Apple Timeline, 1981-85

<1976-1980> <1986-1999>
Year
Apple
Other
1981
  • First Apple layoff affects 40 employees.
  • Apple introduces ProFile, 5 MB hard drive for Apple III.
  • Over 300,000 Apple II users.
  • Apple has over 2,500 employees.
  • IBM PC introduced on August 12 with 4.77 MHz 8088 CPU and 16 KB RAM. (Floppy drive and video card optional.)
  • MS-DOS introduced.
  • Osborne introduces first portable computer.
1982
  • Apple stops flow of illegal clones.
  • AppleCare introduced.
  • Intel introduces 80286 CPU.
  • Time magazine calls 1982 "The Year of the Computer."
1983
  • 01.19: Lisa introduced with 5 MHz 68000 CPU, 860k 5.25" floppy, 12" b&w screen, detached keyboard, and mouse for $9,995.
  • Jan.: Apple IIe introduced at $1,395.
  • April: John Sculley becomes Apple's president and CEO.
  • Apple enters Fortune 500 at #411.
  • One-millionth Apple II produced.
  • Apple III+ introduced in December at $2,995.
  • Ten million personal computers in US
  • Lotus 1-2-3 introduced, quickly displaces VisiCalc as spreadsheet of choice.
  • Microsoft Word introduced.
1984
  • 01.22: Legendary 1984 ad appears during Super Bowl.
  • 01.24: Macintosh 128K introduced at $2,495 with 128 KB RAM, 400 KB floppy, built in monitor. (See cover of February 1984 Byte.)
  • 01.24: Macintosh System 1.0
  • Jan.: Lisa 2 introduced with 400k 3.5" floppy and 10 MB optional hard drive.
  • April: Apple IIc introduced at $1,295.
  • May: Macintosh System 1.1 introduces fonts and Font Mover.
  • Apple introduces 300 bps and 1200 bps modems.
  • 09.10: Mac 512K 'Fat Mac' introduced at $3,195.
  • 2,000,000 Apple IIs in existence.
  • More in Macintosh History: 1984
  • 3.5" floppy drives introduced.
  • IBM PC/AT uses 6 MHz 80286 CPU, 256 KB RAM, HD 1.2 MB floppy, 16-bit bus. $4,000. Compare with features and price of Mac 128K and 512K to the left.
The Macintosh
1985
  • Jan.: Lisa 2 w/10 MB hard drive renamed Macintosh XL. All other Lisa models discontinued.
  • Feb.: Steve Wozniak leaves Apple.
  • March: LaserWriter introduced at $6,999.
  • April: Macintosh System 2.0 introduces New Folder command and viewing by small icon or as a list.
  • June: 1,200 employees dropped in reorganization.
  • Sept.: Steve Jobs leaves Apple and eventually starts NeXT.
  • 500,000 Macs in use.
  • More in Macintosh History: 1985
  • Microsoft ships Windows.
  • Intel introduces 80386 CPU.
  • Aldus PageMaker ships.
<1976-1980> <1986-1999>

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