Apple"s Decade: 2009: Steve Jobs Take Six-Month Leave of Absence
Apple's Decade: 2000: Cubism and Steve
We're taking a look back at the events and products that defined the last decade for Apple. Just three years before the start of the decade, Apple was being written off as a computer company that was sliding into oblivion.
In a relatively short period of time, Apple was able to pick itself up, become profitable, and then dominate industries that barely knew it existed a few years earlier. That makes the 2000s Apple's Decade.
So, let's begin our look back with the year 2000.
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in the year 2000.
The specs below were base specifications; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
iBook SE (Clamshell): 366 MHz G3 processor, 64 MB RAM, 6 GB hard drive
PowerBook G3 (Pismo): 400/500 MHz G3 processor, 64 MB RAM, 6 GB hard drive
iMac (available in DV, DV+, and DV SE versions): 350/400/500 MHz G3, 64 MB RAM, 7 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G4 (Gigabit Ethernet): 400/2x450/2x500 G4 processor, 64 MB, 20 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G4 Cube: 450/500 MHz G4 processor, 64 MB RAM, 20 GB hard drive
Steve Jobs becomes permanent CEO of Apple.
US Supreme Court rules against recount in Florida presidential elections.
George W. Bush named President-Elect.
Apple's Decade: 2001: iPods and OS X 10.0 (Cheetah)
2001 was a significant year for Apple and the U.S. Apple released the first of its iPod music players, and the general public could now buy the first release version of OS X.
Apple spent much of the year updating its product line with the new, faster G4 processor. It also had a fashion faux pas with the Flower Power version of the iMac. The design, featuring swirling colors on the iMac's body, received PC World's coveted Ugliest Tech Product award.
One reviewer said the Flower Power iMac reminded him of a cheap shower curtain.
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in 2001.
The specs below were the base specifications; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
iBook (White): 500/600 MHz G3 processor, 128 MB RAM, 15 GB hard drive
PowerBook G4 (Titanium): 400/500/667 MHz G4 processor, 128 MB RAM, 10 GB hard drive
iMac (available in Indigo, Flower Power, and SE versions): 400/500/600/700 MHz G3, 64 MB RAM, 10 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G4 (Digital Audio): 466/533/667 G4 processor, 128 MB RAM, 30 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G4 (Quicksilver): 733/867/2x800 G4 processor, 128 MB, 40 GB hard drive
Apple releases the first iPod.
Apple releases OS X 10.0 (Cheetah).
The first Apple retail stores are opened in Tyson Corners, Virginia, and Glendale, California.
George W. Bush inaugurated.
Terrorists attack the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. During a failed third attack, passengers of Flight 93 attempt to retake control of their flight from the terrorists, but the airliner crashes in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Collectively, the attacks will be known as 911, after the date of the event.
Apple's Decade: 2002: Flat-Panel iMac and eMacs
2002 saw Apple create two new versions of the iMac. The first was the flat-panel iMac, which not only improved performance with a faster (G4) processor, but also incorporated a 15-inch, and later a 17-inch, LCD panel into its design.
This was quite a feat for Apple, both because of the then-unique articulated arm used to connect the LCD panel to the iMac's base, and because LCD panels were still on the expensive side.
CRTs remained the typical choice for desktop computers.
Because the educational market is very price-sensitive, Apple feared the flat-panel iMac wouldn't sell well in schools, so it created the eMac, a cheaper, CRT version of the iMac. Educational sales were good for the eMac, though not stunning. Later in the eMac's lifetime, Apple permitted the sale of eMacs to the general public as a low-cost, entry-level product.
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in 2002.
The specs below were the base specification; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
eMac G4: 700/800 MHz G4 processor, 128 MB RAM, 40 GB hard drive
iBook (White): 600/700/800 MHz G3 processor, 128 MB RAM, 20 GB hard drive
PowerBook G4 (Titanium): 667/800/867/1000 MHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 30 GB hard drive
iMac (Flat Panel, sometimes called the iLamp): 700/800/MHz G4, 256 MB RAM, 40 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G4 (Quicksilver): 800/933/2x1000 G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 40 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors): 2x867/2x1000/2x1250 G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive
Xserve: 1000 MHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive, rack-mount
Apple releases first flat panel iMac affectionately known as the iLamp. Using an articulated arm, the flat-panel iMac combined a 15-inch, and later a 17-inch, LCD panel with a hemispherical base that housed the iMac's motherboard, G4 processor, memory, hard drive, and ports.
U.S. invades Afghanistan in response to 911 attacks.
Euro notes and coins are introduced in the European Union.
