That sense of humor is needed now, more than ever. But since this is, in a manner of speaking, Apple's birthday, let's skip over the company's well-documented travails and look on the bright side: there is still much to celebrate.

Apple's contributions to the computer industry—and indeed, to American business and American life—are legion, and an aggressive new communications campaign has been launched to highlight them. You can find the facts behind Apple's ads, complete with source attributions and objective third-party recommendations, at the new Apple Forever site on the Web. The Always Apple site is also linked to the new campaign, but has a more direct consumer orientation. (Editor's Note: although these sites are no more, pro-Mac pages and links are still plentiful on Apple's site and many others.)

Even the most confirmed Windows user must be nonplussed by the fervor with which Macintosh users embrace their machines. Contrary to popular opinion, this intense loyalty has shown no sign of abating: Mac sales reached an all-time high in 1995. The numbers below are from "EvangeList," Apple Fellow Guy Kawasaki's mailing list for the Mac faithful. Try subscribing at www.MacEvangeList.com if you'd like a taste of Mac religion. (Editor's Note: the original, Kawasaki-led "EvangeList" has been discontinued. The site mentioned here features a successor list with the same name and purpose, if not the original verve.)

While no one knows what the rest of 1996 will bring, today marks another important Apple milestone. Happy Birthday, Apple—many happy returns.

(Reviewed April 1, 1996)