Apple: five innovations
Updated on 10 January 2007
Apple, which yesterday launched its iPhone, has a history of producing innovatory products.
Founded 30 years ago, Apple Computer is famous for its product design and innovation. Here are five classic Apple machines -
Apple Macintosh (1984)
The Mac was truly innovatory. An "all in one" machine, its small box shape incorporated the central processing unit and a 9-inch screen.
It gave the world the "desktop", an on-screen simulation of a real desktop (which still forms the front end of the Windows and Apple operating systems), and it popularised the now ubiquitous mouse.
Powerbook 100
Though not Apple's first portable computer, the Powerbook 100 established the modern form for the laptop machine - its rollerball, for example, is the antecedent of the laptop touchpad.
The Powerbook 100 consolidated Apple's reputation as a manufacturer of desktop and portable devices.
Newton Message Pad (1993)
Apple's then chief executive, John Sculley, coined the term "portable digital assistant" (PDA) to describe the Newton. Although jettisoned by the company after six years, the Newton had a range of unique features, in particular its touch-sensitive screen and handwriting recognition system. It anticipates by several years more well-known PDAs such as the Palm Pilot.
iMac (1998)
Steve Jobs, Apple's co-founder and current CEO, was ousted from the company in a boardroom coup in 1985. He returned in 1997 and in the following year launched the iMac.
An "all in one" machine (like the 1984 Macintosh), the iMac's unique selling point was its visually distinctive blue perspex cover. 800,000 units were sold within five months of the product's launch.
The iMac pushed Apple back into profitability and arguably provided the springboard for the company's current high profile in the computing world.
iPod (2001)
As well as revolutionising the way we store and carry music, the iconic iPod has given Apple a worldwide profile way beyond that of a mere computer manufacturer.
The iPod's elegant looks, combined with its ease of use and the simplicity of Apple's iTunes music download software, mean it has dominated digital music player sales. Total sales worldwide are around 70m.
