She must know something about homosexuality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-garden/she-s-a-social-worker-karen-mac-said-when-i-told-the-group-she-must/) [Nancy Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-garden/) > [“She's going to do nothing but try to trick information out of me that I shouldn't be giving her, Mac," I said. "Ungh," Mac…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/she-s-going-to-do-nothing-but-try-to-trick-information-out-of-me-that/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Every time I think I know everything about horses, there is something more to surprise me. "I feel the same way about humans," Mac…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/every-time-i-think-i-know-everything-about-horses-there-is-something/) [Jojo Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) > [“Hart having arrived before them, insisted they lift at least one glass to old Mrs. McCray. "May she, her husband, and our father be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ashley/hart-having-arrived-before-them-insisted-they-lift-at-least-one-glass/) [Jennifer Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ashley/) > [“Someday,” Mac said almost inaudibly. Tony turned to see the big man’s eyes fixed on the same couple. To his surprise, Mac went on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaje-harper/someday-mac-said-almost-inaudibly-tony-turned-to-see-the-big-man-s/) [Kaje Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaje-harper/) > [Something like this will test you like nothing else," Mac said. "You're going to find out who you are, Harry. You're going to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/something-like-this-will-test-you-like-nothing-else-mac-said-you-re/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [As far as Apple goes, it was a different company every few years from the time I joined in 1984.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/as-far-as-apple-goes-it-was-a-different-company-every-few-years-from/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [I've been a Fellow in a number of companies: Xerox, Apple, Disney, HP. There are certain similarities because all the Fellows programs were derived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/i-ve-been-a-fellow-in-a-number-of-companies-xerox-apple-disney-hp/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Steve was perfectly aware of the Dynabook. That was one of the reasons he wanted me to come to Apple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/steve-was-perfectly-aware-of-the-dynabook-that-was-one-of-the-reasons/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [“Most people believe the apple merely represented Knowledge. But we know better. It was the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-beverly-whittemore/most-people-believe-the-apple-merely-represented-knowledge-but-we/) [Miranda Beverly-Whittemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-beverly-whittemore/) > [“Neither's the one you get, less you want me to see if your apple's ripe, yet. - Yoren”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/neither-s-the-one-you-get-less-you-want-me-to-see-if-your-apple-s/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) ## More by Alan Kay > [In our society we have hard nerds and soft nerds. The hard nerds are the ones who used to have the slide rules at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/in-our-society-we-have-hard-nerds-and-soft-nerds-the-hard-nerds-are/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [As far as Apple goes, it was a different company every few years from the time I joined in 1984.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/as-far-as-apple-goes-it-was-a-different-company-every-few-years-from/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [When I first prepared this particular talk... I realized that my usual approach is usually critical. That is, a lot of the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/when-i-first-prepared-this-particular-talk-i-realized-that-my-usual/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Quite a few people have to believe something is normal before it becomes normal - a sort of 'voting' situation. But once the threshold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/quite-a-few-people-have-to-believe-something-is-normal-before-it/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Every technology really needs to be shipped with a special manual - not how to use it but why, when and for what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/every-technology-really-needs-to-be-shipped-with-a-special-manual-not/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Java and C++ make you think that the new ideas are like the old ones. Java is the most distressing thing to hit computing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/java-and-c-make-you-think-that-the-new-ideas-are-like-the-old-ones/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [It's hard to change information in books, but if we have everything online, then a somewhat untrustworthy group of people controlling the thing -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/it-s-hard-to-change-information-in-books-but-if-we-have-everything/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Computer programmers do it byte by byte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/computer-programmers-do-it-byte-by-byte/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Lisp isn't a language, it's a building material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/lisp-isn-t-a-language-it-s-a-building-material/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [The tree of research must be fed from time to time with the blood of bean-counters, for it is its natural manure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/the-tree-of-research-must-be-fed-from-time-to-time-with-the-blood-of/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [People who are really serious about software should make their own hardware.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/people-who-are-really-serious-about-software-should-make-their-own/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [I think the trick with knowledge is to “acquire it, and forget all except the perfume” - because it is noisy and sometimes drowns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/i-think-the-trick-with-knowledge-is-to-acquire-it-and-forget-all/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Possibly the only real object-oriented system in working order. (About Internet)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/possibly-the-only-real-object-oriented-system-in-working-order-about/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [“A change in perspective is worth 80 IQ points.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/a-change-in-perspective-is-worth-80-iq-points/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Humans are communications junkies. We just can't get enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/humans-are-communications-junkies-we-just-can-t-get-enough/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) [Explore all 91 Alan Kay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) ## More Apple quotes > [“Neither's the one you get, less you want me to see if your apple's ripe, yet. - Yoren”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/neither-s-the-one-you-get-less-you-want-me-to-see-if-your-apple-s/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Most people believe the apple merely represented Knowledge. But we know better. 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I think Steve Jobs has started one of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-m-not-only-a-fan-of-apple-products-i-have-stock-in-the-company-i/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [When Apple introduced its game-changing iPhone in 2007, Nokia was caught sleeping on the job. Although it had actually developed an iPhone-style device -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/when-apple-introduced-its-game-changing-iphone-in-2007-nokia-was/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [I like to make pies. That's kind of my new obsession - peach, blueberry, apple, strawberry. I make a really good pumpkin pie with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-saylor/i-like-to-make-pies-that-s-kind-of-my-new-obsession-peach-blueberry/) [Morgan Saylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-saylor/) > [I love to eat an apple after a meal, just to cleanse my teeth - they always look polished afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-love-to-eat-an-apple-after-a-meal-just-to-cleanse-my-teeth-they/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [Back in my school days, when I would scuttle off with a cheese roll, an apple, a box of Sun-Maid raisins and a Penguin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-khoo/back-in-my-school-days-when-i-would-scuttle-off-with-a-cheese-roll-an/) [Rachel Khoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-khoo/) > [As far as Apple goes, it was a different company every few years from the time I joined in 1984.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/as-far-as-apple-goes-it-was-a-different-company-every-few-years-from/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [“You are the apple of Love’s eye.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-paul-kirkpatrick/you-are-the-apple-of-love-s-eye/) [David Paul Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-paul-kirkpatrick/) > [Like a satellite in orbit, Apple is perpetually falling. It just happens to miss Earth every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-dediu/like-a-satellite-in-orbit-apple-is-perpetually-falling-it-just/) [Horace Dediu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-dediu/) > [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [To the extent that anyone anywhere does anything interesting, the question is: 'Why isn't Apple doing that; why is Apple behind in that?' We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-federighi/to-the-extent-that-anyone-anywhere-does-anything-interesting-the/) [Craig Federighi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-federighi/) > [I read the Steve Jobs book, and that kind of changed everything. I've been, like, an Apple geek my whole life and have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/i-read-the-steve-jobs-book-and-that-kind-of-changed-everything-i-ve/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) [Browse all 889 Apple quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apple/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I first got to Apple, which was in '84, the Mac was already out, and 'Newsweek' contacted me and asked me what I thought of the Mac. 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