Rating: 
Summary: An alternative history of Apple Computer
Review: * Have you ever wondered why there's so many horizontal lines on a Macintosh case?* Would you believe that Apple was the first company to move a laptop keyboard to the top (which other companies now emulate), yet they almost didn't go ahead with it? * Or did you realise that a LaserWriter II is exactly the same size as a Macintosh IIfx? Unlike other written histories of Apple Computer which concentrate on Jobs & Sculley, this is a history of the computers themselves. For anyone who has grown up with an Apple ][ or an early Macintosh, this is a fascinating insight into the computers we've grown to love. You'll learn how design is just as important as the MacOS when it comes to selling a computer. The book starts with the Apple //c era, and covers all Macs up to the Quadra, plus printers, screens and the Newton. Unfortunately, it was produced prior to the iMac. Apple enthusiasts should buy or borrow a copy just to re-live the history. Design students should read it cover-to-cover to learn both good design and the politics of design philosophies.
Rating: 
Summary: So-so
Review: A book of two halves, the core of 'appledesign' is a set of photographic plates of Apple's products, preproduction models, and design ideas, around which is wrapped a lengthy history of Apple's design work. Although this sounds very simply, the end result seems confused. For a start, the photographs concentrate heavily on design concepts to the exclusion of all else. The Apple 2, Lisa and Macintosh are covered with just three photographs, whilst concepts for what was to become the Newton are spread leisurely over half a dozen pages. And whilst they're an enlightening glimpse of what might have been, most of the design concepts are less interesting than the final product. And then there's the text. It's a very dry, corporate history of Apple's design, full of projects and companies with DoubleWords and e. e. cummings-esque lower-case text. With little interest in the real world, it chronologically details the Apple design process in a hermetically-sealed fashion, as a result of which the launch of the Apple Laserwriter 2 seems to be more important that Apple's diminishing market share. Meanwhile, a shifting cast of design heroes are built up and knocked down. Some of the personal details are fascinating, though - early-80's guru Hartmut Esslinger comes across particularly badly, especially his comment that the doomed Jerry Manock, designer of the original Macintosh, 'used to be someone important at Apple'. Oddly, whilst Steve Jobs (visionary, yes, but not a designer) is constantly present, the other Steve is written out of the Apple story by page 14 (and he isn't mentioned in the 'cast of characters' at the end). All in all it's a frustrating experience. As a history of Apple's design its focus is too narrow, it's not really interested in the technology, or even the people, and it's hard to encapsulate design in words (especially when those words are usually 'X conformed to espresso, save for detailing around the front bezel'). As a book of photographs, there aren't enough of them. And for the price of the book you could buy a second-hand Mac Classic, and study that instead.
Rating:
Summary: So-so
Review: A book of two halves, the core of 'appledesign' is a set of photographic plates of Apple's products, preproduction models, and design ideas, around which is wrapped a lengthy history of Apple's design work. Although this sounds very simply, the end result seems confused. For a start, the photographs concentrate heavily on design concepts to the exclusion of all else. The Apple 2, Lisa and Macintosh are covered with just three photographs, whilst concepts for what was to become the Newton are spread leisurely over half a dozen pages. And whilst they're an enlightening glimpse of what might have been, most of the design concepts are less interesting than the final product. And then there's the text. It's a very dry, corporate history of Apple's design, full of projects and companies with DoubleWords and e. e. cummings-esque lower-case text. With little interest in the real world, it chronologically details the Apple design process in a hermetically-sealed fashion, as a result of which the launch of the Apple Laserwriter 2 seems to be more important that Apple's diminishing market share. Meanwhile, a shifting cast of design heroes are built up and knocked down. Some of the personal details are fascinating, though - early-80's guru Hartmut Esslinger comes across particularly badly, especially his comment that the doomed Jerry Manock, designer of the original Macintosh, 'used to be someone important at Apple'. Oddly, whilst Steve Jobs (visionary, yes, but not a designer) is constantly present, the other Steve is written out of the Apple story by page 14 (and he isn't mentioned in the 'cast of characters' at the end). All in all it's a frustrating experience. As a history of Apple's design its focus is too narrow, it's not really interested in the technology, or even the people, and it's hard to encapsulate design in words (especially when those words are usually 'X conformed to espresso, save for detailing around the front bezel'). As a book of photographs, there aren't enough of them. And for the price of the book you could buy a second-hand Mac Classic, and study that instead.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent design...
Review: After reviewing this book I must say that I'm really want to see what is going on in that design office at this very moment... ... I can't wait until someone puts together a sequel to this book... ... A superb book...
Rating:
Summary: Great Information
Review: Although this book reads a bit "dry", it is the best source for the information contained therein.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating insider's look at Apple, marred by typos
Review: Anyone who appreciates fine industrial design will treasure this behind-the-scenes look at Apple's celebrated and award-winning Industrial Design Group. Paul Kunkel's detailed text chronicles Apple's numerous product innovations including every significant computer, printer, and peripheral from the original Apple II to the Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh. Of Rick English's more than 400 full-color photos, most fascinating are those depicting prototypes never before seen by the public. The only thing detracting from this pricy ($45), oversized paperback book (288 pages) is the unbelievable number of typos, which are particularly glaring considering Apple's dominance in desktop publishing.
To find out what other books Owen Linzmayer recommends, please visit:
<http://www.netcom.com/~owenink/reviews.html/>
Rating:
Summary: You must buy this
Review: Beautiful full color pictures Interesting backgorund info Where else could you get this? A must buy for any apple enthusiast
Rating:
Summary: It's like a greek museum
Review: Beautiful pictures of stunning design efforts, excellent background information (and not only on design matters) but it's like a greek museum: All treasures, all info, all names and stories, everything is in it. But to get a good overview of it all, you have to run constantly up and down the rooms and stairs, from one case to another, while reading a messy catalogue. And don't mind the bad state of the museum... However, a MUST for everyone interested in Apple.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating reference...hundreds of typos & errors
Review: Detailed, rich history of Apple's industrial design. Given the effort that this book signified, I was very surprised at the hundreds of typos, and many other factual/historical errors which reduce Appledesign's credibility as a definitive reference. This book deserves a second edition, with better editing & fact-checking.
Rating:
Summary: Get a whiff of Apple!
Review: Every Mac nut and design aesthete should crack the cover of this tome on how product goes to market. Some of the rejected ideas are more plausible than the ones that actually made it commercially. However, since this book contains so many pictures and is printed on very glossy stock be sure to bring a noseclip to your reading sessions! I got the impression the ink wasn't quite dry when they shipped it. Other than that, enjoy.
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