History of Apple Computers

Apple Computer and its History

Apple Computer and its History

Most of consumer computing today assumes the above requirements are met in one way or another . As far as a particular computing device is concerned , its value is dependant on how well it meets these criteria The computing "religious wars " of the 1970 's , 1980 's , and 1990 's have for the most part receded , having shifted from a fervent adherence to a particular piece of hardware , over to a preference of operating system (Windows , Linux , MacOS , or others . Furthermore , we are

gradually moving to the place where the applications and the documents they produce are becoming the focus , rather than the box or OS that runs on that box . The computer operating system is gradually transforming into a vehicle through which an application or Internet content is presented , much as a local radio or television station broadcasts programs and entertainment And the future holds the potential for even more exciting advancements (Weyhrich 2001

This company , Apple Computer , is a fascinating study in engineering talent , innovation , perseverance , and success in spite of dysfunctional behavior . Apple Computer has the unique distinction of being the single surviving company from the early days of personal computing that is still in business and is still successfully selling computers , as well as challenging Microsoft 's dominance in operating systems (Weyhrich 2001

In 1967 , Jef Raskin (Mac creator ) writes Ph .D . thesis on the Graphical User Interface (GUI ) at Penn State University . In his thesis he coins the term "QuickDraw " for the first time . This will eventually become the name of the Mac 's graphics routine 17 years later (Mesa 1998

In 1968 , Bill Fernandez introduces his high school buddy Steve Jobs to his neighbor Steve Wozniak . Enough said . HYPERLINK "http /www .xerox .com " Xerox opens HYPERLINK "http /www .parc .xerox .com " Palo Alto Research Center (PARC , and employs the greatest minds in the field to research advances in computer science in 1970 . Raskin begins to take several trips to HYPERLINK "http /www .parc .xerox .com " PARC as a visiting scholar for the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory . Jobs become one of the first 50 employees at Atari , under Atari founder Nolan K . Bushnell in 1972 . Jobs later asks Woz for help in creating the sequel to the smash hit "Pong , entitled "Breakout . Jobs cheat Woz out of 5000 HYPERLINK "http /www .parc .xerox .com " PARC finishes work on the 40 ,000 Alto in 1973 . It becomes the first true PC , and first GUI-operated computer . It also used the first laser printer , and was connected to other Altos using the first Ethernet network . Woz begins attending meetings of the Homebrew Computer Club in 1975 . Woz becomes intrigued by the Altair 8800 often shown there . He cannot afford one so he decides to build his own microcomputer . Work begins on the Apple I (Mesa 1998

Steven Wozniak and Steven Jobs were the true founders of HYPERLINK "http /www .apple .com /about /index .html " Apple . In 1976 , Steven Wozniak designed what is now known as the Apple I . Jobs convinced Wozniak that he needed to try to sell the machine , and on April 1 , 1976 , Apple Computer was created . However , the market was not ready for such advancement in technology , thus setting back the take off of Apple until 1977 (Theh 2008

The pair showed the prototype Apple I , mounted on plywood with all the components visible , at a meeting of a local computer hobbyist group called "The Homebrew Computer Club (based in Palo Alto , California . A local computer dealer (The Byte Shop ) saw it and ed 100 units providing that Wozniak and Jobs agreed to assemble the kits for the customers . About two hundred Apple I were built and sold over a ten month period , for the superstitious price of 666 .66 (Bellis 2008

Apple began to increase development with the introduction of the Apple II . The Apple II , included color graphics and came in its own plastic casing . The first real computer to come pre-assembled , there for making it more attractive to a larger group of consumers . After the introduction of the Apple II , the s for Apples increased dramatically (Theh 2008

