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The Apple II Timeline

The Apple II Timeline gives an overview of many of the events mentioned in the Apple II History, as well as some others that are not discussed. The dates given for the various entries found here are as accurate as I can make them, based on the sources cited in the footnotes that follow. In some cases I could come no closer to the correct date than the year in which it happened. If there is no reference number, it is because I cannot find the source of the information, but know that it is reasonably accurate.

In regard to the various versions of Apple II disk operating systems: For DOS I chose to use the date found on the HELLO program on System Masters; I chose for ProDOS 8 to use the date displayed when it starts up; and for GS/OS the dates it was first announced in Open-Apple or A2-Central. The dates they were completed and the dates they were available are sometimes several months apart.

One other thing that may make some of these dates slightly inaccurate is the difference between a product "announcement", "introduction", and "release". Something may be "introduced" on one date, but not available or "released" until a later date (the IBM PCjr comes to mind). If anyone cares to correct me on any of these points, please feel free to contact me with your information source, and I will be glad to make the change.

Ladies and gentlemen, the History of the Apple II Time-Sweep. Every number one event, in order, beginning in June, 1969. Sit back, for the Greatest (Computer) Hits of All Time!

1969

• Intel designs the 4004 microprocessor. The name is derived from the approximate number of transistors that it replaced, and indirectly was a measure of its complexity, as it handled 4 bits of data at a time.[86]

• Micro Instrumentations Telemetry Systems (MITS), started by Ed Roberts, begins to manufacture and sell calculators.[91]

June

• The Department of Defense's Advanced Research Project Agency funds the creation of ARPANet, to make it possible for their various research facilities to communicate with each other from around the country. It begins with only three host computers, and eventually evolves to become what is now known as the Internet.

December

• ARPA's Network Working Group designs "telnet", a protocol that allowed users to logon remotely to any computer on the ARPANet network.[141]

1971

• Steve Wozniak and his high-school friend Bill Hernandez build a computer out of parts rejected by local companies, ending up with a box with lights and switches (similar to the Altair 8800 that would not appear until 1975). They called it the "Cream Soda Computer", since that was their drink of choice while they were building it. The first demonstration of the computer burned up the power supply.[123]

• Wozniak and Steve Jobs start their first joint business venture, selling "blue boxes" (capable of making "free" long distance phone calls) at the Berkeley dorms.[1]

• Intel begins to advertise the 4004 processor, beginning with the fall 1971 issue of Electronic News. Regis McKenna, whose agency would later be hired to advertise the Apple II computer, designs the promotion.[87]

• Intel begins work on an 8-bit processor, the 8008.[86]

1972

• Paul Allen convinces Bill Gates to join him in writing a BASIC interpreter for this new 8008 processor. They design a machine to use it, and form their first business venture, a company called Traf-O-Data, to process traffic information using their small computer.[88]

• Intel contracts with Gary Kildall, a professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Pacific Grove, California, to write a computer language that would run on the Intel 4004 processor. Kildall choses to create PL/M, a version of a mainframe computer language called PL/I. In the process of writing this language, Kildall develops a simple operating system as a background for the interpreter and to control a paper-tape reader and writer. This operating system was the basis for what he later called CP/M ("Control Program/Monitor").[89]

• The U.S. government's official name for ARPA ("Advanced Research Projects Agency") is changed to DARPA ("Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency"), to stress the defense role the organization had played from its very inception. The name "ARPANet" is not changed, however.[144]

November

• Intel introduces the 8008 microprocessor, which runs at a speed of 200 kHz (or 0.2 MHz), and sells for $360.[88]

October

• First public demonstration of ARPANet at the International Conference on Computer Communication, held in Washington, DC.[142]

1973

• Steve Wozniak takes a summer job and joins Bill Hernandez at Hewlett-Packard in their calculator division.[124]

• Wozniak starts up "Dial-A-Joke" from his apartment, telling Polish jokes in a thick accent. This phone line becomes one of the most frequently called numbers in the San Francisco Bay area.[124]

• Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) develops the "Alto", a breakthrough computer which used a pointing device called a "mouse", a bit-mapped graphic screen, and icons to represent documents. Also, it had a 2.5 megabyte removable disk cartridge and the first implementation of Ethernet. It cost $15,000 just to build it, and only 1,200 were ever produced. This computer and the Xerox Star were the inspirations within a decade for the Lisa and the Macintosh.[106]

• Kildall's CP/M is modified to work with the Intel 8008 microprocessor, and to interface with a disk drive. It now stands for "Control Program for Microcomputers".[89]

May

• The Micral computer is released in France. It is the first computer built around a microprocessor, the Intel 8008. Designed by François Gernelle, and sold by the French company R2E for $1,750, fully assembled, it did not have any impact in the U.S.[105]

September

• Radio Electronics magazine prints a construction article called "TV Typewriter" by Don Lancaster. This project allowed users to create a video terminal that worked with a standard television, and would allow them to connect to a mainframe computer -- if they had one available.[90] It could display 16 lines of 32 uppercase characters.[93]

1974

• Motorola introduces the 6800 microprocessor.

March

• Scelbi-8H microcomputer introduced.[2]

April

• Intel introduces the 8080 microprocessor, the successor to the 8008.[92]

• Steve Jobs begins work at Atari.[3]

May

• Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn publish a paper proposing the use of a transmission-control protocol (TCP) to make it possible to share information between different computer networks.[145]

July

• The July issue of Radio Electronics introduced the Mark-8, the first computer kit to build at home.[4] It uses the Intel 8008 chip, which by this time was selling for only $120.

August

• A group of eight engineers and marketers, including Bill Mensch and Chuck Peddle, leave Motorola to work for MOS Technology, at that time the world's largest manufacturer of calculator chips. They begin to design a microprocessor for the company to sell.[119]

October

• Creative Computing starts publication.[5]

1975

January

• Ed Roberts of MITS completes design work on the Altair 8800, which is introduced in the January issue of Popular Electronics.[6]

• Bill Gates and Paul Allen begin writing the first dialect of BASIC that would run on a personal computer, the new Altair. Their development was done using an 8080 emulator running on a PDP-10 computer, and was based on DEC's BASIC-PLUS.[94]

February

• Zilog, founded by former Intel employees, announces the Z-80 microprocessor. This chip functions just like an Intel 8080, but with some additional features.[7]

March

• First meeting of Homebrew Computer Club.[8]

• IMSAI Manufacturing of San Leandro, California, begins work on a clone of the Altair 8800.[99]

April

• Scelbi-8B (business) computer introduced.[2]

• Gates and Allen change the name of their company from Traf-O-Data to Micro-Soft.

