MacHeads (2009)

MacHeads (2009)

Starring a bunch of MacHeads

Directed by Kobi Shely

Expectations: Low. I like Macs but I’m not a fanboy.

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MacHeads tells the story of how the Mac community grew from an extremely dedicated bunch of computer nerds into millions of users that may or may not even own an Apple computer. The shift in Apple’s focus from the computer to the handheld device signaled the company’s rise in mainstream popularity, while also causing its hardcore fanbase to dwindle. Fanbase may be a strange word to use for a company but if you’ve ever talked with one of these folks you realize that hardcore Mac users really are huge fans of the company and what they stand for.

As Apple grows and leaves behind its underdog status, is it still a viable option for the elitist to claim that Apple is “fighting the good fight” against corporate giant Microsoft? I don’t think so. The question only exists for those of us that have followed computing since the days of things like the Apple IIe and DOS. For the rest of the populace, it’s more a question of cost vs. value and most people are not going to spend the money for a Mac when they can get a comparable Windows-based computer at half the cost.

Oh yeah, I’m supposed to be talking about the movie. Anyway, the movie is fun from a people watching standpoint, as there are a wide range of eccentric MacHeads featured here. It reminded me of “Trekkies” in that way and it definitely remains interesting because of them. There’s the guy that started BMUG (Berkeley Macintosh Users Group) in 1984 and now likes to wear a very amusing assortment of hats. We also have the couple that live in a bus and have a barn dedicated to their digital museum of old Mac computers. The couple had switched to Windows after the husband felt that Apple had peaked creatively and Windows offered better software. When they switched back after ten dark years, the wife specifically cited the Mac as the source of her returned creative inspiration, allowing her to pen her “Opera for Pigs”. This may sound exaggerated but as an amateur songwriter myself, I can understand the importance of the tools that you use to enhance, instead of hinder, your creative flow. It still sounds ridiculous to place so much importance on the Mac, but hey, whatever floats your boat. I don’t mean to make fun of the interviewees, they all add insightful comments to the discussion of the Mac community’s roots and growth throughout the 1980s.

The film doesn’t convey a lot of information, but then I’m coming in with some base knowledge of the computer industry so for the uninformed it would probably be more informational. The film only runs one hour though, so it thankfully doesn’t overstay its welcome. It moves at a quick pace and while it easily could have been better put together it’s a fun little thing to pass an hour if you have any interest in Mac computers, computer communities or just simple people watching.