Apple's Decade: 2003: iTunes Music Store and PowerMac G5
In 2003, Apple introduced us to the iTunes Music Store. Most Mac users, and anyone who owned an iPod, were already familiar with iTunes, as a music player and as a method of syncing music content between a Mac and an iPod.
The iTunes Music Store took acquiring content for an iPod to the next level. The iTunes Music Store allowed you to buy downloadable music from the five major record labels at a standard price (99 cents per track), and to use the music on up to three Macs and any number of iPods.
It also allowed unlimited burning of music tracks to CDs.
The iTunes Music Store was a game changer for computer users and the record industry. In a few short years, Apple would become one of the largest sellers of music in the world, and an important player in media; not just music, but movies, video, and podcasting.
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in 2003.
The specs below were the base specification; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
eMac G4: 800/1000 MHz G4 processor, 128 MB RAM, 40 GB hard drive
iBook G3: 800/900 MHz G3 processor, 128 MB RAM, 30 GB hard drive
iBook G4: 800/933/1000 MHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 30 GB hard drive
Powerbook G4 (Aluminium): 867/1000/1250/1330 MHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 40 GB hard drive
iMac (Flat Panel, sometimes called the iLamp): 800/1000/1250 MHz G4, 256 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors): 1.25 GHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G4 (FW800): 1.0/2x1.25/2x1.42 GHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G5 (PCI): 1.6 GHz G5 processor, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G5 (PCI-X): 1.8/2x1.8/2x2.0 GHz G5 processor, 512 MB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
Xserve G4: 1.33/2x1.33 GHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive, rack-mount
Apple launches the iTunes Music Store.
The Space Shuttle Columbia breaks apart on reentry over Texas; all seven of the shuttle's crew are killed. The loss of the ship and crew were the result of damage sustained during the mission's liftoff on January 16, 2003.
Apple's Decade: 2004: Steve Jobs' Cancer Surgery, First iMac with a G5 Processor
In 2004, Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, went under the surgeon's knife to remove a cancerous tumor in his pancreas. Steve was diagnosed with an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor, a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Luckily for Steve, this rare form of pancreatic cancer is easily treatable when caught in its early stages.
The surgery went smoothly, and Steve returned to Apple after a short recuperation period.
Steve, however, doesn't seem to know what it means to take some time off. He was reported to have his 17-inch PowerBook in his hospital room, for writing emails and keeping up with the goings-on at Apple.
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in 2004.
The specs below were the base specification; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
eMac G4: 1.25 GHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 40 GB hard drive
iBook G4: 1.0/1.2/1.33 GHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 30 GB hard drive
PowerBook G4 (Aluminum): 1.33/1.5 GHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive
iMac G5: 1.6/1.8 GHz G5 processor, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G5 (PCI): 1.8/2x1.8 GHz G5 processor, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G5 (PCI-X): 2x2.0/2x2.5 GHz G5 processor, 512 MB, 160 GB hard drive
Xserve G5: 2.0/2x2.0 GHz G5 processor, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive, rack-mount
Steve Jobs undergoes successful surgery for the removal of a cancerous tumor from his pancreas.
An earthquake in Sumatra triggers massive tsunamis that sweep away villages in six countries in southern and southeast Asia.
Total dead from both disasters is more than 150,000.
Red Sox win World Series. After an 86-year drought, the Red Sox sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in 4 games to take the pennant.
Apple's Decade: 2005: Apple Announces Switch to Intel Processors
Apple's Decade: At the 2005 WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference) Apple announced its intent to switch from Motorola/IBM PowerPC processors to Intel-based X86 processors. Apple has pulled off processor architecture changes before, having switched from Motorola's 68000 family to the IBM-designed RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) based PowerPC series of processors.
Initially, the change to the PowerPC family brought vastly increased performance to Macs, allowing Apple to market its Macintosh computers as some of the fastest desktop and laptop computers available for general use.
But the Motorola/IBM joint venture that was designing the PowerPC processors had a problem: The processors were not scaling well to faster bus speeds. In 2003, when Steve Jobs first introduced the G5 line of Macs with the 1.6 GHz iMac G5, Steve said they expected the processor speeds to almost double, to 3 GHz, within a year. Not only did they not double, but the G5 was a power-hungry design that forced Apple to release a liquid-cooled version of a PowerMac G5, just to keep the processors from overheating.
Excess power consumption, and the failure to move to faster designs, left Apple no choice but to abandon the PowerPC architecture and move on to something else.