• Micro-Soft's Altair BASIC is announced. It is shipped on paper tape.[8] MITS makes it available in two forms: for $500 when purchased by itself, or $75 when purchased with an Altair, a cassette interface, or 8K of MITS memory. The entire Altair 8800 cost only $400![95]

July

• Altair BASIC is finally available for sale, in 4K and 8K versions. It is called "version 2.0", even though it is the first official BASIC that shipped.[96]

• Micro-Soft contracts with MITS for software development.[96]

• The government entity called the Defense Communications Agency (DCA), which in the 1960's was uninterested in the concept of a packet-sending distributed network, agrees to take over control of ARPANET from DARPA.[143]

• First meeting of the Chicago Area Computer Hobbyist Exchange (CACHE) at at Northwestern University.[151]

September

• Byte begins publication.[7]

• MOS Technology introduces the 6501 and 6502 microprocessors at Wescon, the annual West Coast electronics show. These were created by the group of engineers who had left Motorola and joined MOS Technology in 1974.[119]

November

• MITS announces the Altair 680b, a 6800-based cousin to the Altair 8800. It was not a big success for the company.[110]

December

• The IMSAI 8080 released, the first major competitor to the Altair 8800. It used larger, flat switches for front-panel data input than did the Altair 8800, which made it easier on fingers than the tiny switches on the Altair. With 4K RAM in the base unit, it was sold as a kit for $439, or assembled for $621 (the same price as the Altair).[100]

• Paul Terrell, a salesman who was a member of the Homebrew Computer Club, opens the Byte Shop in Mountain View, California, and begins selling the Altair 8800.[121]

1976

• First meeting of the Boston Computer Society.[111]

• Processor Technology introduces the Sol ($995 in kit form).[7]

• Cromenco sells the TV Dazzler ($215), a color graphics card for the Altair.[7]

• Shugart introduces its 5.25 inch floppy disk drive for $390.[7]

• Dr. Dobb's Journal Of Computer Calisthenics And Orthodontia begins publication. Its first three issues reprint the source and object code listing for "Tiny BASIC", written by Dennis Albrecht as a free and simple alternative to Microsoft's much more expensive BASIC.[98]

• The first version of Adventure for microcomputers is translated by Crowther and Wood from mainframe versions.[7]

March

• The first World Altair Computer Conference is hosted by MITS in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[97]

April

• Wozniak and Jobs form the Apple Computer Company on April Fool's Day.[9]

• Wozniak's 6502 computer, later known as the Apple Computer or the Apple-1, is introduced to the Homebrew Computer Club in Palo Alto, California.[9]

July

• The Apple-1 is delivered for sale at at Paul Terrell's Byte Shop ($666.66). It required the addition of a power supplappy, monitor and keyboard.[10]

• Zilog's Z-80 microprocessor, running at 2.5 MHz, is released.[101]

• Microsoft begins working on versions of its BASIC for microprocessors other than the Intel 8080. Marc McDonald, Microsoft's first employee, writes a 6502 BASIC after modifying a Motorola 6800 simulator to work with the 6502 (which was similar). However, there were as yet no customers for a 6502 BASIC.[102]

• Processor Technology introduces the Sol, an Altair-compatable 8080 computer.[112]

August

• PC'76, a microcomputer conference, is held in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak attend and demonstrate the Apple-1 and its new cassette interface. Wozniak completes his Apple BASIC interpreter (the precursor of Integer BASIC) in the hotel room the night prior to the conference, using the hotel TV as a monitor. It was the only 6502-based computer at the show, and because of its small size, full BASIC language, and fast cassette interface it generates a lot of interest, but unfortunately no orders for Apple.[103]

• Wozniak completes prototype of the Apple II. Chris Espinosa begins working on games and demonstration software for it.[11]

October

• Wozniak is persuaded to leave Hewlett-Packard and work at Apple full-time.[11]

• Commodore International buys MOS Technology, the company that created the 6502 processor.[113]

November

• ComputerLand opens its first retail store in Hayward, California, selling IMSAI, Processor Technology, Polymorphic, Southwest Tech, and Cromemco.[122]

December

• Using an Altair 8800, Michael Shrayer creates Electric Pencil, the first word processing software for microcomputers.[114]

1977

• The Horizon introduced by North Star Computers, with a Z-80, 16K RAM, one 5.25 drive, 12 S-100 slots, and built-in serial I/O ($1999).[7]

• H-8 Computer introduced by Heathkit as a kit, with an 8080 processor.[7]

• Bill Mensch leaves MOS Technology, later starting his own design company with a contract to develop chips for MOS.[119]

January

• Apple incorporates, with Intel veteran Mike Markkula as its first chairman. He helps them obtain venture capital to get the business going.[9], [12]

• Apple moves from the garage owned by Steve Jobs' parents to a building on Stevens Creek Boulevard in Cupertino, California.[9]

April

• Apple II introduced at the First West Coast Computer Faire, with BASIC in ROM, color video, low and high resolution graphics, built-in speaker, game paddle inputs, and seven slots for peripherals. It is expandable to 48K RAM.[10], [12]

• Commodore PET introduced, with a 6502 processor, 4K RAM, 14K ROM, and 8K Microsoft BASIC, for $595.[13]

May

• First Apple II boards ship.[12]

• Apple II Flyer

• Byte magazine publishes an article by Steve Wozniak called "The Apple II". It gives a hardware and firmware description of the computer.[12]

• MITS, the company that started it all with the Altair 8800 in 1975, is sold to Pertec Computer Corp. Poor management causes the company to fail within two years.[115]

June

• First Apple II systems ship. Standard configuration included 4K of memory, two game paddles, and a demo cassette with programs, costing $1,298. Home televisions are usually used for monitors.[12]

August

• TRS-80 introduced by Radio Shack, with a Z-80 processor, 4K RAM, 4K ROM, and cassette tape storage.[13]

September

• Wozniak, Espinosa, and Wigginton have to discontinue their attendance at the Homebrew Computer Club; work at Apple is now taking up all of their time.[12]

October

• Applesoft I, a 6502 version of BASIC purchased from Microsoft, is released on cassette.[14]

• "SWEET 16: The 6502 Dream Machine", by Steve Wozniak, is published in Byte magazine. It describes the 16-bit computer emulator he included in the Apple II Integer BASIC ROM.

• Micro begins publication.

November

• Apple Parallel Printer Interface Card released.[14]

December

• Wozniak begins work on a floppy disk drive and controller.[15]

• v2.0 bullet 15 Dec 02

1978

• Exidy sells the Sorcerer ($895), with a Z-80, 8K RAM, 12K ROM, and serial, parallel, and cassette interfaces. It could use plug-in ROM cartridges and had user-definable characters.[7]

• Epson releases the MX-80, one of the first low-cost dot-matrix printers.[7]

• To improve the transmission of data packets between different networks, an Internet Protocol (IP) is added to the previous TCP concept, and the combination is officially called TCP/IP.[146]

February

• Apple II Reference Manual (also known as the "Red Book") released.[16]

• Call-A.P.P.L.E. begins publication.[17]

• Ward Christensen, a member of the Chicago Area Computer Hobbyist Exchange (CACHE) starts the Computer Bulletin Board System (CBBS) in order to allow members to communicate and exchange information. It runs on an S-100 computer system, and connects callers at 110 and 300 baud.[150]

April

• Apple II Communications Card released.[14]

May

• Applesoft II released on cassette, adding hi-res graphics commands.[14]

• Contact, Apple's first user newsletter, begins publication.

