Apple at 50: First Macs, HyperCard, iPod Halo, and Memories from the Early Days - Part 1

CHM Live | Apple at 50: Five Decades of Thinking Different

The hosts celebrate Apple’s 50th anniversary (recorded April 1) and recommend David Pogue’s book “Apple at 50,” including his Computer History Museum interview. They invite listener stories and discuss first Apple computers (Apple IIe/IIc/II Plus), early BASIC programming habits, and Apple’s influence in schools via HyperCard/HyperTalk. Jerry recounts starting on PC compatibles in a tool-and-die business, moving into Macs for music/MIDI and Finale, and shows a 1989 receipt for a Macintosh IIx system costing about $7,000 (roughly $14,730 in 2026 dollars). Listener Dwayne Moss shares memories working at Apple, concerts at sales conferences, seeing Steve Jobs introduce the iPod at Town Hall, and being hired and laid off three times. The group reflects on the iPod’s Windows support, the “digital hub” era, early CD burning, Airport cards, Macworld/iPhone displays, Newton hardware, and transitions from PowerPC to Intel to Apple silicon.

00:00 Apple Turns 50

00:40 David Pogue Book Pick

01:59 First Apple Computers

03:56 Learning BASIC Early

06:34 Jerry’s First Macs

09:25 Sticker Shock Pricing

11:55 From Punch Cards to AI

13:42 HyperCard Magic

15:38 Listener Story Dwayne

18:30 iPod Halo Effect

20:37 Digital Hub Creativity

24:15 CD Burning Nostalgia