Apple, Inc. - What A History!

Three college drops outs in a garage. Two had worked for Atari and one had worked for Hewlett-Packard. All were hell-bent on creating a computer that individuals could use in their homes.

The two Steve’s (Jobs and Wozniak) finally crafted their first unit and founded Apple Computer Company in 1967. The third partner want “out” and sold his share in the company back to Jobs and Wozniak. He probably had a lot of regrets in the ensuring years!

Early Years

The new company made quite a splash with the Apple I – a PC with no case, a monitor, keyboard and mouse. People could word process, save documents, and set up files. This first Apple, which reached 200 sales, was sold for $666 and, of course, with only 200 of them around, it is a collector’s item today. (http://www.maworld.co.uk/feature/apple/history-of-apple)

The Apple and MacIntosh

As Apple continued to refine and improve its computers, sales skyrocketed. The MacIntosh, which was launched in 1984, was the first personal computer that was more generally affordable ($2500.00). People wanted them for their homes; schools wanted them for their students and offices; businesses wanted them on everyone’s desk.

Competition was stiff. Microsoft had a rival operating system; other companies began to produce PC’s that they could sell for less. By the 90’s, Apple sales and stock had plummeted, Steve Jobs was let go by the Board of Directors, and things only got worse. It looked as if Apple would not survive.

Jobs’ Return

By the late 1990’s, the Board realized that survival depended upon the relentless zeal of Steve Jobs – a zeal that had turned them against him earlier. He returned with a new mission – to make great products that were simple, and to diversify into other tech niches. The launch of the I-Mac in 1998 marked the return of Apple to solvency and popularity. While the technology was not new, having a PC and monitor all in one unit was a big draw.

The iPod/Mac OS X

The first innovation for the new Apple, Inc. was the iPod, in 2001. This little device revolutionized the music industry. No more boom boxes and cassette decks to carry around. Now, a sleek little number that could store favorite music and be carried in a pocket! Two years later, when the iTunes store opened, the competition was slaughtered.

Also in 2001, the Mac OS X introduced an operating system that was so sleek and fast, people began to leave their Windows PC’s. Apple had struck again.

And the Phones

When Apple had its iPhone launch in 2009, Time Magazine name the device the “Innovation of the Year.” Here in one’s pocket was a phone, a music device, and a computer. Initial prices were quite high, but still people lined up to buy. When the 3G was introduced in 2008, it was at a much lower price of $199 – making an iPhone available to far more consumers. Each year brings an upgraded phone from Apple with no end in sight

Computer Technology

Apple continues to innovate in its original arena as well. The MacBook, launched in 2008, remains incredibly popular, and the new MacPro, considered to be the fastest computer today, is widely used in business. But even these cannot compare to the one device that literally “stole the show” when it was introduced.

The iPad

Many predicted that the iPad, introduced in 2010 would not be a big seller, because it appeared to only be a bigger iPhone. They were wrong. Apple pretty much “owns” the tablet market, although there are certainly other makes available. In the first 4 months after its launch, 44 million were sold. The number continue to be good today.

The Apple Watch – 2015

Though Steve Jobs has died, his legacy of zeal appears to continue to be felt at Apple. There seems to be an aggressive need to continue to innovate, to continue to “lead the pack,” and to keep Apple at the top of its game, a least for the near future. Even as this is written, techies and researchers are already working on the next best thing, you can be certain.  

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