June

• Disk II floppy disk drive introduced (DOS 3, still buggy, not released).[12],[18], [19]

July

• Apple DOS 3.1 released.[18]

August

• Apple II Serial Interface Card released.[14]

September

• Apple sells 7600 computers in fiscal 1978.[12]

1979

• Intel introduces the 8088 processor.[7]

• Orange Computer, one of the first Apple II clones, appears at the Third West Coast Computer Faire.[7]

• Atari 400 and 800, with a 6502 processor, finally ship late this year (they were announced in 1978). The Atari 400 had a membrane keyboard, and the 800 came with 8K expandable to 48K, and both could take ROM cartridges.[7]

• TI-99/4 computer by Texas Instruments is introduced ($1150), including a 16-bit TMS9900 processor, a color monitor, and a poorly designed keyboard. It was slow, and the company kept a tight reign on peripheral and software cartridge support, which made it difficult for third parties to support it.[7]

• Hayes Microcomputer Products begins selling the Micromodem 100 for S-100 bus computers, one of the first modems that had a direct connect line for the phone rather than sending and receiving the tones through the handset.[7]

• A database program called Vulcan by Wayne Ratliff appears; it later is known by the name dBase II.[7]

• MITS (under Pertec management) goes out of business.[116]

February

• Programmer's Aid #1 announced.

• DOS 3.2 released.[18]

• Apple President Mike Scott tells Apple employees not to use typewriters any longer; only computers are to be used for all office functions.[18]

May

• Processor Technology (creator of Sol computer) goes out of business.[117]

June

• Apple II Plus introduced.[10], [12]

• Applesoft Firmware Card released for Apple II, making it possible for these older computers to use Applesoft.[20]

• Apple Silentype printer (which used thermal paper) introduced.[9]

• The Source begins its online service for personal computer users equipped with modems.[135]

July

• DOS 3.2.1 released.[18]

• CompuServe makes its computer network available for non-peak (evening and weekend) use as a commercial online service called MicroNET, offering bulletin boards, databases,and games for users of personal computers equipped with modems.[135]

August

• Apple Pascal and the Language System released.[18]

September

• Apple sells 35,100 computers in fiscal 1979.[12]

• Macintosh project formally begins, although some preliminary work was done as early as late 1978. It is given the code name "Macintosh", since project leader Jef Raskin's favorite apple was the Mcintosh. The name misspelling was done on purpose to avoid conflict with an audio manufacturer, McIntosh Labs.

• IMSAI goes out of business.[118]

October

• VisiCalc released by Personal Software, Inc.[12]

• International Apple Core formed in San Francisco.

1980

• Sinclair Research introduces the ZX80 (sold in Great Britain), with Z-80 processor, with 1K RAM, 4K ROM (integer BASIC), and a membrane keyboard. It is the first microcomputer to cost less than $200. Its successor, the ZX81, is later sold as the Timex-Sinclair in the U.S.[7]

• Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Color Computer, with a 6809 processor, and capability of taking ROM program cartridges.[7]

• Digital Research announces CP/M-86.[7]

• WordPerfect announced for Data General computers.[7]

• Personal Software introduces Zork for the Apple II, an advanced version of the old game Adventure.[7]

• H&R Block purchases CompuServ, and renames its MicroNET service to "CompuServe Information Service".[135]

January

• Nibble begins publication.

March

• The Microsoft Z-80 SoftCard (later called just "Microsoft SoftCard") first demonstrated at the Fourth West Coast Computer Faire. This card provided a Z-80 processor that was used parallel to the 6502 on the motherboard, allowing the Apple II to run CP/M software. It sold 5,000 in just three months, and continued to be a popular product for several years.[107], [109]

May

• Online Systems begins business with the game Mystery House, the first hi-res graphics adventure for the Apple II.[18]

June

• Sirius Software begins business.[18]

July

• Broderbund Software begins business.[18]

August

• Apple DOS 3.3 released.[18]

• IBM meets with Microsoft regarding Project Chess, their planned personal computer. Microsoft is asked to supply computer languages for this computer, and in order to help provide IBM an operating system appropriate for a small computer they purchase the rights to SCP-DOS from Seattle Computer Products. This forms the basis for PC-DOS (MS-DOS) that was provided with the IBM PC when it was released.[126]

September

• Apple III introduced. It had the 6502B processor, came with a built-in disk drive and four peripheral slots, and sold for $3495.[12]

• Apple sells 78,100 computers in fiscal 1980.[12]

• Softalk begins publication.[12]

October

• Apple Assembly Line begins publication.[21]

November

• Apple reorganizes. Mike Markkula becomes President and CEO, and Mike Scott becomes Vice-Chairman.[12], [22]

December

• Apple's initial public stock offering; 4.6 million shares were purchased.[12]

1981

• Timex-Sinclair 1000 sold for under $100 in the U.S.[7]

• Atari VCS and Mattel Intellivision home video games introduced.[7]

• The Xerox Star is announced. It took the Alto of 1973 and moved it forward, but it was a closed system and was expensive at $16,000. Steve Jobs' tour of the Palo Alto Research Center included a preview of the Star, and inspired him to develop the graphic interface later used in the Lisa and Macintosh.[108]

• Bill Mensch and his company, Western Design Center, creates the 65c02, a low-powered CMOS version of the 6502.[119]

January

• Apple Super Serial Card released.[23]

• Steve Jobs, blocked from working on the Lisa computer project, discovers the Macintosh project that Jef Raskin has been developing, and begins to assemble a team to advance work on it.[24]

• The problems causing Apple III's to mysteriously fail are identified, and steps are taken to correct them.[25]

• Commodore introduces the VIC-20, with a 6502A processor, 5K RAM, BASIC in ROM, serial, cassette, and modem interfaces, and color. It could take program cartridges, and sold for $299.

February

• Steve Wozniak and his fiancé, Candy Clark, are injured in plane crash; he begins a leave of absence.[12]

• Apple announces that it will no longer offer a built-in clock/calendar in the Apple III, due to unavailability of reliable parts. The price is dropped $50 in compensation for this missing component.

• "Black Wednesday" at Apple. Forty employees are fired in the wake of problems with the Apple III and other projects.[25]

March

• Shipments of the Apple III resume after correction of reliability problems.

• Apple's first million dollar shipping day.[12]

April

• Steve Jobs becomes chairman of Apple Computer, Inc.[25]

• Osborne 1 Portable computer introduced at the Fifth West Coast Computer Faire, with Z-80 processor, 64K RAM, two serial interfaces, two 5.25 disk drives, 5-inch monitor built-in, and $2000 worth of software bundled with it ($1795).[7], [125]

May

• Work begins on custom Apple II chips, and the Apple IIe project begins.[26]

June

• Central Point Software releases Copy II Plus v1.0.

July

• Mike Scott leaves Apple.[12]

• Apple begins airing commercials featuring Dick Cavett as a spokesman for their products.

August

• IBM PC introduced.[12]

September

• Apple sells nearly 180,000 computers in fiscal 1981.[12]

• Apple introduces the Profile 5 MB hard disk for the Apple III, for $3499.[12]

• Softdisk begins publication as one of the first disk-based magazines (calls itself a "Magazette", for magazine on diskette.)

October

• Apple introduces the Family System for home use. It includes an Apple II Plus computer, Disk II drive, RF modulator, tutorial, software, manuals, and software directory, all for $2495.

November

• Apple announces that it will no longer allow its products to be sold to consumers via mail or telephone orders. As a result, six retailers file suit against Apple.

