This from the article by Jeff Raskin to which Harv linked:
QUOTE
Glen Cole asks if my attempt to avoid trademark conflict wiht McIntosh audio equipment by spelling the computer "Macintosh" were successful. He correctly remembers that it was not. Apple even had to pay the raincoat manufacturer for use of the name, I have no idea why. Glen also asks how I feel about the nickname "Mac" for the product. Fine, we used it from the very beginning.
Funny, I had wondered about the raincoat name as well.
Looks like everyone got into the act.
You know, makes me think that Apple should go after McDonalds for using the term
Mac.