1976
- (month unknown)
- Steve Wozniak offers his new computer (Apple) to Hewlett-Packard, who reject it as a non-viable product. [930.34]
- March
- Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs finish work on a computer circuit board, that they call the Apple I computer. [46] [1886.64]
- April 1
- Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak incorporate the Apple Computer Company, on April Fool's Day. [9] [46] [140] [218] [606.18] [1112.138] [1298.187] [1886.64] [2245.14] (1977 January 3 [861.33]) (1977 March [353.259])
- April
- Stephen Wozniak demonstrates the Apple I at the Homebrew Computer Club. [266.xv] [1886.64]
- Apple Computer co-founder Ron Wayne sells his share for US$800. [1112.138]
- July
- The Apple I computer board is sold in kit form, and delivered to stores by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Price: US$666.66. [46] [218] [593.350]
- Paul Terrell orders 50 Apple computers from Steve Jobs, for his Byte Shop. [266.213]
- August
- Paul Terrell receives his order of 50 Apple computers. [266.213]
- Steve Wozniak begins work on the Apple II. [266.218]
- October
- Mike Markkula, ex-marketing wizard at Intel, visits Steve Jobs' garage, to see the Apple computers. [266.215] [930.34]
- Steve Wozniak decides to remain at Hewlett-Packard, but is soon convinced that he should leave and join Apple Computer permanently. [266.218]
- December
- Steve Wozniak and Randy Wigginton demonstrate the first prototype Apple II at a Homebrew Computer Club meeting. [353.254]
1977
- January
- Mike Markkula invests US$91,000 in Apple Computer, and backs a US$250,000 line of credit with Bank of America, in exchange for one-third interest in Apple Computer stock. [930.34] [1702.94]
- Apple Computer employees move into an office on Stevens Creek Boulevard in Cupertino, California. [266.219] (February [353.259])
- February
- Michael Scott becomes president of Apple Computer. [1886.64]
- April
- Rob Janov of Regis McKenna company designs the corporate logo for Apple Computer. [1886.64]
- April 16
- Apple Computer introduces the Apple II at the West Coast Computer Faire. The computer features a 6502 CPU, 4 kB RAM, 16 kB ROM, keyboard, 8-slot motherboard, game paddles, graphics/text interface to color display, and built-in BASIC, for US$1298. It is the first personal computer with color graphics. [9] [41] [46] [120] [140] [176.54] [203.7] [266.182] [346.47] [593.350] [1280.42] [1298.187] [1886.64] (March [185.114]) (July [716.234])
- May
- 10 months after its introduction, 175 Apple I kits have sold. [218]
- June
- Apple Computer delivers its first Apple II system. [1559] [1886.64] (April [196.20]) (May [528.352])
- Apple II computers are first shipped to Europe by independent distributor Eurapple. [46]
- (month unknown)
- Microsoft licenses its 6502 BASIC to Apple Computer for US$21,000. [346.48] [1299.111] (early 1978 [949.300])
- November
- Apple Computer releases Applesoft, a version of BASIC with floating-point capabilities. It is licensed from Microsoft. [218]
- December
- At an executive board meeting at Apple Computer, president Mike Markkula lists the floppy disk drive as the company's top goal. [218] [266.225]
- Steve Wozniak writes disk controller software for use with the Shugart 5.25-inch floppy disk drive for the Apple II. [618.63] [930.62]
- Year
- Apple Computer revenues for the year: US$770,000. [203.8] [930.47] (US$700,000 [185.114])
1978
- January
- Apple Computer demonstrates its first working prototype Apple II disk drive at the Consumer Electronics Show, in Las Vegas. [218]
- March
- Apple Computer introduces interface cards for the Apple II computer to connect to most available printers. [1886.64]
- June
- At the Consumer Electronics Show, Apple Computer introduces the Apple Disk II, a 5.25-inch floppy disk drive linked to the Apple II by cable. Price: US$495, including controller card. [46] [203.46] [231.218] [266.227] [346.48] [1397.D5] (price US$595 [1886.64]) (July [218])
- (month unknown)
- Apple Computer hires Chuck Peddle. [266.231]
- September
- Year-end sales for Apple Computer: US$7.8 million. Profits: US$0.8 million. [256.212]
- (month unknown)