December

• Apple III re-introduced after solution of technical problems.[12]

1982

• Intel announces the 80286 processor.[7]

• Franklin Ace 100, an Apple II clone, introduced.[7]

• Compaq Portable introduced, one of the first IBM PC compatible computers sold.[7]

• Commodore 64 introduced, with a 6510 processor, 64K RAM, 20K ROM with Microsoft BASIC, color and custom sound chips, and serial interface ($595).[7]

• Kaypro introduces the Kaycomp II portable, with 9-inch screen and software included, to compete with the Osborne.[7]

• Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 Model 16, with both 68000 and Z-80 processors, 128K RAM, and 8-inch disk drive ($4999).[7]

• Lotus 1-2-3 introduced.[7]

• Time magazine names the computer as its "Man Of The Year" for 1981.[7]

• The term Internet is first used to describe the international collection of networks that used TCP/IP to communicate with each other.[147]

February

• Steve Jobs appears on cover of Time.[12]

March

• Apple announces it will take legal action against Asian makers of Apple II clones.[12]

• Epson's MX-80 and MX-100 printers are becoming popular as inexpensive dot-matrix printers.[27]

• Franklin Computer Corporation releases the Franklin Ace 1000, a copy of the Apple II Plus, with 64K of RAM built-in.[131]

May

• Apple sues Franklin Computer Corporation for patent and copyright infringement in the creation of its Franklin Ace line of computers. The ruling that came from this trial is initially found in favor of Franklin.[12]

June

• Apple Computer makes the "Fortune Double 500" list at number 598.[28]

• Business Solutions introduces The Incredible Jack, the first integrated software program for the Apple II. It did word processing, personal filing, mailing labels, and had spreadsheet ("Calc") functions. It ran under DOS 3.3 and worked on the II Plus.[29]

September

• Apple stops announcing publicly how many systems it sells per year.[12]

• Steve Wozniak holds the first "US Festival".[12]

October

• Apple Dot Matrix Printer ($699), and Apple Letter Quality Printer ($2195) released.[30]

November

• First AppleFest opens in San Francisco.[12]

• Bank Street Writer released by Broderbund Software.[12]

December

• Apple IIc project begins.[26]

• Apple throws a "Billion Dollar Party" for its employees to celebrate the milestone of being the first personal computer company to reach a $1 billion annual sales rate.[12]

1983

• Radio Shack introduces the portable TRS-80 Model 100 ($800) and the Tandy 2000, which has a 80186 processor.[7]

• Coleco introduces the Adam computer, a game machine with detached keyboard, cassette interface, and printer, which fails to gain any impact on the home computer market as they had hoped it would.[7]

• Hewlett-Packard HP150 introduced, with 8088 processor and a touchscreen feature.[7]

• Microsoft Word introduced.[7]

• Western Design Center creates the 65c816, a 16-bit version of the 65c02 that is compatible with most 6502 software.[119]

January

• Apple IIe ($1395) and Lisa ($9995) announced.[12]

• Millionth Disk II produced.

• QuickFile IIe and Apple Writer IIe released with the Apple IIe.

• inCider begins publication.[31]

• The ORCA/M DOS 3.3 assembler, written by Mike Westerfield, released by Hayden Software.[32]

• Franklin Computer demonstrates the Franklin Ace 1200 at the CP/M '83 show. It includes a built-in Z80A processor, CP/M card, 128K RAM, an 80-column text card, and a Disk II-compatible drive, all for $2200. [131]

• On January 1st, every site connected to ARPANET had to have completed conversion to the use of TCP/IP for interconnection.[148]

February

• Apple UniFile and DuoFile disk drives for the Apple III announced. Also called the Apple 871 drive, it used disks with a capacity of 1702 SOS blocks (which were the same size as ProDOS blocks). They were to sell at $1000 for the UniFile, and $1700 for the DuoFile. The drives were advertised as being ideal for backing up the ProFile 5 MB hard drive for the Apple III. Undoubtedly they didn't move to the Apple II during the post-Apple III era because the smaller 3.5 inch drives were coming for the Mac, and had the potential of holding 800K of data (almost as much as these) and would cost less.[33]

March

• IBM PC-XT introduced.[34]

• Lotus 1-2-3 replaces VisiCalc as the best-selling computer program in America.[35]

• Radio Shack Model 100 released. Considered by some to be the first laptop computer, it was developed in Japan and marketed in different parts of the world under different names (and slightly different features). With nearly a full-sized keyboard and a 8 line by 40 column LCD display, it could run for several hours on four AA batteries, and featured a word processor (written by Bill Gates), telecommunications program, address book, telephone dialer, and Microsoft BASIC, all in ROM.[128]

April

• John Sculley joins Apple as President and CEO; Mike Markkula becomes Vice-Chairman.[9], [12]

May

• Apple makes the "Fortune 500" list at position 411.[12]

• "Kids Can't Wait" program begins, in which Apple donates 9000 computers to California public schools.[12]

• Steve Wozniak holds second (and final) US Festival.[12]

June

• Millionth Apple II produced.[12]

• Wozniak returns to Apple.[12], [36]

• First 16-bit Apple II project ("IIx") begins.[12], [36]

August

• The Third Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals reverses the ruling by a lower court in the copyright and patent infringement case brought by Apple against Franklin Computer. The preliminary judgement against Franklin prohibited them from selling computers using the Apple II ROMs and other software code that they had copied and modified, until the case could come to trial. In making their defense, Franklin had freely admitted they did copy the Apple II ROM, DOS, and several other pieces of software in the creation of its clone computers, and argued that computer code was not covered by copyright law (since it did not exist in a printed form that was readable without the aid of a computer), and therefore could be legally copied. This ruling in favor of Apple set the legal basis for declaring computer software as covered by copyright law.[131], [132]

September

• Osborne Computer Corporation files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[12]

October

• ProDOS v1.0

• IBM PCjr introduced, but is not available until early 1984.[34]

• Due to decreasing sales, Texas Instruments discontinues its TI-99/4A home computer.[85]

November

• Rupert Lissner's AppleWorks and /// E-Z Pieces introduced.[9]

• BASIC.SYSTEM v1.0

• A+ Magazine begins publication.

• Due to the immense popularity of the IBM PC and others like it, pioneering computer companies North Star, Vector Graphic, and Cromemco begin to suffer significant decreases in sales, resulting in layoffs.[127]

• Microsoft announces Interface Manager, the product that would eventually become Windows 1.0. The product will not be available, however, until November 1985.[135]

December

• Apple III Plus announced with a suggested retail price of $2995. It features an interlace video mode that doubles the screen resolution, a clock/calendar function, repositioned cursor-control keys and a "delete" key, and operating system revisions.[37]

• Apple ImageWriter printer introduced ($675), replacing the Apple Dot Matrix Printer.[9]

• Apple IIe sales for the holiday season are very brisk.[38]

1984

• IBM PC-AT introduced, with 80286 processor, 256K RAM, and a high density disk drive ($5469).[7]

• Hewlett-Packard introduces the LaserJet laser printer.[7]

• Lotus introduces Symphony, an integrated package for MS-DOS.[7]

• Commodore buys Amiga Corp.[7]

January

• ProDOS v1.0.1

• Macintosh introduced ($2495).[12], [38]

• The infamous "1984" commercial that introduces the Macintosh is run during the 1984 Super Bowl.[12], [38]

• Lisa becomes Lisa 2. [12], [38]

February

• ProDOS v1.0.2

• Apple Personal Modem 300 and Personal Modem 1200 introduced.

March

• Apple IIx project cancelled.[39]

• Commodore's VIC-20 ceases production.

