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_The Evolution of Apple - January 1976 to May 1995 _
By: Lilly Wilson
The Evolution of Apple - January 1976 to May 1995 Let's take a trip back in
time and review the evolution of a computer company. It's 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 Motorolas
68030 microprocessor and 68882 math co-processor. It is also the first
Macintosh to incorporate FDHD, Floppy Drive High Density, Apples new 1.44MB
floppy disk drive that can read and write to MS-DOS, OS/2 and ProDOS formats.
Also a new configuration is announced for the Macintosh SE. The new unit
features two megabytes of RAM and an internal 40 megabyte hard drive. It
retails for $5,069. From April till July of 1989 Apple II Video Overlay Card
is introduced. It provides video overlay capabilities for the Apple IIGS. Also
introduced was Apples 32-Bit QuickDraw that allows Macintosh personal
computers to process and display photo-quality documents, images and
visualizations with exceptional color clarity. Apple also unveils more than a
dozen new networking and communication products this year to increase
Macintosh compatibility in multi vendor environments, including DEC, IBM, OSI
and TCP/IP. In July of 1989 Apple IIGS System Software 5.0 is announced. It is
the first 16-bit operating system for the Apple IIGS that operates over the
AppleTalk network system. In the early year of 1991 Apple petitions the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to let computers transmit and receive
information over radio waves, paving the way for a new industry, called Data
Personal Communications Services(Data-PCS). In October of 1991 Apple, IBM, and
Motorola finalize milestone technology alliance. The alliance consists of five
distinct technology initiatives: 1.) Better integration of Macintosh PCs into
IBMs networks; 2.) A new family of RISC microprocessors for PCs and
entry-level workstations; 3.) PowerOpena new open systems environment derived
from AIX (IBMs industry-standard version of UNIX); 4.) Kaleidaa new
multimedia joint venture that will create and license new multimedia
technology; 5.)Taligenta next-generation operating environment based entirely
on object-oriented technology. In May of 1992 IBM, Motorola and Apple formally
dedicate a new facility that will serve as the focal point of design and
development efforts for the PowerPC family of single-chip, reduced instruction
set computing (RISC) microprocessors. In 1993, during the annual Apple
Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple demonstrates a prototype Macintosh
computer running on an 80 MHz PowerPC 601 processor, achieving a new
performance level in the industry. The company also demonstrates
PowerPC-compatibility with existing Macintosh applications software. In the
beginning of 1994 Apple unveils Power Macintosh 6100/60, 7100/66 &8100/80 a
new line of Apple Macintosh computers fueled by the PowerPC microprocessor.
The Apple Power Macintosh line trounces Pentium processor-based PCs in an
independent study conducted by Ingram Laboratories. In the end of this year
leading industry developers announce support for second-generation Power
Macintosh with PCI (Personal Component Interconnect). In January of 1995 Apple
Ships QuickTime VR, bringing virtual reality to Macintosh and Windows personal
computers. The Power Macintosh 6100/66, 7100/80 and 8100/100 eclipses fastest
Pentium-based systems by an average of 38% reports Ingram Laboratories. In the
mid-year of 1995 Apple hails FCC decision to allocate 10 Megahertz of radio
spectrum for low-power, wireless data communications, "Data-PCS." Also this
year Pioneer licenses Apples Mac OS for use in Pioneers new line of personal
computers. Multimedia user experience enhanced with new Apple CD 600e quad
speed CD-ROM player. Apple provides interactive TV set-top technology for a
six state trial of interactive educational programming with Light span
Partnership, Inc. Apple and IBM agree to provide multi-platform application
development tools to enable users to build custom applications using OpenDoc
technology. Apple unveils the next generation of Mac OS at its Worldwide
Developers Conference. AT and Apple sign multimedia communications agreement
to provide video conferencing and desktop collaboration capabilities using
QuickTime Conferencing technology and WorldWorx Network Services. Apple
Petitions FCC once again to create unlicensed high-speed wireless "National
Information Infrastructure Band." I hope you change the way you think about
Apple computers since you know a little bit of history on the company. When I
say a little bit. I mean this 6 page term paper was only one eighth of the
information that I gathered on this company.
_Bibliography _
Reference To Articles In Monthly Magazines John C. Dvorak, "Last Rites,"
MacUser, (April 1994), p. 210 John C. Dvorak, "Times A-Wasting," MacUser,
(December 1994), p. 222 John C. Dvorak, "Welcome To WIMP," MacUser, (January
1995), p. 192 Reference To Internet World Wide Web Pages http://www.apple.com
http://www.uce.com/machist.html
Word Count: 1343
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