Insanely Great: The Life and Times of Macintosh, the Computer That Changed Everything

Rating:
Summary: An easy, informational read.
Review: In Insanely Great, Steven Levy does a good job in condensing the entire early history of the Macintosh computer. Rarely does he fall into the Microsoft\Xerox\whoever bashing that most books concerning the Mac glorify. This book could have easily been made boring with the inclusion of many dates and names, but Levy keeps it interesting by focusing more on the human side of things. A good read for anyone interested in where the current state of operating systems came from.

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Summary: Great history of awesome Apple
Review: Insanely Great by Steven Levy is about the history of the best personal computer company out there, Apple--how it came to be, what were its obstacles and its triumphs, and how it changed the world and the way people think. Levy sometimes gets lost in the details, making one confused about the importance of what he talks about. Also he used the phrase "dent in the universe" one too many times. However, his book reveals much about Apple, and he often points out its mistakes. This does not make the book boring, which would happen if he only praised the company. Also his writing style is very easy to read, he does not overdo it with advanced vocabulary. And finally the book further expanded my love for Apple, and their product, the Macintosh computer. I recomend this book to any Apple fan, or simply to anyone that is curious about the company. Long live Apple!

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Summary: Excellent history of interface philosophy
Review: Insanely Great is a book that gives the reader a greater understanding of the kind of thinking and philosophy that has become the framework of modern computing, and how Apple deeply affected that thinking. It not only demonstrates how computing can be changed with Apple's brand of thinking, but how everyday life can and has been affected by Apple. Wonderful book.

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Summary: The Macintosh Evolution
Review: Insanely Great takes a look at how the Macintosh evolved from a garage with two hippies and a soldering iron into a multi billion dollar company. Unlike what the title suggests this book does not spend a whole lot of time talking about Steve Jobs. Instead, this book focuses on a part of Apple's history that is really, as far as I have seen, not very well documented. It discusses in detail the evolution of the Macintosh from the inside, talks to people directly involved with the project and really shows this part of the computer revolution from the inside out. For those of you who are PC users this book will help you understand the Mac way of thinking. Levy is a true Mac person but writes in a fairly unbiased manner. This book is a great read for anybody who enjoys the history of how computers became what they are, as well as all Mac users.

Rating:
Summary: fast reading and informative
Review: Insanely Great was an informative, fast reading book that keeps you interested as Steven Levy takes you through the history of the Macintosh and into the garages it was created in. However, Levy does have an unusual enthusiasm for Macintosh and I think that leads his book to be somewhat biased.

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Summary: A humorous and compelling view on the intro of the Mac
Review: Once again Steven Levy hits tops with this book. A complete background on the characters and events that lead to the introduction of the Apple Macintosh. The book is a little on the short side and there are some areas that I feel Steven could have covered in more depth. It's not as good as Hackers but still a worthy purchase.

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Summary: I for "Internet"
Review: Once upon a time, a guy named Steve had a vision: to take IBM's place in the computer industry. Not by copying IBM's ideas as Michael Dell did. No. By innovating...
Steve Jobs, a charismatic and driven individual, who wears the same outfit so he doesn't have to waste his time deciding what to wear, and who once was exiled from his own company, came back. Although many critics always thought of Jobs as an opportunistic individual, more than creative and visionary, and labeled him as a "One Hit Wonder" was able to make a "Come Back." This book tells the story of the first Mac, the one that only a few people knew about, and then, it takes you through a journey of one of the greatest companies ever founded: Apple, Inc. The story that almost wasn't told. After years of mismanagements and senior executives not understanding what Apple Computers was all about, Steve Jobs returned not just to save the company, but also to redirect where the company was headed. As many people said, "Apple was off track," and it was, it really was. However, Jobs' return not only brought blood back to Apple, but also put them on the black ink once again.
Before picking up this book, ensure that you have enough time to read it all at once. You won't be able o put it down. If you are a Mac fan, or if you are just interested in knowing a bit more of what Apple has gone through, this book is for you.
Enjoy it!

Rating:
Summary: Fast, furious, and full of excitement
Review: People who read this are in for an evening of excitement and fun. It's like a pulp fiction story for the silicon age.

Rating:
Summary: Fast, furious, and full of excitement
Review: People who read this are in for an evening of excitement and fun. It's like a pulp fiction story for the silicon age.

Rating:
Summary: the growth and progress of early computer development
Review: Steven Levy attempts to illustrate the growth and progress of early computer development, focusing on the ultimate creation of the personalized Machintosh computer. Though he only touches the surface on many individual topics, he gives a fairly clear introduction and chronology of early computer development in Silicon Valley prior to the building of the Mac. The actual development and behind the scenes turmoil and brainstorming that took place during Machintosh's creation were clearly illustrated. Though it is clear tht Levy holds a very biased opinion about the wonderful creation of the Mac, and computers in general, he did a good job at showing the progress and advancement of the computer industry, climaxing with the development of Machintosh. I recomend this book to computer enthusiasts interested about the early stages of computer advancement, inparticularly Machintosh.