April

• Apple IIc introduced ($1295) at "Apple II Forever" event, along with the Apple Scribe color printer ($299).[9], [12]

• Apple III and III Plus discontinued.[12]

May

• Broderbund Software announces The Print Shop.[9]

• Apple Duodisk floppy disk drive unit introduced for the Apple II ($795); older Disk II drive discontinued.[40]

• AppleMouse II released.[41]

• Mac System 1.1, Finder 1.1g (System Software 0.1) released, improving disk copy operations, font support, and faster startup.[136]

June

• BASIC.SYSTEM v1.1

• Apple Color Plotter released ($779).[42]

• Apple ImageWriter Wide Carriage version introduced ($749).[43]

August

• ProDOS v1.1

• Basic design work on Mega II chip completed.[39]

• Softalk ceases publication, succumbing to bankruptcy.

• IBM PC AT introduced.[44]

September

• ProDOS v1.1.1

• Apple passes the $1 billion mark for its fiscal year.[12]

• Apple Writer II v2.0 released. It was the first version to run under the ProDOS system.[45]

• Macintosh 512K ("Fat Mac") introduced.[12]

October

• Discussions about 16-bit Apple II are revived.[39]

November

• Two millionth Apple II sold.[12]

• Apple buys every page of advertising in the election year issue of Newsweek magazine.[12]

• Apple's "Test Drive A Mac" campaign begins.[39]

• First Class Peripherals introduces the Sider, the first low-cost hard drive for the Apple II, offering 10 MB for $695.[39]

December

• AppleColor 100 Monitor introduced. It is Apple's first RGB monitor, with a switch that changes to a monochrome display mode, and a motorized screen tilt feature.

1985

• Intel introduces the 80386 microprocessor.[7]

• Commodore introduces the Amiga 1000, with the ability to do multitasking ($1295).[7]

• Atari 520ST introduced.[7]

• Toshiba introduces the T1100 laptop.[7]

• Tandy Model 200 laptop introduced.[7]

• Lotus buys Software Arts, and stops sales of VisiCalc.[7]

• Aldus PageMaker introduced for Macintosh.[7]

January

• Apple's annual stockholder meeting almost totally ignores the Apple II, despite having its best sales quarter ever, while concentrating on the Macintosh. Leaves the Apple II division demoralized.[46]

• Apple LaserWriter laser printer and AppleTalk introduced as part of the Macintosh Office System.[12]

• Macintosh XL announced. (It is a refitted Lisa with an internal hard drive).[12]

• Open-Apple begins publication.

February

• Wozniak leaves Apple to start a new company, CL9.[12]

• Wozniak and Jobs receive National Technology Medal from President Reagan.[12]

March

• Enhanced Apple IIe introduced.[12]

• Sculley asks employees to take a week of vacation and announces that Apple's manufacturing plants will close for one week, to work off excess inventory.[12]

April

• Addison-Wesley Publishing takes over printing of Apple manuals.[47]

• Macintosh XL discontinued.[12]

• IBM PCjr discontinued.[12]

• Mac System 2.0, Finder 4.1 (System Software 0.3, 0.5) are released, offering siginficant improvements to the speed of the Finder, printer selection, and a "MiniFinder" (which was a simple program selector).[136]

May

• Apple's ten-year license of Applesoft BASIC from Microsoft is up for renewal in 1987. In exchange for another ten-year licence and the right to continue to sell the Apple II computer with Applesoft in ROM, Jobs gives the code for MacBASIC to Microsoft.[129]

• Apple reorganizes again, bringing the Apple II and Macintosh product groups together. Steve Jobs is ousted from day-to-day management, and made a chairman with no responsibilities.[12], [48]

June

• Apple lays off 1200 employees and records a loss of $40 million, its first and only quarterly loss as a public company.[12]

June

• Apple UniDisk 5.25 introduced.[49]

July

• AppleLink network goes into service (for use by Apple Computer and registered developers only).[9]

August

• Creative Computing ceases publication (approximate date).

September

• Apple UniDisk 3.5, Memory Expansion Card, Catalyst introduced.[12]

• Apple ImageWriter II introduced ($595). It can printMouseText, and in color.[50]

• Apple ColorMonitor IIe and IIc introduced ($399). It displays composite color (not RGB) but can still produce readable 80-column text.[50]

• Jobs resigns as chairman of Apple to start a new company, NeXT, Inc. Several Apple employees resign from Apple to join him.[12]

• Apple sues Jobs, alleging that he breached his duties as chairman and misappropriated proprietary information.[12]

• The Apple II Review begins publication.

October

• Micro ceases publication.[9]

• II Computing begins publication.[9]

• General Electric starts GEnie online service. The American Apple Roundtable (AART) for the Apple II begins at the same time.[51]

• Franklin Computer returns with the ACE 2000, a new IIc/IIc compatible ($699), with a detachable keyboard, numeric keypad, and graphics characters similar to MouseText.[52]

November

• Apple IIc UniDisk 3.5 upgrade announced.[53]

• Microsoft Windows 1.0 released.[34]

1986

• Microsoft Works introduced for Macintosh.[7]

January

• Macintosh Plus and LaserWriter Plus introduced.[12]

• John Sculley leaves PepsiCo and becomes Chairman of Apple.[12]

• Apple and Jobs reach out-of-court settlement.[12]

• Applied Engineering introduces the Transwarp accelerator for the Apple II.[9]

• Mac System 3.0, Finder 5.1 (System Software 0.7) released. This version introduced further speed increases, but more importantly replaced the Macintosh Filing System (MFS) with the Hierarchical Filing System (HFS) to better support nested folders (subdirectories), a necessity for the new Apple HD20 hard drive.[136]

February

• Jobs sells all but one share of his Apple stock, leaving Mike Markkula as the largest shareholder.[12]

March

• Central Point Software introduces the Laser 128 computer ($395). It is similar to the Apple IIc, but includes a single expansion slot and a numeric keypad.[54]

June

• Mac System 3.2, Finder 5.3 (System Software 1.1) released, primarily fixing bugs, and updating the Chooser and the Calculator desk accessory.[136]

September

• Apple IIGS and Apple 3.5 Drive introduced ($999).[12], [55]

• Apple IIc Memory Expansion version introduced, with IIc Memory Expansion card. Apple IIe 128K price reduced.[56]

• Apple II SCSI controller card and Apple Hard Disk 20SC introduced.[57]

• Apple RGB Monitor ($499), Apple Monochrome Monitor ($129), and AppleColor Composite Monitor ($379) introduced.[57]

• ProDOS 16 v1.0 introduced; original ProDOS becomes ProDOS 8 v1.2.[19]

• Apple Programmer's and Developer's Association (APDA) created.[58]

November

• Penguin Software, a pioneer in removal of copy protection, changes its name to Polarware (Penguin Books objected to the use of the name).[59]

December

• ProDOS 16 v1.1[60]

1987

• Commodore introduces Amiga 2000 and 500 models.[7]

January

• ProDOS 8 v1.3

• Platinum Apple IIe with built-in keypad introduced ($829).[9]

• Mac System 3.3, Finder 5.4 (System Software 2.0) released, introducing AppleShare networking software to the Mac operating system.[136]

February

• Apple II SCSI Card revision B released (fixes problems encountered when trying to use the card on the IIGS).[61]

March

• Macintosh SE and Macintosh II introduced.[9]

April

• ProDOS 8 v1.4

• IBM PS/2 line introduced, with the first version of their OS/2 operating system.[34]

• Microsoft Windows 2.0 released.[134]

• Mac System 4.1, Finder 5.5 (System Software 2.01) released, adapting the Mac to be better able to use hard drives larger than 32 meg in size, and including other features to support the new Macintosh II.[136]

May

• Apple IIGS System Software v2.0 [60]

June

• Pecan Software releases FORTRAN for the Apple IIGS.[62]

July

• Claris, a software company spun-off from Apple, is announced. It will handle AppleWorks and Macintosh software previously sold by Apple.[9]

September

• Apple IIGS ROM 01 upgrade.[63]

• The Apple II Review changes its name to The Apple IIGS Buyer's Guide.

