Looking back to 1976, the Apple I was the first big success for Apple, though arguably it was also a failure. The company ultimately killed the Apple computer in favor of the Apple Macintosh. Introduced in 1984, the Macintosh popularized the Graphical User Interface, as well as the input device known as the “mouse.” The Macintosh was self-contained, including the display, and easy to set up with few cables, characteristics favored by Jobs and ones that continue to distinguish Apple products to this day.
It’s not surprising then that upon returning to Apple, Jobs oversaw the Mac’s rebirth in 1998. The iMac combined the “excitement of the Internet with the simplicity of the Macintosh.” The iMac cleared away legacy technology, including the (at the time ubiquitous) floppy disk drive, emphasizing networking and getting online “fast and easy.” At $1,199, it was a huge success. In 2000, the iMac accounted for nearly half of all Macs sold. The iMac was one of two products that saved Apple Computer; the other was the iPod.
iPod