Apple Matters has a short feature up about Apple computer's first foray into affordable home printing in 1979.  It is hard to overstate the importance of professional creative tools being put in the hands of average people.  I can remember sitting down with my friends in high school and putting together our first *ahem* 'zine.  And it goes without saying that Sycamore Review and many other national publications are designed using software and hardware that is well within the grasp of the average consumer (we do use a professional printing company for the finished product, though).