5 ms·

Short reminder to the younger folks that 30 years ago it felt just like that for Apple, and then they almost went bankrupt.

by pjmlp 7d ago

cedilla 7d ago
Did it? At that time, I felt like they were an expensive boutique manufacturer that basically catered to a niche audience of media professionals. At the time, they weren't even among the biggest tech companies. Today, they are one of the largest companies in the world.
- wooger 7d ago
  Seriously? They were tiny, media production niche, crazily priced machines 30 years ago. Almost zero marketshare or mindshare, and most people (in e.g. EU) didn't even know anyone who owned a Mac.
  - pjmlp 7d ago
    Yes, it was pretty much Atari, Commodore, Acorn and PC over here, plus some lesser known brands, like MSX on Netherlands. However even today, if you go to the European countries less fortunate with their economies, having anything Apple is usually obtained via credit, or some contract bundling, for example with the cable or Internet operator, naturally bound to a minimal duration of 24 to 36 months contract. Not something like in US and countries with similar economies where most people don't think twice to get Apple gear, and quickly pre-order new gear after each couple of new product announcements.
    - TeMPOraL 7d ago
      > However even today, if you go to the European countries less fortunate with their economies, having anything Apple is usually obtained via credit, or some contract bundling Given how many iPhones I've noticed suddenly showed up in hands of regular people, including teenagers, in the last couple years in Poland, I imagine there's healthy second-hand/used devices market going too. iPhones have reputation of being long lasting devices (battery shenanigans notwithstanding), maybe the reputation is true.
      - pjmlp 6d ago
        Still, https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/poland https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/poland However, yeah iPhones hold quite well in 2nd hand market.
  - LargoLasskhyfv 7d ago
    Not exclusively so. They were 'big' in some schools with their original Apple 2 lines. Even looked good, considering the later models. By school I mean anything between grade 5 and 13.
- pjmlp 7d ago
  > Expensive boutique manufacturer that basically catered to a niche audience of media professionals. As much true back then, as it is in 2026, with the added category of some GNU/Linux users buying shiny hardware and then complaining macOS UNIX implementation doesn't overlap with GNU/Linux, beyond regular POSIX.
iainmerrick 6d ago
40 years ago, maybe. The Microsoft investment that saved them was in 1997. The writing had been on the wall for most of the 90s, at least as I recall.
- alsetmusic 6d ago
  > The Microsoft investment that saved them was in 1997. The MS investment didn’t save them. It provided both companies cover in the news. “Apple won’t die” and “Microsoft isn’t a monopoly”. Neither was a fact and both benefited.
  - anthonyrstevens 6d ago
    Microsoft certainly did throw Apple a $150MM lifeline that was sorely needed, else they were looking at bankruptcy within weeks. I would say that "saved" them. AND yes, both companies benefited.
    - iainmerrick 6d ago
      Right. It was convenient for Microsoft, but essential for Apple. MS was the last partner they'd have chosen if they weren't desperate. Jobs was booed when he announced it! It had very much the air of Lando Calrissian announcing Cloud City's strategic partnership with Darth Vader.
    - Danox 6d ago
      Commodore, Acorn, Arm Holding, SGI, Sun, and Next were relatively small compared to the Wintel juggernaut, but this did not imply that the technology driving them was inferior. In fact, much of it was superior. What likely saved Apple was the fact that despite undergoing three CEOs, they did not squander the $150 million settlement with Microsoft. But they still had sufficient funds, equivalent to $2 billion at today’s value, to continue their operations. They also had a team of highly skilled individuals who went on to develop a new operating system, OSX, and build computers with G3, G4 processors. They have also released new iMacs, Mac laptops, and Mac desktop computers to the public. Does this imply that with $2 billion today, plus or minus $1 billion, one can achieve all these accomplishments and grow into a large technology company? It seems like an unlikely long-shot that Microsoft saved Apple. In hindsight, it appears that Apple had some exceptionally talented individuals, certainty more talented than the group at Microsoft and Intel. Because both Microsoft and Intel, in hindsight, sat on their laurels for the better part of two decades. -

Short reminder to the younger folks that 30 years ago it felt just like that for Apple, and then they almost went bankrupt.

by pjmlp 7d ago

Short reminder to the younger folks that 30 years ago it felt just like that for Apple, and then they almost went bankrupt.

cedilla 7d ago

Did it? At that time, I felt like they were an expensive boutique manufacturer that basically catered to a niche audience of media professionals. At the time, they weren't even among the biggest tech companies. Today, they are one of the largest companies in the world.

wooger 7d ago
Seriously? They were tiny, media production niche, crazily priced machines 30 years ago. Almost zero marketshare or mindshare, and most people (in e.g. EU) didn't even know anyone who owned a Mac.
- pjmlp 7d ago
  Yes, it was pretty much Atari, Commodore, Acorn and PC over here, plus some lesser known brands, like MSX on Netherlands. However even today, if you go to the European countries less fortunate with their economies, having anything Apple is usually obtained via credit, or some contract bundling, for example with the cable or Internet operator, naturally bound to a minimal duration of 24 to 36 months contract. Not something like in US and countries with similar economies where most people don't think twice to get Apple gear, and quickly pre-order new gear after each couple of new product announcements.
  - TeMPOraL 7d ago
    > However even today, if you go to the European countries less fortunate with their economies, having anything Apple is usually obtained via credit, or some contract bundling Given how many iPhones I've noticed suddenly showed up in hands of regular people, including teenagers, in the last couple years in Poland, I imagine there's healthy second-hand/used devices market going too. iPhones have reputation of being long lasting devices (battery shenanigans notwithstanding), maybe the reputation is true.
    - pjmlp 6d ago
      Still, https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/poland https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/poland However, yeah iPhones hold quite well in 2nd hand market.
- LargoLasskhyfv 7d ago
  Not exclusively so. They were 'big' in some schools with their original Apple 2 lines. Even looked good, considering the later models. By school I mean anything between grade 5 and 13.
pjmlp 7d ago
> Expensive boutique manufacturer that basically catered to a niche audience of media professionals. As much true back then, as it is in 2026, with the added category of some GNU/Linux users buying shiny hardware and then complaining macOS UNIX implementation doesn't overlap with GNU/Linux, beyond regular POSIX.

iainmerrick 6d ago

40 years ago, maybe. The Microsoft investment that saved them was in 1997. The writing had been on the wall for most of the 90s, at least as I recall.

alsetmusic 6d ago
> The Microsoft investment that saved them was in 1997. The MS investment didn’t save them. It provided both companies cover in the news. “Apple won’t die” and “Microsoft isn’t a monopoly”. Neither was a fact and both benefited.
- anthonyrstevens 6d ago
  Microsoft certainly did throw Apple a $150MM lifeline that was sorely needed, else they were looking at bankruptcy within weeks. I would say that "saved" them. AND yes, both companies benefited.
  - iainmerrick 6d ago
    Right. It was convenient for Microsoft, but essential for Apple. MS was the last partner they'd have chosen if they weren't desperate. Jobs was booed when he announced it! It had very much the air of Lando Calrissian announcing Cloud City's strategic partnership with Darth Vader.
  - Danox 6d ago
    Commodore, Acorn, Arm Holding, SGI, Sun, and Next were relatively small compared to the Wintel juggernaut, but this did not imply that the technology driving them was inferior. In fact, much of it was superior. What likely saved Apple was the fact that despite undergoing three CEOs, they did not squander the $150 million settlement with Microsoft. But they still had sufficient funds, equivalent to $2 billion at today’s value, to continue their operations. They also had a team of highly skilled individuals who went on to develop a new operating system, OSX, and build computers with G3, G4 processors. They have also released new iMacs, Mac laptops, and Mac desktop computers to the public. Does this imply that with $2 billion today, plus or minus $1 billion, one can achieve all these accomplishments and grow into a large technology company? It seems like an unlikely long-shot that Microsoft saved Apple. In hindsight, it appears that Apple had some exceptionally talented individuals, certainty more talented than the group at Microsoft and Intel. Because both Microsoft and Intel, in hindsight, sat on their laurels for the better part of two decades. -