Seldom does a consumer product generate such immediate identification that it becomes a cultural artifact in its own right. The sensible design and scrappy image of the Apple II, originally built by an engineer for other engineers, quickly gained adherents from all walks of life. Soon Apple owners, in tune with the computer's makers, began to reflect an independent, visionary yet down-to-earth sensibility that set them apart from hackers and common business users alike.
In the face of improvements and standardization among rival personal computers, many Apple-philes steadfastly maintained their loyalty much the way Volkswagen Beetle owners kept driving their distinctive autos despite the lure of newer Detroit iron. The slogan of Apple Computer, Inc., "Apple II forever," should be taken as more than an idle boast: the company remains committed to upgrading the machine while maintaining compatibility with its previous incarnations. And with the introduction of Apple's next generation of easy-to-use 32-bit computers in the Lisa/ Macintosh series, the Apple culture seems destined to grow and flourish.
For amateur historians and sociologists, the origins of Apple culture can be traced to the document below: Stephen Wozniak's birth announcement.
APPLE TOTEMS
The bitten-apple logo is so potent a symbol that Apple Computer has made available to its fans a popular assortment of authorized merchandise:
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