Datasheet

21
Chapter 1: Why Switch? Demystifying the Mac Mantra
named Unix that was developed by the American
Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T).
Unix was popular with computer researchers
because of its flexible design and because a ver-
sion with source code was available.
Apple continued to introduce more powerful
versions of the Macintosh, adding hard drives,
laser printers, and high-resolution color dis-
plays. Its share of the personal computer market
continued to decline relative to IBM PCs and
their clones. In 1994, Apple switched from the
Motorola 68000 series microprocessor to the
PowerPC chip, jointly developed by Motorola,
IBM, and Apple. The PowerPC was designed
to allow programs to run faster than those run
by the Intel chips, but the theoretical advantage
never materialized as Intel chip engineers used
innovative techniques to keep up.
In 1997, Apple acquired NeXT, and Steve Jobs
rejoined the company, soon taking the helm. A
year later, he reinvigorated Apple sales with
the iMac, an all-in-one computer that echoed
the original Macintosh. A flat-panel version
appeared in 2002. Apple soon replaced its OS
9 operating system (the lineage of which goes
back to the first Macintosh) with a new system:
Mac OS X, based on the NeXT operating
system. The iPod was launched in 2001.
In 2005, Jobs ended the personal computer
microprocessor wars when he announced
that Apple would switch to x86 Intel micropro-
cessors, the same microprocessors used in
Windows PCs. All Macs manufactured since
2006 employ Intel microprocessors. In 2007,
Jobs introduced the Apple TV (ÚTV), extend-
ing the Apple brand to the living room, as well
as the spiffy iPhone, setting a new standard in
mobile communication. The companion iPod
touch shares many iPhone features except
the phone and has become a popular game
platform. In 2010, Apple introduced another
revolutionary product, the iPad, replacing it a
year later with the iPad 2. More than 425,000
inexpensive or free applications for the iPhone,
iPod touch, and iPad are available online at the
iTunes Store.
In 2010, Jobs announced that he was taking a
leave of absence from day-to-day Apple man-
agement for health reasons, though he was on
hand at Apple’s 2011 developer conference to
introduce OS X Lion. We wish him well.
05_9781118024461-ch01.indd 2105_9781118024461-ch01.indd 21 8/24/11 6:58 PM8/24/11 6:58 PM