(Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA, www.apple.com) A manufacturer of computers and consumer electronics, Apple is the industry’s most fabled story. Founded in a garage by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs and guided by Mike Markkula, Apple blazed the trails for the personal computer industry. Apple was formed on April Fool’s Day in 1976. After introducing the Apple I at the Palo Alto Homebrew Computer Club, 10 retail stores were selling them by the end of the year.

Key numbers for fiscal year ending September, 2009:

• Sales: $36,537.0M
• One year growth: 12.5%
• Net income: $5,704.0M
• Income growth: 18.0%

Competitors:

• Dell
• Hewlett-Packard
• Microsoft

In 1977, the Apple II was introduced, a fully-assembled computer with 4K RAM for $1,298. Its open architecture encouraged third-party vendors to build plug-in hardware enhancements. This, plus sound and color graphics, caused Apple IIs to become the most widely used computer in the home and classroom. They were also used in business primarily for the innovative VisiCalc software that was launched on it.

In 1983, Apple introduced the Lisa, the forerunner of the Macintosh. Lisa was aimed at the corporate market, but was soon dropped in favor of the Mac. As a graphics-based machine, the Mac was successful as a low-cost desktop publishing system. Although praised for its ease of use, its slow speed, small monochrome screen and closed architecture didn’t excite corporate buyers. But, things were to change.

In 1987, the Mac II offered higher speed, larger screens in color and traditional cabinetry that accepted third-party add-in cards. Numerous models were offered and widely accepted. In 1991, Apple surprised the industry by announcing an alliance with IBM to form several companies that would develop hardware and software together. All these eventually folded back into Apple and IBM, but the major product of the alliance was the PowerPC chip. In 1994, Apple came out with its first PowerPC-based Power Macs, which proved very popular. Its PowerBook laptops were an instant success, and all subsequent models departed from the original Motorola 68K architecture to the PowerPC.

The Mac has stood alone in a sea of IBM and compatible PCs for more than two decades and watched its graphical interface copied more with each incarnation of Windows. In 1994, Apple began to license its OS to system vendors in order to create a Macintosh clone industry. However, a couple of years later, that was discontinued.

In 1997, Apple acquired NeXT Computer, which brought Steve Jobs back to the company he founded and gave it a raft of object-oriented development tools, parts of which filtered down into the Mac OS X operating system.

In 1998, Apple introduced the iMac, the first personal computer without a floppy disk. Self-contained in one unit like the original Mac, Apple sold 800,000 iMacs in a year, making it the fastest-selling computer in its history. Apple’s subsequent models, including the G4 Cube and Titanium portable, were in a class by themselves.

In 2006, Apple switched the Mac to Intel chips, and combined with sleeker designs and continuous refinements, the Mac has gained market share ever since.

In 2001, Apple launched the iPod, one of the most successful consumer electronics products in history. Setting the bar for portable music players, every competing product is measured against the iPod’s ease of use and capabilities. In 2007, Apple introduced the iPhone, a combination phone, iPod, Internet appliance and mobile computer. The iPhone transformed the mobile phone industry with its unique user interface.

Incorporated: 1977
NAIC: 334111 Electronic Computer Manufacturing; 334119 Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing; 511210 Software Publishers
SIC: 3571 Electronic Computers; 3577 Computer Peripheral Equipment Nec; 7372 Prepackaged Software

Apple Computer, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets personal computers, software, networking solutions, and peripherals, including a line of portable digital music players. Apple’s product family includes the Macintosh line of desktop and notebook computers, the iPod digital music player, the Mac OS X operating system, the iTunes Music Store, the Xserve G5 server, and Xserve RAID storage products. The company’s products are sold online, through third-party wholesalers, and through its own chain of stores. Apple owns approximately 125 retail stores in the United States, as well as stores in Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom.