Apple Computers

Apple Computers, tho' not by that name, was established on 1st April, 1976

Steve Wozniak hand built the Apple I personal computer and along with Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne sold them at a price of $667... that's a staggering $2,500 in today's money terms.
Ronald Wayne sold his shares to the other two for $800 and multi-millionaire Mike Markkula provided much needed business expertise and funding of $250,000 during the incorporation of Apple.

In December 1980, Apple Computers launched the initial public offering of its stock to the investing public and it generated more capital than any IPO since the Ford Motor Company in 1956 and instantly created more millionaires (about 300) than any company in history. Several venture capitalists reaped billions in long-term capital gains.

In 1984, (the year that student Michael Dell had $1000 and a dream), Apple launched the Macintosh. Its debut was announced by the now famous $1.5 million television commercial,"1984" and is now considered a watershed event for Apple's success and a "masterpiece"

The Macintosh initially sold well, but follow-up sales were not strong. This was because of the high price tag, as well as limited software titles. The Mac was particularly powerful in the graphics market

In 1985, Steve Jobs resigned from Apple .

In 1996 Steve Jobs came back to Apple as an advisor.. In 1997 Steve Jobs announced that Apple would join Microsoft to release new versions of Microsoft Office for the Macintosh, and that Microsoft made a $150 million investment in non-voting Apple stock.

Between early 2003 and 2006, the price of Apple's stock increased more than tenfold, from around $6 per share (split-adjusted) to over $80. In January 2006, Apple surpassed Dell. Nine years prior, Michael Dell said that if he ran Apple he would "shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders."

Although Apple's market share in computers has grown, it remains far behind competitor Microsoft, with only about 8 percent of desktops and laptops in the U.S.

On January 9, 2007, Steve Jobs announced that Apple Computer, Inc. would from that point on be known as Apple Inc. The iPhone was also announced^] The following day, Apple shares hit $97.80, an all-time high at that point. In May, Apple's share price passed the $100 mark.

This Apple Computers blog page is copyright jon Bratton 2009

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