When the Inside Macintosh developer documentation was finally published, it reflected years of work I'd done with Bob Anders, Brad Hacker, and others. I guided its style, wrote most of it, and edited all of it. More recently, I supervised Louella Pizzuti, who converted files from the Apple III to the Macintosh. (Years later, she hired me to lead Develop, Apple’s technical journal—but that’s another story.) My life had been consumed by Inside Mac for 3.5 years.
Production & Design
Dan Cochran, the product manager, oversaw production. Tough decisions arose:
- Separate softcover editions (Volumes I–III)
- A combined hardcover edition (jokingly called a "coffee table book" for its size)
- A preliminary "phone book" edition (on flimsy paper) had already shipped, but I eagerly awaited the final version.
The Reveal
The hardcover arrived by November 1985—but I was barred from seeing it until a December 4 celebration. Apple rarely did formal events, but this warranted one. The invitation’s pixelated Mac screen displayed a red rose—a nod to my nickname, "C. Rose" (a flower I deeply identified with). The gesture made me smile.
The Ceremony
- Speeches about the Inside Mac effort
- Team members received crystal plaques (Mac image + inscription)
- The highlight: Receiving the hardcover edition. Others seemed thrilled, knowing how much it meant to me.
The Hidden Tribute
Opening the book:
- A row of Macs (like the plaque) on the front cover’s reverse and a title-page insert
- More Macs inside the back cover and its insert
- The surprise: Lifting the dust jacket revealed a rose in the final Mac—a tear-jerking tribute.
Dan also gifted me a rhododendron bush, now thriving in my yard—a springtime reminder of this unforgettable day.