Apple: From roots to rehab

All the talk at the Macworld Expo is about what the future of Apple will hold: Steve Jobs is back, a new Macintosh operating system is in the works, and the company is trying to keep its loyal users' hearts while cozying up to the corporate market. As the latest drama unfolds, NEWS.COM takes a look back through the last two decades to trace the twists and turns of Apple's fate.

April 1976 to January 1997
April 1976		Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs form Apple and show off the Apple I at the Homebrew Computer Club, Stanford University.
Jan 1977		Apple is incorporated. Mike Markkula becomes chairman. Headquarters moves from Steve Jobs's garage to Cupertino, California.
June 1977		Apple II becomes available to general public for $1298. It has 4K of memory; users must supply own TV monitor.
Dec 1980		Apple goes public, sells 4.6 million shares at $22 each.
Mar 1981		First big shake-up: Markkula replaces Mike Scott as president. Jobs becomes chairman; Scott becomes vice chairman.
Aug 1981		IBM announces the IBM PC. The race is on.
Dec 1982		Apple hits $1 billion in annual sales.
April 1983		John Sculley joins as president and CEO.
Jan 1984		"1984" commercial airs during the Super Bowl; first Macintosh unveiled with $2495 price tag.
Feb 1985		Wozniak resigns to pursue his own interests, including teaching and music festivals.
Sept 1985		Jobs resigns to start Next.
July 1991		Apple and IBM sign letter of intent to cooperate on technologies; alliance will eventually result in PowerPC processors and OpenDoc.
Oct 1991		Company's biggest product launch ever; includes the first PowerBooks.
Feb 1993		Mac ships 10 millionth machine.
June 1993		Michael Spindler becomes CEO; Sculley remains chairman.
July 1993		Company announces 2,500 layoffs.
Aug 1993		Newton MessagePad introduced at Macworld Boston.
Oct 1993		Sculley resigns; Markkula (left) becomes chairman.
Nov 1993		After 16 years, the Apple II product line is discontinued.
Mar 1994		The first Power Mac machines are unveiled.
June 1994		Apple launches its ill-fated online service, eWorld.
Oct 1995		Apple board of directors reaffirms support for Spindler.
Feb 1996		Spindler gets the ax, Dr. Gil Amelio (right) is in as new CEO; company predicts its worst quarter ever; licenses the Mac OS to Motorola.
April 1996		$740 million loss announced for first quarter of 1996; Apple licenses Java.
July 1996		Ellen Hancock joins company as chief technology officer; third quarter results in $32 million loss.
Aug 1996		Power Macs hit 200 Mhz; Copland bites the dust (increments are the new plan).
Oct 1996		Fourth quarter results in $25 million profit.
Dec 1996		Apple buys Next Software for $400 million; Steve Jobs returns as "consultant."
First Apple logo and photos of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, Apple I, "1984" commercial, Steve Jobs, Mike Markkula, and Dr. Gil Amelio courtesy of Apple Computer Newton photo courtesy of John Greenleigh