Honorable MentionLisa Introduced: The $9,995 Lisa is the world’s first commercial computer with a mouse and GUI, but it bombs due to high cost, slow speed, and incompatibility. John Sculley, president of Pepsi-Cola, succumbs to Jobs’ promise of a “chance to change the world” as president and CEO of Apple. Of Apple’s 1,000 employees, more than 40 became instant millionaires thanks to their stock options. In the largest IPO since Ford went public in 1956, Apple debuts on the stock market with a valuation of $1.8 billion.

Honorable MentionPersonal Software Releases VisiCalc: The world’s first spreadsheet runs exclusively on the Apple II, sending Apple’s hardware sales through the roof. Lisa and Mac projects soon adopt graphical user interfaces. 1979: Apple Visits Xerox PARCĮngineers from Apple get a peek at the future of computing when they visit the labs of their Silicon Valley neighbor. Honorable MentionApple III Project Starts: Anxious for a follow-up hit to the popular Apple II, Apple launches the ill-fated Apple III project with engineer Wendell Sander at the helm. At $495, Woz’s creation is half as expensive as competitive floppy drives, and much more reliable than cassette tape storage systems. The Apple Disk II external drive stores 110K on 5.25-inch floppy disks. The Apple IIe Image ©John Greenleigh Flipside Studios Honorable MentionScott Named President: Markkula’s former Fairchild Semiconductor co-worker Michael Scott brings professional management and corporate infrastructure to Apple.

In contrast to the $666 Apple I, a kit computer with limited appeal, the $1,298 Apple II is the first personal computer designed for the mass market, thanks to its attractive low-slung case that was complete with standard keyboard, power supply, and color graphics capability. Honorable MentionMarkkula Writes Business Plan: In November, chip industry veteran Mike Markkula helps Jobs write a business plan, predicting sales of $500 million in 10 years. Fearing financial ruin, the third co-founder-Ronald Wayne-relinquishes his 10 percent stake in the partnership for only $800 less than two weeks later. On April Fools’ Day, Apple Computer Company is founded in a residential garage by Steve Jobs and Stephen Wozniak, both college drop-outs. This article is reprinted fromMacworld UK ’s April 2006 issue. Linzmayer to pick the 30 most pivotal events in each of Apple’s 30 years of existence. To put those events in perspective, our sister publication Macworld UKtappedApple Confidential 2.0 author Owen W. Editor’s Note: You’ve read our timelineof Apple’s first 30 years.

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