Introduction

“The computer for the rest of us” was never considered much of a hacker’s platform. The original Mac didn’t even have arrow keys (or a control key, for that matter), forcing the user to stop what he was doing, take his hands off the keyboard, and use the mouse. The Mac’s case was sealed so tight, a special tool known as the “Mac cracker” was made to break it open. It was a closed machine, an information appliance. The expansionless design and sealed case of the Mac stood in stark contrast to the Apple II that came before it.

With its rich graphical interface and ease of use, the Mac became the standard for graphic artists and other creative types. Custom icons and desktop patterns soon abounded. The users that embraced the Macintosh for its simplicity began using ResEdit (Resource Editor) to modify system files and to personalize their machines. The Mac developed a fanatical following, and you could rest assured that each fanatic’s system was unique, with the icons, menus, program launchers, windows, sounds, and keyboard shortcuts all scrutinized and perfected to meet his personal needs. My Color Classic even played Porky Pig’s “That’s all folks” each time it shut down (although the novelty wore off on that one pretty quick...).