- Personal Software company software publisher Dan Fylstra loans an Apple II to Dan Bricklin to create his spreadsheet program (will be VisiCalc). [618.67]
- Apple Computer begins work on an enhanced Apple II with custom chips, code-named Annie. [266.231]
- Apple Computer begins work on a supercomputer with a bit-sliced architecture, code-named Lisa. [266.231]
- Chuck Peddle quits Apple Computer and returns to Commodore International. [266.231]
- Year
- Shipments of Apple Computer Apple II computers during the year: 20,000, valued at US$30 million. [234.117] (US$7.9 million [930.47]) (US$7 million [185.114] [203.8])
1979
- February
- Apple Computer releases DOS 3.2. [218]
- (month unknown)
- At the West Coast Computer Faire, Corvus Systems introduces an interface between an Apple II and a US$5000 10 MB IMI Winchester hard drive. To their surprise, they receive orders for 60 units. [995.ss48]
- June
- Apple Computer introduces the Apple II Plus, with 48 kB memory, for US$1195. [46] [200.1] [218] [593.350]
- Apple Computer introduces its first printer, the Apple Silentype, for US$600. It is a Trendcom Model 200, released under the Apple name. [46] [218]
- (month unknown)
- Apple Computer begins work on "Sara", the code-name for what will be the Apple III. [203.49] (1978 [266.232])
- Apple Computer releases the word processing program AppleWriter 1.0. [218]
- Apple Computer releases Apple Pascal. [912.136]
- Hayes Microcomputer Products introduces the 110/300 baud Micromodem II for the Apple II, for US$380. [218]
- Richard Garriott releases the Akalabeth game for the Apple II computer in the US. [1688.116]
- Microsoft releases the Flight Simulator game for the Apple II. [1732.90]
- July
- Apple Computer releases DOS 3.2.1. [218]
- September
- Apple Computer's board of directors approves a research project into building an all-in-one computer targeted at an average user. (The Macintosh computer will emerge in 1984.) [1886.64]
- Apple Computer sells 35,000 Apple II computers for the fiscal year. [266.231]
- Year-end sales at Apple Computer: US$48 million. Profits: US$5 million. [256.212]
- October
- 2.5 years after the introduction of the Apple II computer, 50,000 units have been sold. [218]
- October 17
- Personal Software releases VisiCalc for the Apple II, for US$99. (Over its lifetime, over 700,000 copies are sold.) [46] [140] [218] [266.230] [346.102] [618.70] [1033.171] [1056.327] [1112.139] [1149.146] (November [120])
- November
- A group of Apple Computer engineers and executives is given a demonstration of the Alto computer system at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center. In exchange, Xerox buys 100,000 Apple Computer shares for US$1 million. [180.77] [266.xv] [346.146] [582.205] [618.189] [734.45] [741.210] [1112.142] [1886.64]
- (month unknown)
- Apple Computer's Trip Hawkins negotiates a deal with Dan Fylstra of Personal Software to buy his company and VisiCalc for US$1 million in Apple Computer stock. Apple's president refuses to approve the deal. [618.72]
- Year
- During the year, Apple Computer sells US$48 million worth of computers. [185.116] (US$47 million [203.8]) (US$49 million [930.47])
1980
- January
- Mike Harvey begins the Nibble magazine for Apple Computer products. [218]
- March
- Apple Computer releases Apple FORTRAN software for the Apple II. [1886.65]
- At the West Coast Computer Faire, Microsoft announces its first hardware product, the Z-80 SoftCard for the Apple II. This card, incorporating a Zilog Z-80 processor, gives the Apple II CP/M capability, contributing greatly to Apple Computer's success. The card includes CP/M and Microsoft's Disk BASIC, all for US$349. Tim Patterson of Seattle Computer Products had built several prototypes before Microsoft's Don Burdis took over the project. The "Z-80" part of the name is later dropped at Zilog's request. [9] [252.47] [266.269] [346.65] [1299.137] (April [123])
- May 19
- Apple Computer introduces the Apple III at the National Computer Conference, in Anaheim, California. The Apple III uses a 2 MHz 6502A microprocessor, and includes a 5.25-inch floppy drive and 128 kB RAM. Price ranges from US$4500 to US$8000. [9] [176.145] [252.50] [258.208] [266.234] [1056.324] [1151.S3.15] [1334.D1] [1886.65] (September [120] [203.58] [593.350])
