Apple
1976
Apple Computers was founded by Steve
Wozniak, Steve
Jobs and Ron Wayne on April 1st 1976, after Jobs
and Wozniak developed the Apple 1 computer in Job’s
bedroom. The first Apple 1 sold was in May 1976 for
$666.66 to the Byte shop, which ordered 50 units. Not
long afterwards Ron Wayne left the company. Later that
year, Wozniak finished the Apple II and, after trying
to sell the design to Commodore without success, the
pair decided to manufacture the computer themselves.
In 1977 the company was incorporated, Mike Markkula,
who subsequently became one of the principal power brokers
behind the company, invested $92 000. The Apple II was
released for $1295. In the Summer of 1979 work began
on the first Apple Macintosh computer. In 1981 Jobs
joined the Macintosh project and Markkula became the
president of Apple Computer Inc.
In
February 1981 Wozniak was injured in a plane crash,
which forced him not only to take some time out from
Apple, but also to reassess his life. He subsequently
enrolled at the University of Berkley under an assumed
name, completing his degree in electrical engineering
and computer science. In the same year Apple came to
a secret agreement with the Beatles allowing the word
Apple to be used on computer products.
|