October

• Beagle Bros introduces the TimeOut series of enhancements for AppleWorks.[64]

• Mac System 4.2, Finder 6.0 (System Software 5.0) released, supporting the new color Macintosh models, adding the MultiFinder (allowing switching between running applications), and background printing with the LaserWriter printer.[136]

November

• Applied Engineering introduces the PC Transporter.[9]

December

• Apple IIGS System Software v3.1 released. It is the first version with the Finder.[60]

• BASIC.SYSTEM v1.2

• II Computing ceases publication.

1988

• Intel introduces the 386SX processor.[7]

• Memory chips are in short supply, and therefore quite expensive.[7]

• dBASE IV introduced.[7]

• A "worm" is accidentally released into the ARPANet computer network, and causes significant problems at six thousand sites across the country.[7]

January

• Apple IIc Revised Memory Expansion version released.[65]

• Apple's LaserWriter II family introduced.[9]

• Timeworks introduces Publish-It!, the first serious desktop publishing program for the Apple II.[9]

March

• AppleCD SC (CD-ROM drive, $1199) introduced for both the Macintosh and Apple II. Also introduced were the Apple II SCSI Card Rev C (supporting partitioning on large capacity disk drives), and the Apple II Workstation Card ($249) to allow the Apple IIe to connect to AppleTalk.[9], [66]

• Tom Weishaar (Open-Apple) begins as manager of the Apple II Roundtables on the GEnie online service.[67]

April

• ProDOS 8 v1.5

May

• AppleLink-Personal Edition introduced (later to become America Online ).[9]

• Apple Assembly Line ceases publication.[21]

• Zip Technologies introduces the Zip Chip at AppleFest. It is a 4 MHz accelerator on a single chip.[68]

June

• ProDOS 8 v1.6

• Mac System 6.0 released, featuring improvements to the MultiFinder and LaserWriter drivers, and support for the SuperDrive.[136],[137]

July

• Apple IIGS System Software v3.2; it is the first version that can boot over an AppleTalk network.[60], [69]

August

• ProDOS 8 v1.7

September

• Apple IIGS System Software v4.0 introduced. It is the first version to be called GS/OS, and is written entirely in 16-bit code.[70]

• Apple IIc Plus introduced ($675, or $1099 with color monitor).[9]

• Macintosh IIx and FDHD (SuperDrive) introduced.[9]

• Zip Chip finally available for shipment.

October

• Claris, having bought the rights to StyleWare's program GS-Works, modifies and releases it as AppleWorks GS.[9]

November

• Applied Engineering introduces the Transwarp GS accelerator.[9]

December

• A.P.P.L.E. (Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange) changes it official name to TechAlliance; among other reasons is Apple Computer's dislike of other companies using "their" name.[71]

• Open-Apple changes its name to A2-Central for similar reasons.[72]

• Apple Computer purchases the Apple Programmers and Developers Association (APDA) from A.P.P.L.E. Co-op.[72]

• Steve Jobs announces the NeXT computer.[9]

1989

• GRiD Systems announces the GRiDPad, a handwriting-recognizing pad.[7]

March

• At CERN ("Centre European pour la Recherche Nucleaire", or European Laboratory for Particle Physics) in Geneva, Switzerland, Tim Berners-Lee submits a paper "Information Management: A Proposal", which forms the theoretical basis for the function of hypertext links on the Internet.[104]

• Mac System 6.0.3 released, the first stable version of System 6.[137]

April

• Apple II Video Overlay Card introduced.[9]

May

• Roger Wagner Publishing releases HyperStudio, the first Apple IIGS hypermedia product.[9]

• A+ Magazine ceases publication, merges with inCider to become inCider/A+.[31]

June

• ProDOS 8 v1.8

• BASIC.SYSTEM v1.3 (It was a buggy version, however, that had to be soon replaced).

• Claris announces AppleWorks 3.0.[9]

July

• First A2-Central Developer's Conference.

• Apple IIGS System Software v5.0 released.[60]

August

• Apple IIGS ROM 03 introduced.[9]

• BASIC.SYSTEM v1.4

September

• Call-A.P.P.L.E. ceases publication.[73]

• Macintosh Portable and Macintosh IIci introduced.[9]

November

• Softdisk GS begins publication.

December

• Apple IIGS System Software v5.0.2 released.[74]

1990

• Motorola introduces 68040 processor.[7]

• IBM introduces the PS/1.[7]

• Commodore introduces the Amiga 3000 ($3300).[7]

• ARPANET, the first data network, is shut down.[149]

March

• Apple II High Speed SCSI card introduced.[9]

• Macintosh IIfx introduced.[9]

• Mac System 6.0.5 released, with further improvements and support for the new Mac IIfx.[137]

May

• Vitesse releases the Quickie hand scanner for the Apple IIe and IIGS.

• Microsoft Windows 3.0 released.[134]

June

• BASIC.SYSTEM v1.4.1

July

• Second A2-Central Developer's Conference (KansasFest).

August

• ProDOS 8 v1.9

• Apple buys back Claris Corporation as a wholly-owned subsidiary.[75]

October

• Macintosh Classic, Macintosh LC, and Macintosh IIsi introduced. The Mac Classic replaces the Mac Plus and Mac SE.[76]

November

• The Apple IIGS Buyer's Guide ceases publication.[77]

December

• Apple IIGS System Software v5.0.3. It fixes some bugs and speeds up the ImageWriter driver. However, there were problems with this driver under low memory situations, so it was not widely distributed.[78]

• Apple IIc Plus and ImageWriter LQ discontinued.

• Zip Technologies releases the Zip GS cards to accelerate the Apple IIGS.[78]

1990

• Apple II Achievement Awards held at AppleFest.[79]

1991

January

• Apple introduces HyperCard IIGS.[80]

February

• Apple IIGS System Software v5.0.4 released.

March

• Apple IIe card (for Macintosh LC) released ($199).[81]

• Westcode introduces InWords, which allows text digitized with the Quickie hand-scanner to be turned into text files.

May

• Apple StyleWriter ($599) and Apple Personal LaserWriter LS ($1299) released. Neither can work on the Apple II or IIGS at the time.

• Mac System 7.0 released, the first major rewrite of the Mac operating system. It intoduced features such as the ability to use an "alias", as well as TrueType fonts, file sharing, and QuickTime video software.[137]

June

• AppleCD SC Plus, faster than the original CD-ROM drive, released ($799).

July

• Third A2-Central Developer's Conference (KansasFest).

