| 22nd June 2006, A family of desktop and | | | | larger screens in color and traditional |
| laptop computers from Apple, introduced in | | | | cabinetry that accepted third-party add-in |
| 1984. When spelled Mac, short for Macintosh | | | | cards. In 1991, Apple surprised the industry |
| computer. It was the first computer to | | | | by announcing an alliance with IBM to form |
| popularize the graphical user interface | | | | several companies that would develop hardware |
| (GUI). The combination of Mac hardware and | | | | and software together. In 1994, Apple came |
| software has been exceptionally consistent | | | | out with its first PowerPC-based PowerMacs, |
| over the years, providing an ease of use that | | | | which proved very popular. Its PowerBook |
| Mac users have enjoyed. | | | | laptops were an instant success, and all |
| | | | subsequent models departed from the original |
| The combination of Mac hardware and software | | | | Motorola 680x0 architecture to the PowerPC. |
| has been exceptionally consistent over the | | | | |
| years, providing an ease of use that Mac | | | | It has watched its graphical interface copied |
| users have enjoyed. With a Windows emulator | | | | more with each incarnation of Windows and |
| such as Virtual PC, Macs can also run Windows | | | | watched its market share drop simultaneously. |
| and DOS applications. Since the mid 1980s, it | | | | In late 1994, Apple began to license its OS |
| has been essentially a Mac vs. PC world for | | | | to system vendors in order to create a |
| personal computers, with Linux-based PCs | | | | Macintosh clone industry, which pundits had |
| gaining ground after the millennium. | | | | been suggesting for years. However, a couple |
| | | | of years later, that was discontinued. |
| A manufacturer of desktop and laptop | | | | |
| computers and the industry's most fabled | | | | In 1997, Apple acquired NeXT Computer, which |
| story. Founded in a garage by Steve Wozniak | | | | brought Steve Jobs back to the company he |
| and Steve Jobs and guided by Mike Mark Kula, | | | | founded and gave it a raft of object-oriented |
| Apple blazed the trails for the personal | | | | development tools, parts of which filtered |
| computer industry. Apple was formed on April | | | | down into the Mac OS X operating system. |
| fool's Day in 1976. After introducing the | | | | |
| Apple I at the Palo Alto Homebrew Computer | | | | In 1998, Apple introduced the iMac, a |
| Club, 10 retail stores were selling them by | | | | low-priced Internet-ready Mac that was the |
| the end of the year. | | | | first personal computer without a floppy |
| | | | disk. Self-contained in one unit like the |
| In 1977, the Apple II was introduced, a | | | | original Mac, Apple sold 800,000 iMacs in a |
| fully-assembled computer with 4K RAM. Its | | | | year, making it the fastest-selling computer |
| open architecture encouraged third-party | | | | in its history. Apple's subsequent models, |
| vendors to build plug-in hardware | | | | including the G4 Cube and Titanium portable, |
| enhancements. This, plus sound and color | | | | were in a class by themselves. Apple |
| graphics, caused Apple II is to become the | | | | continues to offer attractive alternatives to |
| most widely used computer in the home and | | | | the Windows-based PC. |
| classroom. They were also used in business | | | | |
| primarily for the innovative VisiCalc | | | | The first Mac had only a floppy disk and 128K |
| software that was launched on it. | | | | of memory, and its "high-rise" cabinet and |
| | | | built-in 9" monochrome screen was unique. |
| In 1983, Apple introduced the Lisa, was aimed | | | | Maintained for a number of years and |
| at the corporate market, but was soon dropped | | | | streamlined in its Classic model, the |
| in favor of the Mac. As a graphics-based | | | | high-rise gave way to more traditional |
| machine, the Mac was successful as a low-cost | | | | cabinetry for a while. Starting in the late |
| desktop publishing system. But, things were | | | | 1990s, Apple returned to its roots by |
| to change. | | | | introducing the iMac and restoring its flair |
| | | | for unique cabinet design. |
| In 1987, the Mac II offered higher speed, | | | | |