Analysis of Apple Inc.

Apple Computers started as a partnership between Steve Jobs and Stephen Wozniak in 1976. Both were computer gurus and they ventured out to create a design that combined computers and video monitors. The first computer was named Apple I and was built in Jobs’ parent’s garage. The two original founders gathered a few more partners for financial reasons and officially became Apple Computer Inc. Within months they introduced the Apple II; the first computer with a plastic casing and color graphics. Apple’s annual sales increased to $10 million and within a years time. On December 12, 1980, Apple became a publicly traded company
  1. Describe the key strategic challenges facing Apple Computers.

    Apple computer has faced many challenges throughout the years. Steven Jobs left Apple over disagreements with John Sculley. During Jobs’ absence from Apple, Apple partnered with IBM and Motorola to produce the Power PC Chip. One of the challenges that Apple Computers faced was the loss of the exclusive rights to its own invention, due to a bad contract. With this loss Apple constructed its resources to create standardized software. Consumers needed compatible operating systems and the Macintosh ran exclusively on Mac OS, which was not available on other computers. Apple went through a few different CEO’s over the next five years but resulted in Jobs’ return to Apple a decade later. After Jobs left Apple, he in turn started his own company called NEXT. Apple bought this company shortly after in hopes of using their technologies for improvements on Apple technologies. Apple and Microsoft were at odds with each other and Jobs’ priority was to settle any disputes at bay and Microsoft quickly made its Office 98 compatible with Macintoshes. Jobs introduced less expensive computers like IMac, IBook and PowerMacs aimed at lower income consumers as a way to gain more recognition in the market. Mac users compromised less than 5 percent of U.S. computer users when Apple introduced... [continues]

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