Apple was founded in 1976 by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs, two friends who had met six years earlier. The first computer built was called the Apple I, and featured a television display, 60-key keyboard, and much less parts than other models at the time. When Jobs later met Michael Markkula, the three had enough money to register Apple computers. The success of the first model generated enough sales revenue to allow the chief designer Wozniak to refine the model and release the second version, Apple II in 1977. Throughout the 1980’s Apple Computers were a household name, and a household item. The Macintosh was subsequently developed during the 1980’s to compete with emerging Personal Computer systems such as IBM and was released in 1984. However, a rigid pricing structure and unwillingness to compromise has since seen Apple lose out to Bill Gates and Microsoft particularly with its chief operating system ‘Windows’ which can be used on any PC unlike Apple computers which are designed with their own operating system. As a result, Apple captured less than five per cent of the total market share for sales of PCs in 2003, a far distant second to Microsoft.
In conjunction with Sony, Apple technicians released the PowerBook laptop in the early 1990’s which for most of the decade set the benchmark for laptop design and innovation. Its sleek operation and portability were chief selling points of the machine which was used widely throughout the United States by the business sector.
The Apple iMac was a fresh new approach to desktop computers for the new millennium. Apple History online describes the move as an attempt to capture the “low end consumer market� and to re-invent the way people looked and thought about Personal Computers. The first model, released in 1998 was to re-launch Apple into the computing stratosphere after having suffered losses with only the aging Macintosh desktop, and the PowerBook laptop to compete against giants Microsoft. In 1999, the second version of Apple’s iMac was released in a multitude of different colours to sell towards the younger market aimed at students and classrooms at school. The mission was brought about chiefly through the commitment of Steve Job; originally co-founder of Apple Computers, but who later went onto design another program only to return to Apple’s Chief Executive position in 1997.
File-Sharing Technology and Digital Creative Content
Chris Paine 11:08, 10 Sep 2004 (EST)