During 1979 , Jobs began working on the Macintosh , when Apple 's "Lucy project began to crumble . The "Lucy " project was originally Jobs idea after visiting the HYPERLINK "http /www .xerox .com " Xerox PARC research facility in Palo Alto . There Jobs first saw and realized the potential or graphical user interface "I thought it was the best thing I 'd ever seen in my life . Now remember it was very flawed , what we saw was incomplete , they 'd done a bunch of things wrong . But we didn 't know that at the time but still I though they had the gem of the idea was there and they 'd done it very well and within you know ten minutes it was obvious to me that all computers would work like this some day " So as Apple 's sales began to tumble Jobs started Macintosh . The Macintosh idea was to be an inexpensive DOS PC that would be more user friendly then the hard to use DOS applications used by HYPERLINK "http /www .ibm .com " IBM and there clones . However in Job 's stress for perfection , the Mac still ended up being around 1 ,000 more then most PC 's . Sales still were quite profitable the first year , but soon consumers began to realize that the Mac had few applications , unlike DOS PC 's with spreadsheets and databases to go along with word documents Another draw back was the inability for printers to print exactly what was on the screen . Mac users could make documents with great fonts , but when there documents were printed they were in plain dot matrix . This time Apple teamed up with an ex-Xerox employee , John Warnock who had stared his own company called HYPERLINK "http /www .adobe .com " Adobe . Adobe had figured out what no one else could , how to print what you see on your computer . With this Apple redeemed itself by introducing the first Desktop Publishing programs . With this development Mac began to lead the industry overnight (Theh 2008

By the 1990s , the computer market had been saturated by so many personal computer clones . Since Apple was the only one selling Macs , because of their stingy patents they began to fall behind . This was due to the development of Windows 3 .0 , which was able to run on almost every personal computer clone . Apple computers were not compatible with the Windows 3 .0 , thus making it very inconvenient for people to buy Apple computers . With so many PC clones using DOS , software developers like HYPERLINK "http /www .microsoft .com " Microsoft were able to capitalize on a growing market and keep the consumers happy and wanting more . Apple on the other hand had fewer applications , as well as more older applications that were less appealing to the consumer . Thus contributing to there steady decline (Theh 2008

Finally , in 1994 , Apple introduced the PowerMac , this was the first Mac to be structured on the PowerPC chip . The PowerMac was an extremely fast processor that had been co-developed with IBM and Motorola . This allowed Apple to remain a high competitor for the best computer on the market This is what enabled Apple to stay afloat in an already heavily saturated computer industry (Theh 2008

Apple began to take a turn for the worst again in 1995 . Apple all of a sudden had accumulated too many backs , and did not have sufficient materials to build them . Apple began to lose millions of dollars and during this time Apple failed to make a profit . Apple also had trouble keeping up with Bill Gate 's Windows `95 that had been introduced during the summer of 1995 (Theh 2008

In later half of 1996 , Apple proceeded with a large merger that would enable Apple to acquire NeXTstep . This program began the basis for Apple 's next generation of computers , the OS . This was the start of Apple to again regain a high position in the computer market . In 1997 Apple made a relationship with Microsoft that would give the two companies a 5 year patent cross-license . Microsoft also paid Apple an unstated amount of money , in that Apple keep quiet about Microsoft stealing Apple 's interface design . This design had brought in great success for Microsoft , while Apple was not even recognized for it (Theh 2008

Apple has begun to return to the positive side of their financial difficulties . They have learned from their past mistakes , and have produced many machines that are very competitive in the current market Apple still remains to be diversified within the computer industry whether this will help them or not . Apple should not be counted out from the top ranks of the computer industry (Theh 2008

In my point of view , computers , no matter who created them , it is very important that you took care of your computers because of their use in our lives . Computers evolve quickly because of great minds . It would be very important for future computer users to learn their history to take seriously how it was created to help people to eases their work

Reference

Bellis , Mary . Inventors of the Modern Computer : The First Hobby and Home Computers : Apple I , Applie II , Commodore PET , and TRS-80 . C .2008 br

Mesa , Andy F . Apple History Timeline . The Apple Museum . C . 1998 br

THE HISTORY OF APPLE COMPUTERS . C . 2008 br

Weyhrich , Steven . Pre-Apple History . Apple2History . 12 November 2001 ...