×
Photo via Apple ScoopNext

How the Macintosh Got Its Name

100% reliable
4 mins
321.47K views
Apple
  • Apple employee Jef Raskin is responsible for the name.
  • The Macintosh name was inspired by a type of apple, the McIntosh.
  • Apple had to compromise on the name due to trademark issues.

Before the iPhone was released, the Macintosh was Apple's most iconic product line. But there was one problem — Apple technically did not own the name, as it actually belonged to a high-end audio equipment company called 'McIntosh Laboratory'.

Originally, Apple decided that they wanted to use the name Mclntosh — which is a type of apple. The only reason they wanted to spell it that way was because it was a reference to the project creator Jef Raskin, as the Mclntosh variety was his favorite kind of apple.

The McIntosh, or colloquially the Mac, is an apple cultivar — the national apple of Canada. The fruit has red and green skin, a tart flavour, and tender white flesh, which ripens in late September.

They allegedly named the computer after that type of the fruit because the computer was something different than anything else that had ever been sold, so they wanted it to have the name of a “different kind of Apple.” Therefore, it is correct to say that the only reason it’s called Macintosh today was because of a possible trademark problem with the company 'McIntosh Laboratory' — basically, Apple had to compromise and they decided to change the spelling to Macintosh.

To be fair, Steve Jobs definitely deserves a lot of credit for shipping what we all now know as the Mac – which, for the most part, was a simplified Lisa. In fact, it’s likely the computer Jef envisioned would not have been successful in the marketplace were it not for Steve's interventions. While it's often assumed that this is just another case of a larger company throwing money at a smaller company to buy intellectual property, back in the 1980's Apple was technically not considered to be a large company. They were slightly bigger than Mclntosh Laboratories, but they were nowhere near the giant they are today.

Watch Steve Jobs unveil the original Macintosh here:

Recommended by the editors:

Thank you for visiting Apple Scoop! As a dedicated independent news organization, we strive to deliver the latest updates and in-depth journalism on everything Apple. Have insights or thoughts to share? Drop a comment below—our team actively engages with and responds to our community. Return to the home page.

Published to Apple Scoop on 31st May, 2021.
Stories related to Apple

100+ Best Free Wallpapers for iOS 26

100% reliable 6 mins

iOS 26: The Top 14 New Features You Need To Try

100% reliable 15 mins

Free Download Apple's iOS 26, iPadOS 26 Default Wallpapers Here

100% reliable 6 mins

Say Hello to iOS 26: Apple’s Biggest iPhone Redesign Since iOS 7

100% reliable 14 mins

Apple’s Lighter Vision Headset Might Be Called “Air”

59% reliable 14 mins

Thinner M6 MacBook Pro Coming in 2026 With OLED, Report Claims

61% reliable 9 mins

Inside Apple’s Supply Chain: Who is Foxconn?

100% reliable 12 mins

New CarPlay Features in iOS 18.4: More Icons, Smarter Routes

100% reliable 7 mins

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16: Comparing Price, Design, Battery, Performance & More

100% reliable 12 mins

Apple Inc: The 11 Biggest Scandals of All Time

100% reliable 15 mins

Apple’s 2nm A20 Chip: Latest Rumors, Tech Specs, and More

57% reliable 10 mins

iPhone 17 Pro Leak: 12GB RAM, Triple 48MP Cameras, and 3nm A19 Pro Chip

62% reliable 11 mins

Apple’s iPhone 16e Is Selling Faster Than the Cheaper iPhone SE

100% reliable 9 mins

Trump Tariffs: Could Your Next iPhone Suddenly Cost More?

100% reliable 15 mins

Explained: What Is Skeuomorphism?

100% reliable 12 mins

The End of Skeuomorphism: How iOS 7 Changed UI Design

100% reliable 10 mins

Apple Drops Plans for Larger iPhone 17 Air Due to 'Bendgate' Concerns

72% reliable 8 mins

Apple’s Foldable iPhone May Cost Twice as Much as the iPhone 16 Pro Max

60% reliable 11 mins

The Apple Intelligence Scandal: Why Siri’s Future is in Jeopardy

64% reliable 12 mins

Apple Considered Removing the USB-C Port from 'iPhone 17 Air'

73% reliable 11 mins
Recommended

100+ Best Free Wallpapers for iOS 26

100% reliable 6 mins

iOS 26: The Top 14 New Features You Need To Try

100% reliable 15 mins

Free Download Apple's iOS 26, iPadOS 26 Default Wallpapers Here

100% reliable 6 mins

Say Hello to iOS 26: Apple’s Biggest iPhone Redesign Since iOS 7

100% reliable 14 mins

Apple’s Lighter Vision Headset Might Be Called “Air”

59% reliable 14 mins

Thinner M6 MacBook Pro Coming in 2026 With OLED, Report Claims

61% reliable 9 mins

Inside Apple’s Supply Chain: Who is Foxconn?

100% reliable 12 mins

New CarPlay Features in iOS 18.4: More Icons, Smarter Routes

100% reliable 7 mins

iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 16: Comparing Price, Design, Battery, Performance & More

100% reliable 12 mins

Apple Inc: The 11 Biggest Scandals of All Time

100% reliable 15 mins

Apple’s 2nm A20 Chip: Latest Rumors, Tech Specs, and More

57% reliable 10 mins

iPhone 17 Pro Leak: 12GB RAM, Triple 48MP Cameras, and 3nm A19 Pro Chip

62% reliable 11 mins
Apple

Apple

Microsoft

Microsoft

Google

Google

Samsung

Samsung

Meta

Meta

Wallpaper categories


iOS 18

iPhone 15 Pro

MacBook Pro

Black

Anime

Dark

Blue

Car

Gradient

Pink

Christmas

Apple

iPhone

Dynamic Island

BMW

Abstract

4K

iPhone 16

Red

Purple

iPhone 15

Orange

Nature

Apple Logo

Cars

Green

Art

Space

iOS

White