From a humble garage to the mighty iPod
Like any good Silicon Valley success story, the tale of Apple Computer begins in a garage.
This particular home --in Los Altos, California-- belonged to the parents of Steve Jobs, a 21-year-old college dropout, and was frequently visited by two of his friends, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Jobs and Wozniak had built a kit for a pre-assembled computer circuit board, and roped in Wayne, a draftsman, to design a logo and write a manual. The computer was called the Apple I, and on April 1st, 1976, Jobs, Wozniak and Wayne founded Apple Computer in order to market and sell it.
The computer was never a huge hit, but before long, Apple Computer had established itself as one of the most creative and important forces in the computer industry. Today, "the two Steves" are rich and famous--Wayne sold his stake after a few months, for about $800--and Apple has an influence far larger than its relatively small sales and marketshare numbers would suggest.
Under Jobs' leadership, Apple has helped usher in now common features like the mouse and the 3.5 inch floppy disk. The Macintosh, released in 1984, was the first affordable computer to offer a graphical user interface; more than any other device, it's responsible for the fact that nearly every computer in the world uses the familiar system of clicking around a computer's desktop and through its folders.
Apple has always been a pioneer in the world of design. The original PowerBook laptop set the bar for portable, ergonomic laptops, and in 1998, the transparent, bulbous iMac almost single-handedly moved the world away from dull "beige box" computers. It also spawned a slew of imitators outside the personal computing world; for years following the iMac's debut, the colorful plastic look was copied in designs for consumer goods ranging from kitchen grills to tape dispensers.
More recently, Apple has revolutionized the world of music. The iPod digital music player is a huge hit, with over 42 million units sold, and in February 2006, Apple's iTunes Music store sold its one billionth song. Pundits have predicted that a competitor would break Apple's stranglehold on the digital music market, but so far no one has come close.
Meanwhile, the iPod has supercharged Apple's top and bottom lines. Last year, fueled primarily by sales of the now-ubiquitous players, Apple enjoyed its best year to date, earning $1.3 billion on sales of $13.9 billion; the company is now worth some $52 billion.
Despite these successes, three decades after its founding and 22 years after it introduced the Macintosh, Apple remains the underdog in a personal computer world dominated by Microsoft. But innovations like the iPod and a new partnership with chipmaker Intel promise to keep the company vital and relevant.
Does Apple have another 30 years in it? Maybe not. But as long as Steve Jobs remains at the helm, it's a sure bet that the company will continue to shock, surprise and intrigue.
Like any good Silicon Valley success story, the tale of Apple Computer begins in a garage.
This particular home --in Los Altos, California-- belonged to the parents of Steve Jobs, a 21-year-old college dropout, and was frequently visited by two of his friends, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Jobs and Wozniak had built a kit for a pre-assembled computer circuit board, and roped in Wayne, a draftsman, to design a logo and write a manual. The computer was called the Apple I, and on April 1st, 1976, Jobs, Wozniak and Wayne founded Apple Computer in order to market and sell it.
The computer was never a huge hit, but before long, Apple Computer had established itself as one of the most creative and important forces in the computer industry. Today, "the two Steves" are rich and famous--Wayne sold his stake after a few months, for about $800--and Apple has an influence far larger than its relatively small sales and marketshare numbers would suggest.
Under Jobs' leadership, Apple has helped usher in now common features like the mouse and the 3.5 inch floppy disk. The Macintosh, released in 1984, was the first affordable computer to offer a graphical user interface; more than any other device, it's responsible for the fact that nearly every computer in the world uses the familiar system of clicking around a computer's desktop and through its folders.
Apple has always been a pioneer in the world of design. The original PowerBook laptop set the bar for portable, ergonomic laptops, and in 1998, the transparent, bulbous iMac almost single-handedly moved the world away from dull "beige box" computers. It also spawned a slew of imitators outside the personal computing world; for years following the iMac's debut, the colorful plastic look was copied in designs for consumer goods ranging from kitchen grills to tape dispensers.
More recently, Apple has revolutionized the world of music. The iPod digital music player is a huge hit, with over 42 million units sold, and in February 2006, Apple's iTunes Music store sold its one billionth song. Pundits have predicted that a competitor would break Apple's stranglehold on the digital music market, but so far no one has come close.
Meanwhile, the iPod has supercharged Apple's top and bottom lines. Last year, fueled primarily by sales of the now-ubiquitous players, Apple enjoyed its best year to date, earning $1.3 billion on sales of $13.9 billion; the company is now worth some $52 billion.
Despite these successes, three decades after its founding and 22 years after it introduced the Macintosh, Apple remains the underdog in a personal computer world dominated by Microsoft. But innovations like the iPod and a new partnership with chipmaker Intel promise to keep the company vital and relevant.
Does Apple have another 30 years in it? Maybe not. But as long as Steve Jobs remains at the helm, it's a sure bet that the company will continue to shock, surprise and intrigue.
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