1976: Jobs and Woz Found Apple
On April Fools ’ twenty-four hour period , Apple Computer Company is set up in a residential garage by Steve Jobs and Stephen Wozniak , both college drop - out . Fearing financial dilapidation , the third co - laminitis — Ronald Wayne — relinquishes his 10 percentage post in the partnership for only $ 800 less than two weeks by and by .
Honorable MentionMarkkula Writes Business Plan : In November , chip manufacture veteran Mike Markkula help Jobs write a line plan , prognosticate sale of $ 500 million in 10 long time .
1977: Apple II Introduced
In contrast to the $ 666 Apple I , a outfit computer with circumscribed appeal , the $ 1,298 Apple II is the first personal computer design for the bulk market , thanks to its attractive low - slung display case that was complete with standard keyboard , big businessman supplying , and vividness graphic capableness .
Honorable MentionScott name President : Markkula ’s former Fairchild Semiconductor carbon monoxide - worker Michael Scott brings professional management and corporal infrastructure to Apple .
The Apple IIeImage © John GreenleighFlipside Studios
1978: Apple Disk II Introduced
The Apple Disk II outside drive store 110 K on 5.25 - column inch floppy disks . At $ 495 , Woz ’s creation is half as expensive as militant floppy drives , and much more reliable than cassette tape repositing scheme .
Honorable MentionApple III Project Starts : queasy for a follow - up hit to the popular Apple II , Apple launches the ill - fated Apple III project with engineer Wendell Sander at the helm .
1979: Apple Visits Xerox PARC
railroad engineer from Apple get a peep at the future of computation when they visit the science laboratory of their Silicon Valley neighbor . Lisa and Mac projects presently espouse in writing user interfaces .
Honorable MentionPersonal Software Releases VisiCalc : The world ’s first spreadsheet runs alone on the Apple II , place Apple ’s hardware gross revenue through the roof .
1980: Apple Goes Public
In the gravid initial offering since Ford went public in 1956 , Apple debuts on the neckcloth market with a rating of $ 1.8 billion . Of Apple ’s 1,000 employees , more than 40 became instant millionaires thanks to their stock options .
Honorable MentionApple III Ships : Priced from $ 4,340 to $ 7,800 , the Apple III is supposed to be the firm ’s flagship business sector computer , but instead flops bad due to reliability issues .
1981: IBM Introduces the PC
IBM introduces its $ 1,565 personal computer . Though it sport unimpressive technical specifications , the masses do n’t wish , and within two years IBM ’s market share eclipses that of Apple .
1982: Microsoft Begins Mac Development
Microsoft begins developing mouse - based covering for Apple ’s secret Mac task , but also begins work on a graphic user user interface ( Windows ) for the IBM microcomputer and its clones .
LisaImage © John GreenleighFlipside Studios
estimable MentionRaskin Resigns : Recognizing that Jobs has wrested control of the Macintosh projection away from him , Jef Raskin resigns .
1983: Sculley Named President, CEO
John Sculley , United States President of Pepsi - Cola , succumbs to Jobs ’ promise of a “ fortune to shift the earth ” as president and CEO of Apple .
honest MentionLisa Introduced : The $ 9,995 Lisa is the earth ’s first commercial-grade computer with a black eye and GUI , but it bombs due to high toll , tedious focal ratio , and mutual exclusiveness .
1984: Original Mac Introduced
The original MacintoshImage © John GreenleighFlipside Studios
The much - counter Macintosh , “ the computer for the rest of us , ” at long last ships . It comes with 128 K of computer memory and a price tag of $ 2,495 .
Honorable Mention‘1984 ’ Commercial Airs : Against the advice of its display panel , Apple announce the Macintosh by air the Ridley Scott - directed ‘ 1984 ’ commercial during the Super Bowl .
1985: Jobs Resigns From Apple
After lose a boardroom battle with Sculley , Jobs resign from Apple , taking a loyal band of employee that would start NeXT .
ethical MentionMicrosoft deed over Mac License : In exchange for delaying a Windows version of Excel , Apple grants Microsoft a license to use some Macintosh technology .
1986: Desktop Publishing Takes Off
Combined with Aldus PageMaker , the Mac Plus and LaserWriter Plus allow printers , graphic creative person , and publishers to create professional documents for a little fraction of the price of traditional equipment .
