History of Apple Company | Steve Jobs to Tim Cook [1976-2021]

Summary

Apple, founded on April 1, 1976, by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, revolutionized the tech industry with the Apple I and II. After initial struggles, the launch of the Macintosh and the iMac marked significant milestones. Jobs' return in 1997 steered Apple to new heights with the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. Under Tim Cook, Apple continued its success with Siri and Apple Watch, becoming one of the world's most valuable companies with a market cap of $2.08 trillion as of March 2021.

Takeaways

• 🍏 Apple was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak on April 1, 1976, in a garage in Palo Alto, California.
• 🎓 Steve Jobs dropped out of school at 17 and later worked at Atari where he met Steve Wozniak.
• 🌏 Steve Jobs traveled to India to study Buddhism, which influenced his perspective on life and work.
• 💡 The idea for Apple was sparked by the Altair 8800, an early personal computer that needed a programming language to be useful.
• 🚗 To fund their venture, Jobs sold his Volkswagen and Wozniak sold his HP computer.
• 🤝 They initially partnered with Ronald Wayne, who designed the first Apple logo and wrote the Apple I user manual.
• 💼 Apple I computers were sold without a monitor, keyboard, or case until 1977.
• 💹 Apple received its first investment of $92,000, leading to the launch of the successful Apple II.
• 🖥 The Apple III was launched in collaboration with IBM in 1980.
• 📉 The Apple Lisa, the first personal computer with a graphical interface, was a commercial failure due to its high price and limited applications.
• 🔄 Steve Jobs left Apple in 1985 after a conflict with CEO John Sculley and founded NeXT.
• 💼 Steve Jobs returned to Apple as CEO in 1997, steering the company away from bankruptcy.
• 📈 The iMac launched in 1998 was a significant success, selling over 800,000 units in the first five months.
• 🎉 Apple's market capitalization reached $2.08 trillion as of March 15, 2021, making it one of the world's most valuable companies.
• 🔧 Tim Cook took over after Steve Jobs' death in 2011 and continued to innovate, launching products like Siri and the Apple Watch.

Q & A

When was Apple founded and by whom?

Apple was founded on April 1, 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in a garage in Palo Alto, California.

Why did Steve Jobs drop out of school?

Steve Jobs dropped out of school after only one semester at the age of 17 to explore various courses and find what he wanted to study.

How did Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak meet?

Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak met in 1974 when Jobs joined Atari as a video game programmer.

What did Steve Jobs do during his trip to India?

During his trip to India, Steve Jobs studied Buddhism for eight months.

What was the significance of the Altair 8800 in the context of Apple's founding?

The Altair 8800 was a computer that needed to be assembled by customers and had limited functionality until Bill Gates and Paul Allen wrote the BASIC programming language for it. This inspired Steve Jobs to see the potential in making a user-friendly computer, leading to the founding of Apple.

How did Jobs and Wozniak finance the launch of Apple Computer Company?

Jobs sold his Volkswagen car, and Wozniak sold his HP computer to raise the initial capital needed to launch Apple Computer Company.

Who was Ronald Wayne and what was his role in Apple's early days?

Ronald Wayne was a partner who joined Jobs and Wozniak to form Apple Computer Company. He designed the first Apple logo and wrote the Apple I user manual. However, he sold his 10% stake in the company for $800 shortly after its founding.

What was the business model for selling Apple I computers?

Apple I computers were sold without a monitor, keyboard, or case, and Jobs partnered with The Byte Shop to sell 50 units for $666.66 each.

What was the first product that Apple launched with its own monitor?

The Apple II was the first product launched by Apple that came with its own monitor, open architecture, and colorful graphics.

Why did Steve Wozniak leave Apple in 1983?

The script does not provide specific reasons for Steve Wozniak leaving Apple in 1983, but it was during a period of change for the company, including the launch of the Apple Lisa and the hiring of John Sculley as CEO.

How did Steve Jobs' return to Apple in 1997 impact the company?

Steve Jobs' return to Apple as CEO in 1997 marked a significant turning point for the company. He led the development of new products, including the iMac, which sold over 800,000 units in the first five months.

What was the impact of the launch of the iPhone on Apple's profitability?

The launch of the iPhone in 2007 was the most profitable launch in Apple's history, solidifying its position as a market leader in consumer electronics.

How has Tim Cook's leadership continued Apple's success after Steve Jobs' death?

Under Tim Cook's leadership, Apple has continued to thrive financially and introduce revolutionary products like Siri and the Apple Watch. As of March 15, 2021, Apple's market capitalization reached $2.08 trillion.