In the end, Apple's decision to hitch its wagon to Intel's star may well go down as the best technological choice it made during the 2000s. The switch to Intel allowed Apple to use processors that were being made in much larger quantities, which helped keep the bulk purchase price down. And with Apple's large purchasing power, it could help influence Intel's processor designs, nudging the architecture in directions Apple thought would best fit its needs.
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in 2005.
The specs below were the base specification; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
eMac G4: 1.42 GHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
iBook G4: 1.33/1.42 GHz G4 processor, 512 MB RAM, 40 GB hard drive
PowerBook G4 (Aluminum): 1.5/1.67 GHz G4 processor, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
iMac G5: 1.6/1.8 GHz G5 processor, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G5 (PCI): 2x2.0 GHz G5 processor, 512 MB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G5 (PCI-X): 2x2.3/2x2.7 GHz G5 processor, 512 MB RAM, 250 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G5 (Dual-Core): 2.0/2.3 GHz G5 processor, 512 MB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G5 (Quad-Core): 2.5 GHz G5 processor, 512 MB RAM, 250 GB hard drive
Xserve G5: 2x2.3 GHz G5 processor, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB hard drive, rack-mount
Apple announces switch to Intel processors.
Apple partners with Motorola to create the ROKR cell phone.
Hurricane Katrina hits the gulf coast of the U.S. New Orleans, Louisiana is inundated with floodwaters when protective levees fail.
Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist dies.
By the end of 2006, Apple completed the transition of the Macintosh to Intel-based processors. The changeover went faster than Apple originally expected, which can be attributed to the help Intel's engineers provided, and to the Apple engineers who had maintained a secret Intel-compatible version of OS X since the original version (Cheetah) was introduced.
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in 2006.
The specs below were the base specification; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
MacBook (Core Duo): 1.83/2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive
MacBook (Core 2 Duo): 1.83/2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive
MacBook Pro (Core Duo): 1.83/2.0/2.16 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
MacBook Pro (Core 2 Duo): 2.16/2.33 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1 GB RAM, 120 GB hard drive
iMac (Core Duo): 1.83/2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 512 MB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
iMac (Core 2 Duo): 1.83/2.0/2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 512 MB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
Mac mini (Core Solo): 1.5 GHz Intel Core Solo processor, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive
Mac mini (Core Duo): 1.66/1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive
Mac Pro (Quad Core): 2x2.66 GHz Intel Xeon 5150 processors, 1 GB RAM, 250 GB hard drive
Xserve Xeon: 2x2.0 GHz Intel Xeon 5130 processors, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
Apple completes transition to Intel-based Macs.
Apple launches Get a Mac ad campaign.
North Korea tests nuclear bomb.
Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah fight a summertime war.
In what many see as one of the most successful product launches in Apple's history, the iPhone was announced in January 2007, and started shipping by the summer of 2007.
Contrary to the way it usually works, Apple pre-announced the iPhone, at the January Macworld expo in San Francisco. Actually, Apple didn't have much choice, as the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) requires testing of all communication devices, such as cell phones, to ensure they don't produce excess radiation or interfere with other communication devices.
The FCC's testing process is publicly documented, so determined individuals could quite easily discover that Apple intended to enter the cellular market with its own smartphone.
The pre-announcement allowed potential customers to see how the iPhone would look and feel, and to check out the touch-based user interface that promised to simplify how smartphones are used. By the time Apple formally launched the iPhone, demand had built to the extent that customers were camping out at AT&T and Apple retail stores waiting for the first phones to go on sale.
iPhones flew off the shelves, and demand shows no sign of decreasing. Not only was the iPhone a big hit for Apple, but it seemed that once again, in the process of entering a market Apple reshaped that market.
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in 2007.
The specs below were the base specification; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
MacBook (Core 2 Duo): 2.0/2.16/2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
MacBook Pro (Core 2 Duo): 2.2/2.4 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 120 GB hard drive
iMac (Aluminum): 2.0/2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1 GB RAM, 250 GB hard drive
iMac (Aluminum): 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme processor, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB hard drive
Mac mini (Core 2 Duo): 1.82/2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1 GB RAM, 60 GB hard drive
Apple launches the iPhone and iPod touch, its first touch-based products.
Verizon rejects deal to be the exclusive cell carrier for the new Apple iPhone. Instead, AT&T becomes the sole service provider.
California and other parts of the western U.S. experience large and numerous forest fires.
33 die in shooting rampage at Virginia Tech.
8-lane bridge in Minneapolis collapses, sending drivers into the Mississippi River. Nine die in the disaster.
