The story of Apple Inc. is an inspiring one. The company has become a global leader in the computer and technology industry, regularly pushing boundaries and introducing revolutionary products. However, it wasn’t always this way; the early days of Apple were spent in a humble garage with two brilliant minds building the first computers.
Apple Inc.
Apple Inc. is an American multinational technology company founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne in 1976 that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software and online services. For over 40 years, the company has revolutionized the world of personal computing and mobile devices to the point where their products practically define the industry. From desktop computers such as the Macintosh to groundbreaking products like iPod, iPhone and iPad; Apple Inc. has made a name for itself with exceptional quality and innovation.
Through their extensive network of online stores and resellers around the globe, Apple Inc. continues to deliver superior hardware solutions for home users as well as professionals alike. Not content with being just an electronics manufacturer; Apple Inc. also produces many accessories such as headphones, docking stations, keyboards and mice to complement their flagship products such as Macs. In addition to this they have developed a range of applications – both pre-installed on new Macs & iOS devices plus apps available through the App Store – which offer popular services such as iCloud storage and iTunes media playback capabilities on any device they are downloaded onto. With cutting edge technology at its core combined with a strong emphasis on user experience; Apple Inc is considered one of the most successful companies.
Garage start-up
The rise of Apple Inc., one of the world’s most recognized tech companies, began with the personal vision of Stephen G. Wozniak. When the Altair 8800 arrived in 1975, it made Wozniak’s dream of building a computer suddenly feasible. With encouragement from friends at the Homebrew Computer Club group, Wozniak was quick to develop his own microcomputer concept and present it to Hewlett-Packard Company as an engineering intern. When HP refused his idea, he and fellow former classmate Steve Jobs turned to producing operations in Jobs’ family garage in 1976. It was then that they chose to name their company Apple, and thus began their start-up journey towards a vast empire.
Under the guidance of two driven entrepreneurs, Wozniak and Jobs created what would become a highly successful business model over the next few decades; this path saw them launch several innovative products, including the first-ever personal computer in 1977 as well as apps for iPod/iPhones in 2008. The company has seen continuous recognition for its iconic products – such as MacBook’s – and is currently worth close to billion dollars, being listed on Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Competition from IBM
Apple experienced a period of unprecedented growth in the early 1980s as their profits and size soared. This impressive success even saw Apple’s valuation rise higher than that of the Ford Motor Company after their big public offering in December of that year. However, their domination of the computer market was soon challenged by International Business Machines Corporation (IBM).
In 1981, IBM introduced the IBM PC line which featured readily available components such as Intel microprocessors, and DOS from Microsoft Corp. The hardware components were open source which allowed other computer manufacturers to make use of them, thus creating a large market for DOS software from Microsoft. Things further improved for IBM when Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet was released, earning them an instant popularity within businesses – something that Apple had missed out on with their Apple II system.
Desktop publishing revolution
The Macintosh computer, unveiled by Apple in 1984, was met with great enthusiasm from the media. Unfortunately, due to its lack of memory and storage, as well as its missing cursor keys and color display, it did not sell up to expectations. This culminated in Steve Jobs’s ousting from the company in 1985. Under John Sculley’s leadership, Apple began improving the Mac. But what really made a difference for the Mac was the introduction of their affordable laser printer paired with Aldus Corporation’s PageMaker software. Suddenly it was possible for small businesses and print shops to produce professional-looking materials at a fraction of the cost they would have paid previously. This combination had such a dramatic effect on the industry that people dubbed it the “desktop publishing revolution.” It quickly become one of the Mac’s primary markets, making it finally profitable for Apple and cementing its reign over graphics and print media production ever since.
1971–1985: Jobs and Wozniak
In 1971, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak were introduced to each other by a mutual friend, Bill Fernandez. After meeting each other, the two Steve’s formed a business partnership. Wozniak, a self-taught electronics engineer, developed a video terminal for accessing Call Computer’s minicomputers. Alex Kamradt requested this design and distributed a limited quantity through his company. It’s likely that the impetus for Jobs and Wozniak’s business venture came from their mutual interest in up-to-date technology as, at that time, Jobs had withdrawn from Reed College and Wozniak from UC Berkeley.
The early development of the Jobs/Wozniak partnership would eventually lead to the formation of Apple Inc in 1976, an American multinational technology company specializing in consumer electronics, Apple computer software, online services and personal computers with headquarters located in Cupertino, California. Since its formation until 1985 (nine years on) it grew rapidly and went on to be one of the world’s leading innovative technology companies with successful products such as Macintosh computers, iPod music players and iPhones ruling the market place like never before.