- (month unknown)
- Apple Computer begins project "Diana", which will become the Apple IIe. [218]
- Ken and Roberta Williams start On-Line Systems, developing software for the Apple II. First game released is Mystery House. [353.282] [1532.10]
- July
- Microsoft releases the SoftCard for the Apple II. (5,000 are sold in a couple months; 25,000 sell by the end of the year; 100,000 sell over the product's lifetime.) [1149.158,173] [1299.138] (August [346.260])
- August
- Apple Computer releases DOS 3.3. [218]
- September
- The first issue of Softalk magazine for Apple Computer products appears. [218] [353.310]
- Apple Computer sells over 78,000 Apple II computers during the fiscal year. [266.234]
- September 30
- Year-end sales at Apple Computer: US$117 million. Profits: US$11.7 million. [256.212] [1154.D6]
- (month unknown)
- Apple Computer ships the first Apple III units in limited quantity. [266.234] (January 1981 [258.208]) (March 1981 [1151.S3.15])
- Richard Garriott releases the Ultima I fantasy role-playing game for the Apple II computer in the US. [1175.55] [1688.116]
- December 12
- Apple Computer becomes a publicly held company, selling 4.6 million shares at US$22 per share. More than 40 Apple employees and investors become instant millionaires. This is the largest initial public offering in the US since Ford's in 1956. [46] [185.116] [202.191] [256.212] [266.240] [745.59] [1048.D8] [1154.D6] [1559] [1886.65]
- December
- InfoCom releases the Zork adventure game for the Apple II. [548.436] [809]
- Year
- During the year, Apple Computer sells US$96 million worth of computers. [185.114] (nearly US$120 million [930.52]) (US$200 million [1154.D6]
- Shipments of Apple desktop computers in the US during the year: 79,500. [1150.D1]
1981
- January
- A group at Apple Computer contemplates building an inexpensive computer based on technology of the Lisa computer. (This is the start of the Macintosh project.) [901.58]
- March
- Mike Markkula replaces Michael Scott as president of Apple Computer. Steve Jobs becomes chairman of the board. [202.211] [203.63] [1559] [1886.65]
- April
- Mike Scott is forced out as Apple Computer president. [618.187] (July [266.237])
- May 27
- Apple Computer sells 2.6 million shares to the public, at US$31.25 per share. [1154.D6]
- (month unknown)
- Sir-Tech Software releases the fantasy role-playing game Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord for the Apple II. [1175.55]
- Apple Computer signs a secret agreement with Apple Records (the record company started by the Beatles), allowing Apple Computer to use the "Apple" name for its business. Apple Computer agrees not to market audio/video products with recording or playback capabilities. [548.377] [597.102] [612.47] [1578.42]
- Apple Computer prohibits mail-order sales of Apple computers, claiming there is no provision for customer education or services. [340.9]
- Apple Canada is established. [880.94]
- At Apple Computer, Steve Jobs and Andy Hertzfeld show Bill Gates a prototype of what will be the Macintosh computer. [1149.251,268]
- August
- Apple Computer runs a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal with a headline that reads "Welcome IBM. Seriously.". [46] [346.87] [606.26]
- Apple Computer ships the 250,000th Apple computer. [1154.D6]
- September
- Apple Computer introduces its first hard drive, the Apple 5 Megabyte ProFile, for US$3499. [46] [1644.149] [1886.65] (November [1447.D4]) (1983 [205.36]) (Profile [854.38])
- September 25
- Apple Computer year-end sales US$334.8 million, earnings US$39.4 million. [1154.D6] [1162.D5]
- October
- Logo Computer Systems of Canada completes a contract with Apple Computer, for Apple to distribute their version of the LOGO language. This is the first time Apple agrees to co-label a product with an outside supplier, and the first time Apple signs a contract with a supplier outside of the US. [615.120]
- (month unknown)
- Apple Computer officially re-introduces the Apple III, with improved software and a hard disk. [266.239]
- Year
- Market share of personal computers: Radio Shack 20%, Apple Computer 17%, IBM 1.9%. [1316.S3.1]
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