• Apple IIGS System Software v6.0 announced.

August

• The first availability, by FTP, of software needed to use the Internet with CERN's Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). This lays the foundation for the World Wide Web.[104]

September

• Apple's first User Group Television live satellite broadcast. A new Apple IIGS is almost announced, but the project is killed by Apple management at the last minute.

October

• Microsoft Windows 3.0 with multimedia released.[134]

November

• SuperDrive interface card for Apple II released. It can use 1.4 MB capacity 3.5 disks on an Apple IIe or IIGS, making it possible (when translation software is made available) to read and write even MS-DOS disks.

1992

February

• Beagle Bros ships BeagleWorks, its Macintosh integrated software package.[82]

March

• Apple IIGS System Software v6.0 released. It includes a driver to allow the Apple StyleWriter printer to be used on the IIGS.

April

• 1991 Apple II Achievement Awards presented (a little late).

• Econ Technologies introduces their Pegasus line of internal hard drives.

• Microsoft Windows 3.1 released.[134]

May

• Seven Hills Software releases Express, a software-based print spooler for the Apple IIGS.

• The A2 Roundtable on GEnie announces its Lost Classics project, coordinated by sysop Tim Tobin, which has the object of locating and re-releasing older Apple II software that has disappeared from the marketplace.

• JEM Software announces Ultra 4.0, an upgrade to the UltraMacros language for AppleWorks 3.0.

July

• Fourth A2Central Developer's Conference (KansasFest).

• Apple IIGS System Software v6.0.1 announced.

• Nibble ceases publication.

August

• Paul Lutus agrees to allow Apple Writer v2.1 and GraFORTH to be released as "freeware".

• Mac System 7.1 released, intoducing a separate Fonts folder, and computer-specific system "enablers".[137] (Note: The Apple IIGS System Software had a Fonts folder since GS/OS was introduced in 1988).

October

• Beagle Bros ends business, as sales of their Mac integraged software package, BeagleWorks, are insufficient to keep the company afloat.[83] WordPerfect Corp. purchases BeagleWorks, planning to rename it WordPerfect Works. They also hire former Beagle Bros president Mark Simonsen and programmer Mark Munz to work for them.

December

• Apple IIGS discontinued.

1993

March

• Randy Brant begins working on "The Works 4.0", code-named "Quadriga", designed to be an add-on patcher program for AppleWorks 3.0 for Quality Computers. (This later becomes AppleWorks 4.0.)

• II Alive begins publication.

April

• Digisoft Innovations releases Twilight II, an updated and enhanced version of their original shareware GS/OS screen blanker.

• Econ Technologies begins shipping the SoundMeister, a new IIgs stereo and sound digitizer card.

May

• inCider/A+ ceases publication.

June

• A2-Central discontinues their paper edition, switching to a disk-only newsletter.

• System 6.0.1 released for the IIGS, and System 4.0.2 released for 8-bit Apple II's.

• John Sculley steps down as CEO of Apple, later leaving the company altogether.

• AppleWorks 4.0, code-named "Quadriga", officially announced.

• Apple Assembly Line now available in a digital form, exclusively on GEnie.

• Westcode begins shipment of HardPressed, their disk compression software.

July

• Fifth A2-Central Developer's Conference (KansasFest).

August

• Apple releases the first version of its Newton personal digital assistant (PDA).

• Microsoft Windows NT 3.5 released.[134]

October

• Mac System 7 Pro (7.1.1) released, introducing features that previously had to be separately installed (QuickTime, PowerTalk, and AppleScript).[137]

November

• Apple IIe discontinued. The only Apple II still being manufactured is the IIe card for the Macintosh LC series.

• DiskQuest software introduced by Sequential Systems, making several commercial CD-ROM products readable by Apple II computers.

• AppleWorks 4.0 released by Quality Computers.

• Bob Consorti releases BOS ("Bob's Operating System") as a replacement and enhancement for SOS ("Sophisticated Operating System") on the Apple III.

1994

February

• Apple changes the status of HyperCard IIgs to be the same as System Software, in that it is available from qualified sources for the cost of a download or the cost of the disk media.

March

• Mac System 7.1.2 released, the first version of the Mac operating system to support the new PowerPC-based Macintosh computers.[137]

May

• Commodore International, Ltd, the maker of the PET, VIC-20, Commodore 64, Commodore 128, and Amiga computers, announces that it is voluntarily going out of business and into liquidation.

June

• The Apple II SuperDrive interface card and the SuperDrive itself is discontinued.

• HyperCard IIgs is made available through user groups for free (disks only; the manuals sell out quickly).

July

• Sixth A2-Central Developer's Converence (now named ICONference, and open to platforms other than the Apple II).

• AppleWorks 5.0, code-named "Narnia", is announced by Randy Brandt.

• Gary Kildall, author of the CP/M operating system for 8080-based personal computers dies at the age of 52.[85]

November

• America Online discontinues its Apple II service, effectively locking these users out (since it required proprietary software to access the service).

• AppleWorks 5.0 released by Quality Computers

1995

January

• Mac System 7.5 released. It was the first operating system installable from either floppy disks or a CD-ROM, and included Apple Guide (a help system), and at startup displayed a progress bar and the "Welcome to Macintosh" logo.[137]

February

• A2-Central ceases publication. ICON (Resource Central) closes its doors, ceasing publication of its several disk magazines, due to financial constraints.

March

• Mac System 7.5 Update 1.0 (7.5.1) released, featuring the "Mac OS Logo" at startup.[137]

• Mac OS logo

May

• Apple IIe Card for the Macintosh LC is discontinued.

August

• Softdisk ceases publication.[130]

• Microsoft Windows 95 released.[133]

1996

May

• Mac OS 7.6 released, the first version to bear the "Mac OS" name. It was released to support the Macintosh "clones" that Apple had now authorized, and establish a brand name for the Macintosh operating system, just as Microsoft had done with Windows. The new system features include OpenDoc and Macintosh Run-Time Java (MRJ).[136],[137]

May

• Fast Eddie Labs logoBright Software changes its name to Fast Eddie Labs, and announces the release of a beta version of its Apple IIGS eumulation software, code-named "Fast Eddie", and written by Henrik Gudat and Andre Horstmann.[139]

1997

March

• Softdisk GS ceases publication.[129]

July

• Mac OS 8.0 released, a major revision that improved the interface and OpenDoc, and introduced Open Transport.[136],[138]

1998

January

• Mac OS 8.1 released, the last version to support the 68000 series (specifically the 68040). It introduced HFS+ disk formatting to improve efficiency of file storage on large hard drives.[136],[138]

June

• Microsoft Windows 98 released.[133]

October

• Mac OS 8.5 released, the first version to support only the PowerPC. It included the Sherlock for the first time.[136],[138]

1999

May

• Mac OS 8.6 released, the first version to display a version number during startup.[136],[138]

• Microsoft Windows 98 (Second Edition) released.[133]

October

• Mac OS 9.0 released, a major revision of the operating system. Features included Multiple Users and Sherlock 2.[136],[138]

2000

February

• Microsoft Windows 2000 released.[133]

April

• Mac OS 9.0.4 released. This included bug fixes for the various previous versions of 9.0, and also was needed in order to run "Classic" in the Mac OS X Open Beta.[138]

June

• Microsoft Windows ME (Millenium Edition) released.[133]

