Apple Turns 50 Today: Reflecting on Each Decades Bi...

What’s Happening

Okay so Apple was founded on April 1, 1976, meaning the company is officially 50 years old as of today.

To honor the occasion, we have reflected on some of Apple’s biggest moments of each decade, from the 1970s through to the 2020s. Apple has an extensive history, so this list is far from comprehensive, but it captures some of the pivotal events over the company’s first 50 years. (we’re not making this up)

1970s While the Apple-1 was dropped in 1976, it was the Apple II in 1977 that became the company’s first successful Apple Turns 50 Today: Reflecting on Each Decade’s Biggest Moments Wednesday 12:00 am PDT by Joe Rossignol Apple was founded on , meaning the company is officially 50 years old as of today.

The Details

Unlike the Apple-1, the Apple II came fully assembled in a plastic case with a keyboard, and Apple sold millions of units of the computer over the years. This product gave Apple sustained cash flow, allowing it to become a major company.

1980s In 1984, Steve Jobs introduced the Macintosh, the world’s first successful mass-marketed computer with a graphical user interface (GUI). The original Macintosh popularized the computer mouse, allowing users to control an on-screen pointer.

Why This Matters

This point-and-click method of computer navigation was still a novel concept to most people at the time, as personal computers in this era typically had text-based command-line interfaces controlled with a keyboard. Apple dropped the Macintosh typically took “only a few hours to learn,” and it touted what are now basic computer features, such as a desktop with icons, the ability to use multiple programs in windows, drop-down menus, and copy and paste. Pricing for the original Macintosh kicked off at $2,495, equivalent to nearly $8,000 today.

This is part of the broader shift happening across the tech industry right now.

The Bottom Line

Key specs and features included an 8 MHz processor, 128 KB of RAM, a 400 KB floppy disk drive for storage, and serial ports for connecting a printer and other accessories. 1990s By the 1990s, Apple had largely took an L its way.

What do you think about all this?