The iPhone was a runaway hit, but not content to rest on its laurels, Apple released the App Store, a new service designed specifically for iPhone and iPod touch users. The App Store is a catalog of all of the applications developers have created for the iPhone and the iPod touch. Part of the iTunes Store, the App Store allows customers to browse through the available applications and download them to their devices.
The App Store had the intended affect. Not only did it make acquiring applications for the iPhone easy, it also became a showcase for developers, who flocked to the store to sell their wares. This led to more apps being created, and Apple ended up with a rich catalog of applications that help set the iPhone apart from other smartphones.
When Apple announced the App Store in early July, there were 500 apps listed. By the end of the year, the number of apps had expanded to 10,000. By Macworld 2009 in January, the numbers had jumped to 15,000 apps with 500,000,000 downloads. By the end of November 2009, there were more than 100,000 apps available, and downloads had passed the 2 billion mark.
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in 2008.
The specs below were the base specification; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
MacBook (Core 2 Duo): 2.1/2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1 GB RAM, 120 GB hard drive
MacBook (Unibody): 2.1/2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
MacBook Pro (Core 2 Duo): 2.4/2.5 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 200 GB hard drive
MacBook Pro (Unibody): 2.4/2.53 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB hard drive
MacBook Air: 1.6/1.83 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
iMac (Aluminum): 2.66/2.8/3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 320 GB hard drive
Mac Pro (Eight Core): 2x2.8 GHz Intel Xeon E5463 processors, 2 GB RAM, 320 GB hard drive
Apple announces the iPhone 3G, which offered the fastest connectivity from an iPhone to date.
Apple introduces the App Store, an easy way to purchase and download applications for the iPhone and iPod touch.
Barack Obama wins U.S. presidential election, becomes President-Elect.
Economic crisis hits U.S.; government moves to bail out key companies and banks.
2009 started off with Steve Jobs taking a six-month leave of absence for health reasons. While Steve originally believed his health problems could be easily treated, he ended up needing a liver transplant, which was performed under the media radar in April.
Steve returned to Apple on a part-time basis in June, but did not make a public appearance as the face of Apple until September, when he introduced new iPods.
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in 2009.
The specs below were the base specification; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
MacBook (Core 2 Duo): 2.0/2.13 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 120 GB hard drive
MacBook (Polycarbonate Unibody): 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB hard drive
MacBook Pro (13-inch Unibody): 2.26/2.53 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
MacBook Pro (Unibody): 2.26/2.53/2.66/2.8 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB hard drive
MacBook Air: 1.86.2.13/ Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 120 GB hard drive
iMac (Early 2009): 2.0/2.66/2.93/3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
iMac (Late 2009): 3.06/3.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB hard drive
iMac (Quad-Core i5): 2.66 GHz Intel Quad-Core i5 processor, 4 GB RAM, 1 TB hard drive
iMac (Quad-Core i7): 2.8 GHz Intel Quad-Core i7 processor, 4 GB RAM, 1 TB hard drive
Mac mini (Early 2009): 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor 1 GB RAM, 120 GB hard drive
Mac mini (Late 2009): 2.26/2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor 2 GB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
Mac mini (Late 2009 Server): 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor 4 GB RAM, 2x500 GB hard drive
Mac Pro (Quad-Core): 2.66/2.93/3.33 GHz Intel Xeon W3520 processors, 3 GB RAM, 640 GB hard drive
Mac Pro (Eight-Core): 2x2.26/2x2.66/2x2.93 GHz Intel Xeon E5520 processors, 6 GB RAM, 640 GB hard drive
Xserve Xeon (Quad-Core): 2.26 GHz Intel Xeon E5520 processors, 3 GB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
Xserve Xeon (Eight-Core): 2x2.26/2x2.66/2x2.93 GHz Intel Xeon E5520 processors, 3 GB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
Apple makes its last appearance at a Macworld expo.
Steve Jobs takes six-month leave of absence.
Steve Jobs undergoes liver transplant.
Apple releases iPhone 3G S.
Barack Obama inaugurated as 44th President.
H1N1 Swine Flu outbreak reaches official pandemic levels in June.
Chrysler and GM file for bankruptcy protection.
President Obama announces 30,000 additional troops to be deployed to Afghanistan.
We're taking a look back at the events and products that defined the last decade for Apple. Just three years before the start of the decade, Apple was being written off as a computer company that was sliding into oblivion.
In a relatively short period of time, Apple was able to pick itself up, become profitable, and then dominate industries that barely knew it existed a few years earlier. That makes the 2000s Apple's Decade.
So, let's begin our look back with the year 2000.
