16: Titanium PowerBook G4 (#5)

16: Titanium PowerBook G4 (#5)

Author: Relay December 4, 2020 Duration: 12:33
Apple's first metallic silver laptop set the company on a path that it's been on for two decades and counting, but it also proved that the company still had a lot to learn.

The story of the Macintosh isn't just about circuits and code; it's a collection of personalities, pivotal decisions, and products that changed everything. On the 20 Macs podcast, host Jason Snell guides conversations with a rotating panel of guests who have watched this history unfold from the front row. These aren't just casual observers, but long-time Mac watchers with deep institutional knowledge and personal anecdotes. Together, they don't just list models, but dig into the most notable parts of Macintosh history-the breakthroughs, the baffling missteps, the cult classics, and the machines that defined entire eras of computing. Each episode focuses on the context and the human stories behind the hardware, offering a rich, nuanced perspective that goes beyond specs and launch dates. You'll hear discussions that feel like a reunion of old friends reminiscing about a shared, formative passion, analyzing how specific models reflected the company's ambitions and the technological landscape of their time. This is a podcast for anyone who appreciates how design, culture, and technology intersect, exploring why these particular twenty Macs left an indelible mark. It's a retrospective built on genuine expertise and a clear affection for the subject, making each conversation both informative and warmly engaging. Tune in for thoughtful analysis and behind-the-scenes glimpses of an iconic journey in personal technology.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 29

20 Macs
Podcast Episodes
28: Performa Month [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:16
Jason talks to Stephen about his recent deep dive into the world of the Macintosh Performa line, which was sold from 1992 to 1997. Over that time period, nearly 50 models were sold wearing the name. Things got messy.
27: The 21st Mac [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:48
Stephen Hackett joins Jason to wrap up the series and discuss all the Macs that didn't make the list.
26: John Gruber, part 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:26
From November 20, 2020: Titanium PowerBook G4, MacBook Air, the original Macintosh, PowerBook 140/170, and iMac G3.
25: John Gruber, part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:00
From August 31, 2020: The Macintosh Portable, Power Computing clones, iMac G4, Power Mac G4 Cube, iBook, Macintosh SE/30, and laying out pages at college newspapers.
24: John Gruber, part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:02
An interview from June 12, 2020 covering the first nine entries in the series.
22: John Siracusa, part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:11
John Siracusa discusses six more old Macs for the 20 Macs for 2020 Project.
23: John Siracusa, part 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:43
From November 20, 2020: Titanium PowerBook G4, MacBook Air, the original Macintosh, PowerBook 140/170, iMac G3, and to his great dismay, John learns Jason's final rankings.
21: John Siracusa, part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:44:09
Two interviews with John Siracusa used for the 20 Macs for 2020 podcast, discussing the first nine entries in the series.
20: iMac G3 (#1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:07
It was the late 90s and Apple was on the ropes. Steve Jobs knew the company needed a lifeline, fast. And 10 months after Jobs took back control of the company, he announced the product that would fund Apple's resurgence…
19: The Original PowerBooks (#2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:14
After the failure of the Macintosh Portable, Apple took a different approach to designing a laptop. The result helped tip the balance of power between humans and computers.