Honorable MentionApple IIGS Introduced : Recognizing that Apple II sales still outstrip Mac revenue , execs OK the handout of the $ 999 Apple IIGS , with many Mac - like features , including ADB , QuickDraw , and GUI .
1987: HyperCard Released
Apple releases Bill Atkinson ’s HyperCard at Macworld Expo Boston . The free platform mix a simple programming environment and graphic database , allowing simple somebody to make utile “ stacks . ”
honest MentionNewton Project Starts : Eager to reinvent personal computing yet again , Apple undertakes hardware engineer Steve Sakoman ’s proposal to create a portable gimmick with wireless networking and handwriting recognition .
1988: Apple Sues Microsoft
After watching its Macintosh products steady lose marketplace share to Wintel clones , Apple in conclusion sues Microsoft , take Windows 2.03 infringe on Lisa / Mac audiovisual copyrights .
estimable MentionNext Computer Introduced : Apple ’s exclusive computer hardware spill of 1988 , the Mac IIx , pales in comparing to Jobs ’ Next Computer , a 12 - inch cube running a Unix - infer operating system .
1989: Judge Guts Apple’s Microsoft Suit
Apple ’s promise of obtaining legal redress is squashed as a judge throws out all but 10 claims against Microsoft . Executives squabble over how to boost the Mac ’s slide market parcel .
Honorable MentionMac Portable Ships : Apple unveils the $ 5,799 Macintosh Portable , a 16 - Egyptian pound “ no compromise ” product with combat-ready - matrix LCD , full keyboard , trackball , sound output , and optional hard saucer .
1990: First “Low Cost” Macs Debut
Responding to unfavorable judgment that its product were overpriced , Apple releases a triad of “ down in the mouth cost ” models : the US$ 999 Mac Classic , $ 2,400 Mac LC , and $ 3,800 Mac IIsi . Despite artificially bring down technological limitations , they sell so well that Apple ’s margins lessen , frightening investors .
honourable MentionApple Invests in ARM : Apple pays US$ 2.5 million for 43 percent of ARM , maker of the central processing unit in the Newton . By the end of the decade , Apple would sell these shares for $ 792 million , covering all Newton loss , and keeping the company afloat during its darkest day .
1991: First PowerBooks Ship
Recovering from the Mac Portable plethora , Apple does laptops ripe with the liberation of the PowerBook 100 , 140 , and 170 , all amply - function Macs in attractive , lightweight designs . Apple becomes the standard pallbearer in the portable securities industry .
Honorable MentionApple Partners With IBM : pretend amends with its previous nemesis , Apple announces a major partnership with IBM to give rise a multimedia system locomotive engine , an operating system , and computers base upon Motorola ’s RISC - based processor , the PowerPC .
1992: Microsoft Releases Windows 3.1
After long time of playing catch - up with the Macintosh ’s ease of use , Microsoft ’s Windows 3.1 is widely seen as dependable enough . Apple ’s 15 percent market percentage begins fret even faster .
honourable MentionIve Joins Apple : 25 - year - old Londoner Jonathan I ve join Apple ’s Industrial Design Group to work on the MessagePad 110 . Within six years , he ’ll prove to become the creative force behind the iMac , a product that arguably resuscitates Apple .
1993: Newton MessagePad Ships
NewtonImage © John GreenleighFlipside Studios
The $ 699 MessagePad establish the personal digital helper ( PDA ) market , but its stinking handwriting recognition disappoints many , ending the incumbency of Sculley , Newton ’s primary advocator .
Honorable MentionApple ’s Microsoft Suit Dismissed : Apple lose all Bob Hope of estopping the Windows juggernaut when its right of first publication misdemeanor lawsuit against Microsoft is finally dismissed .
1994: First Power Macs Ship
A decennium after the 8MHz Mac 128 K embark , Apple make a bold technical leaping to a completely young architecture with PowerPC - based model set out at 60MHz , while maintain backwards compatibility .
good MentionFirst Mac License Granted : Desperate to boost market share , Apple finally agrees to permit third - party vendors to create legit Mac ringer .
1995: Microsoft Releases Windows 95
deviation between the Mac ’s user interface and Windows are erase in the public ’s mind with Microsoft ’s $ 200 - million launch of Windows 95 .