Apple's Decade: 2000
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in the year 2000.
The specs below were base specifications; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
iBook SE (Clamshell): 366 MHz G3 processor, 64 MB RAM, 6 GB hard drive
PowerBook G3 (Pismo): 400/500 MHz G3 processor, 64 MB RAM, 6 GB hard drive
iMac (available in DV, DV+, and DV SE versions): 350/400/500 MHz G3, 64 MB RAM, 7 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G4 (Gigabit Ethernet): 400/2x450/2x500 G4 processor, 64 MB, 20 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G4 Cube: 450/500 MHz G4 processor, 64 MB RAM, 20 GB hard drive
Apple News: 2000
Steve Jobs becomes permanent CEO of Apple.
In Other News: 2000
US Supreme Court rules against recount in Florida presidential elections.
George W. Bush named President-Elect.
Apple's Decade: 2001: iPods and OS X 10.0 (Cheetah)
2001 was a significant year for Apple and the U.S. Apple released the first of its iPod music players, and the general public could now buy the first release version of OS X.
Apple spent much of the year updating its product line with the new, faster G4 processor. It also had a fashion faux pas with the Flower Power version of the iMac. The design, featuring swirling colors on the iMac's body, received PC World's coveted Ugliest Tech Product award.
One reviewer said the Flower Power iMac reminded him of a cheap shower curtain.
Apple's Decade: 2001
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in 2001.
The specs below were the base specifications; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
iBook (White): 500/600 MHz G3 processor, 128 MB RAM, 15 GB hard drive
PowerBook G4 (Titanium): 400/500/667 MHz G4 processor, 128 MB RAM, 10 GB hard drive
iMac (available in Indigo, Flower Power, and SE versions): 400/500/600/700 MHz G3, 64 MB RAM, 10 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G4 (Digital Audio): 466/533/667 G4 processor, 128 MB RAM, 30 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G4 (Quicksilver): 733/867/2x800 G4 processor, 128 MB, 40 GB hard drive
Apple News: 2001
Apple releases the first iPod.
Apple releases OS X 10.0 (Cheetah).
The first Apple retail stores are opened in Tyson Corners, Virginia, and Glendale, California.
In Other News: 2001
George W. Bush inaugurated.
Terrorists attack the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. During a failed third attack, passengers of Flight 93 attempt to retake control of their flight from the terrorists, but the airliner crashes in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Collectively, the attacks will be known as 911, after the date of the event.
Apple's Decade: 2002: Flat-Panel iMac and eMacs
2002 saw Apple create two new versions of the iMac. The first was the flat-panel iMac, which not only improved performance with a faster (G4) processor, but also incorporated a 15-inch, and later a 17-inch, LCD panel into its design.
This was quite a feat for Apple, both because of the then-unique articulated arm used to connect the LCD panel to the iMac's base, and because LCD panels were still on the expensive side.
CRTs remained the typical choice for desktop computers.
Because the educational market is very price-sensitive, Apple feared the flat-panel iMac wouldn't sell well in schools, so it created the eMac, a cheaper, CRT version of the iMac. Educational sales were good for the eMac, though not stunning. Later in the eMac's lifetime, Apple permitted the sale of eMacs to the general public as a low-cost, entry-level product.
Apple's Decade: 2002
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in 2002.
The specs below were the base specification; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
eMac G4: 700/800 MHz G4 processor, 128 MB RAM, 40 GB hard drive
iBook (White): 600/700/800 MHz G3 processor, 128 MB RAM, 20 GB hard drive
PowerBook G4 (Titanium): 667/800/867/1000 MHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 30 GB hard drive
iMac (Flat Panel, sometimes called the iLamp): 700/800/MHz G4, 256 MB RAM, 40 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G4 (Quicksilver): 800/933/2x1000 G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 40 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors): 2x867/2x1000/2x1250 G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive
Xserve: 1000 MHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive, rack-mount
Apple News: 2002
Apple releases first flat panel iMac affectionately known as the iLamp. Using an articulated arm, the flat-panel iMac combined a 15-inch, and later a 17-inch, LCD panel with a hemispherical base that housed the iMac's motherboard, G4 processor, memory, hard drive, and ports.
In Other News: 2002
U.S. invades Afghanistan in response to 911 attacks.
Euro notes and coins are introduced in the European Union.
Apple's Decade: 2003: iTunes Music Store and PowerMac G5
In 2003, Apple introduced us to the iTunes Music Store. Most Mac users, and anyone who owned an iPod, were already familiar with iTunes, as a music player and as a method of syncing music content between a Mac and an iPod.
