The personal computer industry underwent a significant transformation in 1984 when Apple's Macintosh introduced graphical interfaces and mouse navigat...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
The personal computer industry underwent a significant transformation in 1984 when Apple's Macintosh introduced graphical interfaces and mouse navigation specifically designed for mainstream consumers. This consumer-focused approach represented a departure from the prevailing industry model established by companies like IBM and Hewlett-Packard, whose room-sized business computing systems of the 1950s and 1960s had targeted corporate and institutional markets with specialized operators. While Apple had initially followed a similar path with the Apple I and Apple II in 1976, serving hobbyists and small business users, the Macintosh's emphasis on accessibility features marked a clear prioritization of mainstream consumer needs over the institutional focus that had dominated earlier computing development, which suggests that ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
IBM's early business computers were less technologically advanced than Apple's consumer-focused machines.
the mainstream computer market that Apple targeted with the Macintosh had not been served by IBM and Hewlett-Packard's earlier business-focused systems.
graphical interface technologies were less important to computing development than Apple's hardware innovations.
Apple's success with mainstream consumers was primarily due to superior processing power rather than interface accessibility.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The personal computer industry underwent a significant transformation in 1984 when Apple's Macintosh introduced graphical interfaces and mouse navigation specifically designed for mainstream consumers." |
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| "This consumer-focused approach represented a departure from the prevailing industry model established by companies like IBM and Hewlett-Packard, whose room-sized business computing systems of the 1950s and 1960s had targeted corporate and institutional markets with specialized operators." |
|
| "While Apple had initially followed a similar path with the Apple I and Apple II in 1976, serving hobbyists and small business users," |
|
| "the Macintosh's emphasis on accessibility features marked a clear prioritization of mainstream consumer needs over the institutional focus that had dominated earlier computing development, which suggests that ______" |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Apple's Macintosh represented a fundamental shift from business-focused computing to mainstream consumer accessibility.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that the computing industry was historically dominated by business-focused systems from IBM and HP. Even Apple initially followed this specialized market approach. However, the Macintosh broke from this pattern by prioritizing mainstream consumer accessibility, suggesting something significant about the previous market approach.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The passage shows us that computing companies historically focused on business/institutional markets, while the Macintosh specifically targeted mainstream consumers with accessibility features
- This shift suggests that there was a gap in the market - that mainstream consumers weren't being properly served by the previous business-focused approach
- The right answer should indicate that the mainstream consumer market was underserved or not addressed by the earlier business-focused computing systems
IBM's early business computers were less technologically advanced than Apple's consumer-focused machines.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims IBM's computers were less technologically advanced than Apple's
- The passage doesn't compare technological advancement levels
the mainstream computer market that Apple targeted with the Macintosh had not been served by IBM and Hewlett-Packard's earlier business-focused systems.
✓ Correct
- States that mainstream consumers hadn't been served by IBM and HP's business systems
- Perfectly matches our prethinking about the market gap and logically follows from the contrast between business-focused and consumer-focused approaches
graphical interface technologies were less important to computing development than Apple's hardware innovations.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims graphical interfaces were less important than hardware innovations
- The passage emphasizes the importance of accessibility features like graphical interfaces
Apple's success with mainstream consumers was primarily due to superior processing power rather than interface accessibility.
✗ Incorrect
- Attributes Apple's success to processing power rather than interface accessibility
- Directly contradicts the passage's emphasis on "accessibility features"