Honorable MentionFirst Mac Clone Ships : Power Computing , the first Mac licensee , ships the first Mac clone . It ’s faster and loud than anything Apple crack .
1996: Next Purchase Announced
new - installed CEO Gilbert Amelio shocks Mac users by drink down Copland operating system project in party favor of buy Next Software from long - exiled Steve Jobs .
1997: Jobs Named Interim CEO
The original iMac
formally brought on as an adviser following Next purchase , Jobs subtly orchestrates the remotion of Amelio , then assumes the role of interim CEO .
Honorable MentionApple Ships Mac OS 8 : To placate the close as they hold back for a next - generation operating organisation , Apple release Mac OS 8.0 ; it features PowerPC - native Finder , contextual menus , Personal Web share-out , and other unexampled technology .
1998: iMac Introduced
dub “ the Internet - age calculator for the eternal sleep of us , ” the original Bondi aristocratic iMac announce to the world that Apple is still a military unit to be reckoned with . The $ 1,299 consumer computer becomes the fastest Mac fashion model ever .
Honorable MentionMac OS X Strategy divulge : At the Worldwide Developers ’ Conference , Jobs tells developers that Mac OS 8.5 and Rhapsody are only stepping stones to Mac OS X , a truly sophisticated operating arrangement that would maintain rearward compatibility .
1999: AirPort Debuts on iBook
iBook
Apple give way its portable line - up the iMac handling , put out the consumer - tailor iBook featuring an optional AirPort Card that helps kick off an industry - extensive Wi - Fi delirium .
Honorable MentionMac OS 9 Ships : Mac oculus sinister 9 is the last major update to the “ old ” Mac operating system , setting the stage for OS X with feature such as multiple users , Keychain , automatic updating , encoding , Internet File Sharing , and connection browser app .
2000: Jobs Becomes CEO
Finally confident that Apple ’s turnaround is no fluke , Jobs check to accept chief executive officer character , splitting his sentence between Cupertino and Emeryville , where he ’s also CEO of Pixar .
G4 Cube
Honorable MentionPower Mac G4 Cube Released : The Cube ’s nerveless industrial aim receives a warm reception , but sales turn out to be unsatisfying .
2001: First iPod Ships
Nobody realise it at the time , but the tiny $ 399 iPod with its 5 GB hard private road capable of holding 1,000 MP3s will soon transform not only Apple , but also the entire music industriousness .
Honorable MentionMac OS X Ships : After years of wait , Mac users finally get memory protection , pre-emptive multi - tasking , symmetric parallel processing , and more , but the initial release of Mac OS X is n’t quite ready for the masses .
2002: Jaguar Unleashed
Mac OS X 10.2 , code - name Jaguar , is ready for prime sentence , with many improved feature , including Mail , iChat , Address Book , Inkwell , QuickTime 6 with MPEG-4 , improved Universal Access , enhance Finder , Sherlock 3 , Quartz Extreme , and Rendezvous .
good MentionMac OS ex - Only Booting annunciate : Apple drives a nail into Mac OS 9 when it annunciate that starting January 2003 all new Macs will be flush into Mac OS X only , though user can still operate older programs in Classic mode .
2003: iTunes Music Store Opens
Building on its iPod success , Apple start the iTunes Music Store with over 200,000 raceway available for 99 cent each .
Honorable MentionApple Delivers Year of the Laptop : job unveil the world ’s first laptop with a 17 - column inch display , as well as a 12 - column inch PowerBook that ’s the smallest notebook Apple has ever made .
2004: iPod Gets Miniaturized
Reversing a trend towards iPod with increase mental ability , Apple introduces the iPod mini with a 4 GB punishing campaign in a physically smaller aluminum body available in an compartmentalisation of gloss .
The iPod miniskirt home
Honorable MentioniMac is flatten : The iMac G5 features a sensational new intent that integrates all constituent into the level panel display that ’s just two inch thick .
2005: Move to Intel Announced
After more than 20 years of Macs based upon Motorola processors , Apple announce that next Macs will use C.P.U. from Intel .
estimable MentionVideo Arrives in iPod : Hoping to do for video what it did for sound , Apple tot the ability to dally movies on young iPod .
[ Owen W. Linzmayer is the San Francisco - base writer ofApple Confidential 2.0 : The Definitive History of the World ’s Most Colorful Company(No Starch Press , 2004 ) . ]