The iTunes Music Store took acquiring content for an iPod to the next level. The iTunes Music Store allowed you to buy downloadable music from the five major record labels at a standard price (99 cents per track), and to use the music on up to three Macs and any number of iPods.
It also allowed unlimited burning of music tracks to CDs.
The iTunes Music Store was a game changer for computer users and the record industry. In a few short years, Apple would become one of the largest sellers of music in the world, and an important player in media; not just music, but movies, video, and podcasting.
Apple's Decade: 2003
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in 2003.
The specs below were the base specification; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
eMac G4: 800/1000 MHz G4 processor, 128 MB RAM, 40 GB hard drive
iBook G3: 800/900 MHz G3 processor, 128 MB RAM, 30 GB hard drive
iBook G4: 800/933/1000 MHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 30 GB hard drive
Powerbook G4 (Aluminium): 867/1000/1250/1330 MHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 40 GB hard drive
iMac (Flat Panel, sometimes called the iLamp): 800/1000/1250 MHz G4, 256 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors): 1.25 GHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G4 (FW800): 1.0/2x1.25/2x1.42 GHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G5 (PCI): 1.6 GHz G5 processor, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G5 (PCI-X): 1.8/2x1.8/2x2.0 GHz G5 processor, 512 MB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
Xserve G4: 1.33/2x1.33 GHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive, rack-mount
Apple News: 2003
Apple launches the iTunes Music Store.
In Other News: 2003
The Space Shuttle Columbia breaks apart on reentry over Texas; all seven of the shuttle's crew are killed. The loss of the ship and crew were the result of damage sustained during the mission's liftoff on January 16, 2003.
Apple's Decade: 2004: Steve Jobs' Cancer Surgery, First iMac with a G5 Processor
In 2004, Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, went under the surgeon's knife to remove a cancerous tumor in his pancreas. Steve was diagnosed with an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor, a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Luckily for Steve, this rare form of pancreatic cancer is easily treatable when caught in its early stages.
The surgery went smoothly, and Steve returned to Apple after a short recuperation period.
Steve, however, doesn't seem to know what it means to take some time off. He was reported to have his 17-inch PowerBook in his hospital room, for writing emails and keeping up with the goings-on at Apple.
Apple's Decade: 2004
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in 2004.
The specs below were the base specification; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
eMac G4: 1.25 GHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 40 GB hard drive
iBook G4: 1.0/1.2/1.33 GHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 30 GB hard drive
PowerBook G4 (Aluminum): 1.33/1.5 GHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive
iMac G5: 1.6/1.8 GHz G5 processor, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G5 (PCI): 1.8/2x1.8 GHz G5 processor, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G5 (PCI-X): 2x2.0/2x2.5 GHz G5 processor, 512 MB, 160 GB hard drive
Xserve G5: 2.0/2x2.0 GHz G5 processor, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive, rack-mount
Apple News: 2004
Steve Jobs undergoes successful surgery for the removal of a cancerous tumor from his pancreas.
In Other News: 2004
An earthquake in Sumatra triggers massive tsunamis that sweep away villages in six countries in southern and southeast Asia.
Total dead from both disasters is more than 150,000.
Red Sox win World Series. After an 86-year drought, the Red Sox sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in 4 games to take the pennant.
Apple's Decade: 2005: Apple Announces Switch to Intel Processors
Apple's Decade: At the 2005 WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference) Apple announced its intent to switch from Motorola/IBM PowerPC processors to Intel-based X86 processors. Apple has pulled off processor architecture changes before, having switched from Motorola's 68000 family to the IBM-designed RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) based PowerPC series of processors.
Initially, the change to the PowerPC family brought vastly increased performance to Macs, allowing Apple to market its Macintosh computers as some of the fastest desktop and laptop computers available for general use.
But the Motorola/IBM joint venture that was designing the PowerPC processors had a problem: The processors were not scaling well to faster bus speeds. In 2003, when Steve Jobs first introduced the G5 line of Macs with the 1.6 GHz iMac G5, Steve said they expected the processor speeds to almost double, to 3 GHz, within a year. Not only did they not double, but the G5 was a power-hungry design that forced Apple to release a liquid-cooled version of a PowerMac G5, just to keep the processors from overheating.
Excess power consumption, and the failure to move to faster designs, left Apple no choice but to abandon the PowerPC architecture and move on to something else.
In the end, Apple's decision to hitch its wagon to Intel's star may well go down as the best technological choice it made during the 2000s. The switch to Intel allowed Apple to use processors that were being made in much larger quantities, which helped keep the bulk purchase price down. And with Apple's large purchasing power, it could help influence Intel's processor designs, nudging the architecture in directions Apple thought would best fit its needs.
