Apple Confidential

Rating:
Summary: Works as a supplement to other Apple historys
Review: Apple Confidential: The Real Story of Apple Computer, Inc. is heavily illustrated with pictures, charts, and diagrams, and I read it only to supplement another book, "Accidental Millionaire: The Rise and Fall of Steve Jobs at Apple Computer." Alone, it doesn't provide much information, but coupled with another Apple-related tomb, Apple Confidential clarifies and expands upon many of Apple's nuances.

Rating:
Summary: A disappointing overview of Apple history
Review: Although packed with funny anecdotes and small, nice-to-know facts, overall this is a disappointing read. The chapters are hardly related to each other, it is definitely not usable as a historical/chronological overview of the company and most of the one-liners in the margin are undated. Therefore it is often not clear to which period or subject the text is related. It makes that this book leaves a very fragmented impression. Pity.

Rating:
Summary: Overlap.
Review: I read the Mac Bathroom reader before this and there was a lot of overlap. In some parts even whole chapters (of course they are both by Linzmayer). In my opinion get one or the other, Bathroom reader if you want a small book that covers almost all of what Apple Confidential does. But if you're a serious machead like me :-) then I'd go with this one because it covers more.

Rating:
Summary: You'll love Apple Confidential!
Review: If you love Macs, you'll love Apple Confidential.

Rating:
Summary: Keep reading it over and over...
Review: The title says it all. Not just for Apple fans but for everyone interested in the history of computers. A most fascinating read!

Rating:
Summary: Interesting but scatter-brained
Review: As a long-time Mac user, I found this book to be extremely interesting, but the way it was written was distracting to me. Linzmayer constantly repeats himself as he tells the story of Apple's trials and tribulations, as the book is not necessarily organized chronologically. The inside facts that the author has uncovered are sometimes riveting. After reading the much-maligned Gil Amelio's self-congratulatory and sometimes whiny account of his days at Apple, it was good to get some balance from this book.

The most striking impression of this book, to me, is that Linzmayer never bypasses an opportunity to slam Steve Jobs. Jobs really comes across as a big jerk at best, and as a sneaky, dishonest backstabber at worst. Obviously, I don't know Jobs, so I can't defend or refute Lizmayer's portrayal, but the message comes through loud and clear.

Rating:
Summary: Great, but where is the new material?
Review: This is a great book, especially if you are at all interested in computing/computing history, but there is little new material here. It is basically "The Mac Bathroom Reader" slightly glorified, (I think a lot of the chapters may be exact copies), with a couple extra chapters at the end leaving off just as Apple is making its triumphant comeback. If I hadn't read previous books on Apple, this rating would be 5 stars. Since I have read some, one of which is nearly identical, I was a bit dissapointed.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent for the Apple Newbie
Review: I wanted to start using Apple but wanted to learn more about the roots. Must say, this was a brilliant crash course even though one cannot always be too sure about the facts. My feeling was that the author's motive was pure.

This book made me realise that Apple is a volatile company, or should I say, immature?

Rating:
Summary: The Creator of the Macintosh's Opinion
Review: Of all the books written on Apple's history, this one comes closest to accurately relating the story of how the Mac was created, and other early Apple events.

I can't personally vouch for Linzmeyer's discussion of more recent history, because I left Apple a while ago, but having seen the results of his careful research where I personally took part in the events, and having seen the massive inaccuracies in many other books, I'd bet on his.

Some other books are more exciting reads, but that's because they're partially fiction. Linzmeyer has done his homework. But don't get the impression that this book is dull; it's fun, with many interesting tidbits and historical photographs.

This is the book to read if you are interested in fact rather than legend.

Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly Enjoyable
Review: I'm a Macintosh user who always has been rather interested in Apple's history, and I found this book to be informative and entertaining. I was unable to put it down.

I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone even slightly interested in the history of personal computers. BUY IT!