Essay About Evolution Of Apple And Apple Computers

The Evolution of Apple – January 1976 to May 1995
Essay Preview: The Evolution of Apple – January 1976 to May 1995
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The Evolution of Apple – January 1976 to May 1995
Lets take a trip back in time and review the evolution of a computer company.
Its not IBM or Microsoft. This company is Apple Computers, Incorporated.
In the year 1976, before most people even thought about buying a computer for
their homes. Back then the computer community added up to a few brainy
hobbyist. So when Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs sold a van and two programmable
calculators for thirteen hundred dollars and started Apple Computers, Inc., in
Jobs garage, the reach for success seemed far.
But these two young business men, Wozniak 26 years old and Jobs 21 years old,
had a vision. “Computers arent for nerds anymore,” they announced. “Computers
are going to be the bicycle of the mind. Low cost computers for everyone.”
From the first day on the founders of Apple kept their vision intact, and they
spoke it at every turn. They only hired people into the company that had the
same visions as they did.
In early 1976 Wozniak and Jobs finish work on a preassembled computer circuit
board. It has no Product keyboard, case, sound or graphics. They call it the
Apple I. They form the Apple Computer Company on April Fools Day and sold the
Apple I board for $666.66 at the Home brew Computer Club in Palo Alto,
California.
In 1977 the Apple II is available to the general public. Fully assembled and
pretested, it includes 4K of standard memory, and comes equipped with two game
paddles and a demo cassette. The price is $1,298. Customers use their own TV
set as a monitor and store programs on audio cassette recorders. Compare this
price with computers today. The price about the same, but the computer has
changed tremendously.
In 1979 Apple II+ is introduced, available with 48K of memory and a new
auto-start ROM for easier startup and screen editing for $1,195. Apple II
Pascal is also released.
In 1980 Apple FORTRAN introduced and proves to be a catalyst for high-level
technical and educational applications. Apple III announced at the National
Computer Conference. It has a new operating system, a built-in disk controller
and four peripheral slots priced at $3,495, the Apple III is the most advanced
system in the companys history. Product
In 1981 Accessory Products Division formed to handle production of printers,
modems and other peripherals. The Apple Language Card is introduced. It allows
Apple II users to run programs in either Pascal, FORTRAN or Pilot. The IEEE-488
interface card is announced and allows Apple II computers to be linked to over
1,400 scientific and technical instruments.
International Business Machines came on the PC scene in August of 1981 with the
IBM Personal Computer. Apple greets its new competitor with a full-page ad in
the Wall Street Journal with a headline that reads, “Welcome IBM. Seriously.”
Apples first mass storage system was also introduced this year, the 5MB
ProFile hard disk, priced at $3,499.
In November of 1983 AppleWorks, an integrated package containing word
processing, spreadsheet, and database applications all in one, is introduced
and will soon become the worlds best selling software.
In February of 1985 Jobs and Wozniak receive National Technology Medal from
President Reagan at the White House. The ImageWriter II, HD-20 hard disk and
Apple Personal Modem were also introduced this year.
In January of 1987 Apple introduced a new desktop communications products
including the AppleShare file server software and AppleTalk PC Card. They are
priced at $799 and $399. Also introduced in 1987 is the AppleFax Modem, priced
at $699. Now you get a fax modem with the purchase of an Apple computer.
In February of 1988 Apple introduces AppleCD SC, an optical storage device that
gives access to huge amounts of information. Priced at $1,199, a single CD-ROM
disc can store up to 270,000 pages of typewritten information. Also in 1988
Apple files suit against Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard to protect its Macintosh
audio visual display. The lawsuit is seen as having industry wide implications
regarding copyright laws. In late 1988 Apple introduces the Macintosh IIx
computer, priced at $7,769. It is the first Macintosh II computer to use