Apple's Decade: 2005
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in 2005.
The specs below were the base specification; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
eMac G4: 1.42 GHz G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
iBook G4: 1.33/1.42 GHz G4 processor, 512 MB RAM, 40 GB hard drive
PowerBook G4 (Aluminum): 1.5/1.67 GHz G4 processor, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
iMac G5: 1.6/1.8 GHz G5 processor, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G5 (PCI): 2x2.0 GHz G5 processor, 512 MB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G5 (PCI-X): 2x2.3/2x2.7 GHz G5 processor, 512 MB RAM, 250 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G5 (Dual-Core): 2.0/2.3 GHz G5 processor, 512 MB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
Power Macintosh G5 (Quad-Core): 2.5 GHz G5 processor, 512 MB RAM, 250 GB hard drive
Xserve G5: 2x2.3 GHz G5 processor, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB hard drive, rack-mount
Apple News: 2005
Apple announces switch to Intel processors.
Apple partners with Motorola to create the ROKR cell phone.
In Other News: 2005
Hurricane Katrina hits the gulf coast of the U.S. New Orleans, Louisiana is inundated with floodwaters when protective levees fail.
Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist dies.
By the end of 2006, Apple completed the transition of the Macintosh to Intel-based processors. The changeover went faster than Apple originally expected, which can be attributed to the help Intel's engineers provided, and to the Apple engineers who had maintained a secret Intel-compatible version of OS X since the original version (Cheetah) was introduced.
Apple's Decade: 2006
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in 2006.
The specs below were the base specification; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
MacBook (Core Duo): 1.83/2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive
MacBook (Core 2 Duo): 1.83/2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive
MacBook Pro (Core Duo): 1.83/2.0/2.16 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
MacBook Pro (Core 2 Duo): 2.16/2.33 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1 GB RAM, 120 GB hard drive
iMac (Core Duo): 1.83/2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 512 MB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
iMac (Core 2 Duo): 1.83/2.0/2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 512 MB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
Mac mini (Core Solo): 1.5 GHz Intel Core Solo processor, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive
Mac mini (Core Duo): 1.66/1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive
Mac Pro (Quad Core): 2x2.66 GHz Intel Xeon 5150 processors, 1 GB RAM, 250 GB hard drive
Xserve Xeon: 2x2.0 GHz Intel Xeon 5130 processors, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
Apple News: 2006
Apple completes transition to Intel-based Macs.
Apple launches Get a Mac ad campaign.
In Other News: 2006
North Korea tests nuclear bomb.
Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah fight a summertime war.
In what many see as one of the most successful product launches in Apple's history, the iPhone was announced in January 2007, and started shipping by the summer of 2007.
Contrary to the way it usually works, Apple pre-announced the iPhone, at the January Macworld expo in San Francisco. Actually, Apple didn't have much choice, as the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) requires testing of all communication devices, such as cell phones, to ensure they don't produce excess radiation or interfere with other communication devices.
The FCC's testing process is publicly documented, so determined individuals could quite easily discover that Apple intended to enter the cellular market with its own smartphone.
The pre-announcement allowed potential customers to see how the iPhone would look and feel, and to check out the touch-based user interface that promised to simplify how smartphones are used. By the time Apple formally launched the iPhone, demand had built to the extent that customers were camping out at AT&T and Apple retail stores waiting for the first phones to go on sale.
iPhones flew off the shelves, and demand shows no sign of decreasing. Not only was the iPhone a big hit for Apple, but it seemed that once again, in the process of entering a market Apple reshaped that market.
Apple's Decade: 2007
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in 2007.
The specs below were the base specification; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
MacBook (Core 2 Duo): 2.0/2.16/2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
MacBook Pro (Core 2 Duo): 2.2/2.4 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 120 GB hard drive
iMac (Aluminum): 2.0/2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1 GB RAM, 250 GB hard drive
iMac (Aluminum): 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme processor, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB hard drive
Mac mini (Core 2 Duo): 1.82/2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1 GB RAM, 60 GB hard drive
Apple News: 2007
Apple launches the iPhone and iPod touch, its first touch-based products.
Verizon rejects deal to be the exclusive cell carrier for the new Apple iPhone. Instead, AT&T becomes the sole service provider.
In Other News: 2007
California and other parts of the western U.S. experience large and numerous forest fires.
33 die in shooting rampage at Virginia Tech.
8-lane bridge in Minneapolis collapses, sending drivers into the Mississippi River. Nine die in the disaster.