September

• Mac OS X Open Beta released by Apple for users to try out and make suggestions as to how Apple should continue development. It is a totally rewritten system, based on Unix core software ("kernel"), with the Mac OS graphic interface.[140]

2001

January

• Mac OS 9.1 released, with increased stability and a few new features. This version was needed in order to run Mac OS X 10.0 or 10.1.[138]

March

• Mac OS X 10.0 released, the first (and very raw) consumer version of the next generation Mac operating system.[140]

July

• Mac OS 9.2 released only as the installed operating system on new Macintosh computers.[138]

August

• Mac OS 9.2.1 available as an update. Improved operation of "Classic" under Mac OS X 10.0 or 10.1.[138]

September

• Mac OS X 10.1 released. This more mature version had numerous speed enhancements and was more usable to the typical Mac user.[140]

October

• Microsoft Windows XP released.[133]

December

• Mac OS 9.2.2 available as an update, the last of the Mac OS 9 series.[138]

2002

July

• At KansasFest 2002, Eric Shepherd announces Project Barney, an agreement with Softdisk Publishing to allow Syndicomm to distribute the Apple II publications Softdisk and Softdisk GS on CD-ROM.

August

• Mac OS X 10.2 released. Code-named "Jaguar", it featured many speed enhancements and introduced further improvements in the interface.

2003

July

• At KansasFest 2003, Steven Wozniak attends for the first time, and is the keynote speaker. Also at KansasFest were announced the first beta of Marinetti 3.0, by Richard Bennett-Forrest; the CD-ROM releases of Softdisk and Uptime, by Syndicomm; and many re-releases of products from Call-A.P.P.L.E.

Notes

• [1] Rose, Frank. West Of Eden: The End Of Innocence At Apple Computer (Penguin Books, New York, 1989) p. 27.
• [2] Gray, Stephen B. "The Early Days", Creative Computing, Nov 1984: 6-14.
• [3] Rose, Frank. p. 28.
• [4] Marsh, Robert. "1975: Ancient History", Creative Computing, Nov 1984: 108-110.
• [5] Ahl, David H. "Dave Tells Ahl", Creative Computing, Nov 1984: 67-74.
• [6] Levy, Steven. Hackers: Heroes Of The Computer Revolution, (Dell Publishing Co., Inc, New York, 1984) p. 200.
• [7] Smarte, Gene, and Reinhardt, Andrew. "15 Years Of Bits, Bytes, And Other Great Moments", Byte, Sep 1990: 369-400.
• [8] Levy, Steven. p. 190.
• [9] -----. "Apple and Apple II History", The Apple II Guide, Fall 1990: 9-16.
• [10] Rubin, Charles. "The Life & Death & Life Of The Apple II", Personal Computing, Feb 1985: 73.
• [11] Freiberger, Paul, and Swaine, Michael. "Fire In The Valley, Part I (Book Excerpt)", A+ Magazine, Dec 1984: 61-62.
• [12] -----. "Back In Time", A+ Magazine, Feb 1987: 48-49.
• [13] Ahl, David H. "The First Decade Of Personal Computing", Creative Computing, Nov 1984: 30-45.
• [14] Bernsten, Jeff. GEnie, A2 Roundtable, Apr 1991, Category 2, Topic 16.
• [15] Freiberger, Paul, and Swaine, Michael. "Fire In The Valley, Part II (Book Excerpt)", A+ Magazine, Jan 1985: 45-48.
• [16] Chien, Philip. "The First Ten Years: A Look Back", The Apple II Review, Fall/Winter 1986: 12.
• [17] -----. "A.P.P.L.E. Co-op Celebrates A Decade of Service", Call-A.P.P.L.E., Feb 1988: 12-27.
• [18] Don Worth and Pieter Lechner. Beneath Apple DOS (Quality Software, Reseda, CA, 1981) pp. 2.1-2.3.
• [19] Deatherage, Matt. "The Operating System", The Apple II Guide, Fall 1990: 117-125.
• [20] Connick, Jack. "...And Then There Was Apple", Call-A.P.P.L.E., Oct 1986: 26.
• [21] Hoover, Tom. GEnie, A2 Roundtable, Apr 1991, Category 2, Topic 16.
• [22] Rose, Frank. p. 48.
• [23] Weishaar, Tom. "Control-I(nterface) S(tandards)", Open-Apple, Oct 1987: 3.65.
• [24] Rose, Frank. pp. 50-54.
• [25] Freiberger and Swaine. Part II: 46,51.
• [26] Williams, Gregg. "'C' Is For Crunch", Byte, Dec 1984: A75-A78, A121.
• [27] Kindall, Jerry. GEnie, A2 Roundtable, Mar 1991, Category 2, Topic 16.
• [28] -----. "Fortune Double 500", Fortune, June 1982.
• [29] Tommervik, Al. "Apple IIe: The Difference", Softalk, Feb 1983: 118-127, 142.
• [30] Williams, Gregg. "The Lisa Computer System", Byte, Feb 1983: 43.
• [31] inCider Staff. "100 Issues Of inCider", inCider/A+, Apr 1991: 36-39.
• [32] Westerfield, Mike. (personal mail), GEnie, E-mail, Sep 1991.
• [33] Donohoe, Kevin. "Tomorrow's Apples Today", Call-A.P.P.L.E., Feb 1983: 71-72.
• [34] Prosise, Jeff. "A Decade Of MS-DOS", PC Magazine, Sep 24, 1991: 232-233.
• [35] Rose, Frank. p. 134.
• [36] Duprau, Jeanne, and Tyson, Molly. "The Making Of The Apple IIGS", A+ Magazine, Nov 1986: 57-74.
• [37] -----. Apple Connection, Dec 15, 1983.
• [38] Rose, Frank. p. 154.
• [39] Pinella, Paul. "In The Beginning: An Interview With Harvey Lehtman", Apple IIGS: Graphics And Sound, Fall/Winter 1986: 38-44.
• [40] -----. "Tomorrow's Apples Today", Call-A.P.P.L.E., May 1984: 78.
• [41] Cox, John. "The Apple Mouse //", Call-A.P.P.L.E., May 1984: 34-38.
• [42] Durkee, David. "Marketalk Reviews", Softalk, Jun 1984: 120.
• [43] -----. "The Marketplace", Call-A.P.P.L.E., Jun 1984: 74-75.
• [44] Rose, Frank. p. 190.
• [45] -----. "The Marketplace", Call-A.P.P.L.E., Sep 1984: 58.
• [46] Weishaar, Tom. "Demoralized Apple II Division Announces Enhanced IIe...", Open-Apple, Apr 1985: 1.25-1.27.
• [47] Weishaar, Tom. "Apple Manuals Liberated", Open-Apple, Apr 1985: 1.26.
• [48] Rose, Frank. p. 290.
• [49] -----. "The Marketplace", Call-A.P.P.L.E., Jul 1985: 49.
• [50] -----. "The Marketplace", Call-A.P.P.L.E., Nov 1985: 50.
• [51] Fillmore, Kent. GEnie, A2 Roundtable, Sep 1991, Category 2, Topic 16.
• [52] Weishaar, Tom. "Miscellanea", Open-Apple, Oct 1985: 1.76.
• [53] Weishaar, Tom. ": FLASH :", Open-Apple, Dec 1985: 1.89.
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