Meaing of "Mac"

[whooleytoo]

(Warning: Useless trivia thread! )

Ever wonder why you treat your Mac like it's one of the family? Here's why:

The name "Mac" is (obviously!) short for Macintosh.
Macintosh is a type of Apple, originating in Ontario, Canada.
The apple got it's name from the orchard's owner, John McIntosh.
McIntosh (or MacIntosh) is Gaelic, meaning "Son of the Chief".
When shortened to "Mac", it just means "son".

No wonder people get so attached!

[Edit: typo in subject fixed!]

 

[Moxiemike]

Re: Meaing of "Mac"

Originally posted by whooleytoo
(Warning: Useless trivia thread! )

Ever wonder why you treat your Mac like it's one of the family? Here's why:

The name "Mac" is (obviously!) short for Macintosh.
Macintosh is a type of Apple, originating in Ontario, Canada.
The apple got it's name from the orchard's owner, John McIntosh.
McIntosh (or MacIntosh) is Gaelic, meaning "Son of the Chief".
When shortened to "Mac", it just means "son".

No wonder people get so attached!

nice etymology man!

 

[AmigoMac]

Didn't you know it?

My
Awesome
Computer

 

[whooleytoo]

Re: Didn't you know it?

Originally posted by AmigoMac
My
Awesome
Computer

Oh, I thought it stood for: "Macs Are Cool" (Sorry, GNU joke!)

Speaking of acronyms, The Register had a mini-competition about what "RTM" now means.. it used to mean "Released to Manufacturing", but thanks to Microsoft and Longhaul (sorry, Longhorn) it now means "Reinvent the Milestones"!

Mike.

 

[aethier]

WEll isn't that an intrigueing idea..

aethier

 

[MacsRgr8]

Re: Meaning of "Mac"

Originally posted by whooleytoo

McIntosh (or MacIntosh) is Gaelic, meaning "Son of the Chief".
When shortened to "Mac", it just means "son".

Mac = Son
In = "of"
Tosh = Steve

Now I get it!

 

[whooleytoo]

Re: Re: Meaning of "Mac"

Originally posted by MacsRgr8
Mac = Son
In = "of"
Tosh = Steve

Now I get it!

Previously rejected names:

MacInJobs..
MacInWoz..
MacInTheOtherFounderThatNoOneRemembers!!

Mike.

 

[bennetsaysargh]

that's awesome! i never knew that.
thanks for the explanation. steve was probably just eating a macintosh apple when he was thinking for the name of the computer

 

[topicolo]

Re: Re: Re: Meaning of "Mac"

Originally posted by whooleytoo


Previously rejected names:

MacInJobs..
MacInWoz..
MacInTheOtherFounderThatNoOneRemembers!!

Mike.

I think they were rejected because they sounded like

Mackin' Jobs
Mackin' Woz
Mackin' theOtherfounderTHatNoOneRemembers

Sorry, I couldn't resist