The iPhone was a runaway hit, but not content to rest on its laurels, Apple released the App Store, a new service designed specifically for iPhone and iPod touch users. The App Store is a catalog of all of the applications developers have created for the iPhone and the iPod touch. Part of the iTunes Store, the App Store allows customers to browse through the available applications and download them to their devices.
The App Store had the intended affect. Not only did it make acquiring applications for the iPhone easy, it also became a showcase for developers, who flocked to the store to sell their wares. This led to more apps being created, and Apple ended up with a rich catalog of applications that help set the iPhone apart from other smartphones.
When Apple announced the App Store in early July, there were 500 apps listed. By the end of the year, the number of apps had expanded to 10,000. By Macworld 2009 in January, the numbers had jumped to 15,000 apps with 500,000,000 downloads. By the end of November 2009, there were more than 100,000 apps available, and downloads had passed the 2 billion mark.
Apple's Decade: 2008
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in 2008.
The specs below were the base specification; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
MacBook (Core 2 Duo): 2.1/2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1 GB RAM, 120 GB hard drive
MacBook (Unibody): 2.1/2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
MacBook Pro (Core 2 Duo): 2.4/2.5 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 200 GB hard drive
MacBook Pro (Unibody): 2.4/2.53 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB hard drive
MacBook Air: 1.6/1.83 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB hard drive
iMac (Aluminum): 2.66/2.8/3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 320 GB hard drive
Mac Pro (Eight Core): 2x2.8 GHz Intel Xeon E5463 processors, 2 GB RAM, 320 GB hard drive
Apple News: 2008
Apple announces the iPhone 3G, which offered the fastest connectivity from an iPhone to date.
Apple introduces the App Store, an easy way to purchase and download applications for the iPhone and iPod touch.
In Other News: 2008
Barack Obama wins U.S. presidential election, becomes President-Elect.
Economic crisis hits U.S.; government moves to bail out key companies and banks.
2009 started off with Steve Jobs taking a six-month leave of absence for health reasons. While Steve originally believed his health problems could be easily treated, he ended up needing a liver transplant, which was performed under the media radar in April.
Steve returned to Apple on a part-time basis in June, but did not make a public appearance as the face of Apple until September, when he introduced new iPods.
Apple's Decade: 2009
New Macintosh products introduced by Apple in 2009.
The specs below were the base specification; many Macs shipped with upgrades to these specs.
MacBook (Core 2 Duo): 2.0/2.13 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 120 GB hard drive
MacBook (Polycarbonate Unibody): 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB hard drive
MacBook Pro (13-inch Unibody): 2.26/2.53 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
MacBook Pro (Unibody): 2.26/2.53/2.66/2.8 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB hard drive
MacBook Air: 1.86.2.13/ Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB RAM, 120 GB hard drive
iMac (Early 2009): 2.0/2.66/2.93/3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
iMac (Late 2009): 3.06/3.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB hard drive
iMac (Quad-Core i5): 2.66 GHz Intel Quad-Core i5 processor, 4 GB RAM, 1 TB hard drive
iMac (Quad-Core i7): 2.8 GHz Intel Quad-Core i7 processor, 4 GB RAM, 1 TB hard drive
Mac mini (Early 2009): 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor 1 GB RAM, 120 GB hard drive
Mac mini (Late 2009): 2.26/2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor 2 GB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
Mac mini (Late 2009 Server): 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor 4 GB RAM, 2x500 GB hard drive
Mac Pro (Quad-Core): 2.66/2.93/3.33 GHz Intel Xeon W3520 processors, 3 GB RAM, 640 GB hard drive
Mac Pro (Eight-Core): 2x2.26/2x2.66/2x2.93 GHz Intel Xeon E5520 processors, 6 GB RAM, 640 GB hard drive
Xserve Xeon (Quad-Core): 2.26 GHz Intel Xeon E5520 processors, 3 GB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
Xserve Xeon (Eight-Core): 2x2.26/2x2.66/2x2.93 GHz Intel Xeon E5520 processors, 3 GB RAM, 160 GB hard drive
Apple News: 2009
Apple makes its last appearance at a Macworld expo.
Steve Jobs takes six-month leave of absence.
Steve Jobs undergoes liver transplant.
Apple releases iPhone 3G S.
In Other News: 2009
Barack Obama inaugurated as 44th President.
H1N1 Swine Flu outbreak reaches official pandemic levels in June.
Chrysler and GM file for bankruptcy protection.
President Obama announces 30,000 additional troops to be deployed to Afghanistan.
