Apple Timeline, 1986-90

<1981-1985> <1991-1995>
Year
Apple
Other
1986
  • 01.16: Mac Plus introduced at $2,599, first Mac with SCSI.
  • 01.16: Macintosh System 3.0 introduces disk cache and HFS, which allows nested folders.
  • 01.16: LaserWriter Plus introduced at $6,798.
  • Feb.: Macintosh System 3.1 is buggy.
  • 04.14: Mac 512Ke introduced at $1,999.
  • June: Macintosh System 3.2 fixes bugs in 3.1.
  • Sept.: Apple IIGS introduced at $999, fastest Apple II at 2.8 MHz, introduced Mac-like GUI.
  • Japanese and Arabic versions of Mac OS introduced.
    • More in Macintosh History: 1986
  • Steve Jobs founds NeXT.
  • SCSI standard accepted by ANSI.
  • Compaq ships first 80386-based PC.
  • Microsoft goes public.
Mac Plus
1987
  • Jan.: Macintosh System 3.3 prepares Mac OS for networking and AppleShare.
  • 03.02: Mac SE introduced at $2,898 with two 800 KB floppy drives.
  • 03.02: Mac II, first 68020-based Mac , introduced at $3,898 (1 MB RAM, 800 KB floppy) and $5,498 (w/40 MB internal hard drive).
  • 03.02: Macintosh System 4.0 has improved Chooser and Control Panel.
  • 03.17: One-millionth Mac produced.
  • AppleShare file server software introduced.
  • April: Macintosh System 4.1 supports Mac II, requires 1 MB RAM to function.
  • April: Apple creates an "independent" software company known as Claris.
  • Aug.: HyperCard introduced.
  • Oct.: Macintosh System 4.2, a.k.a. System Software 5.0, introduces background printing, DA Handler, and MultiFinder.
  • Nov.: Macintosh System Software 5.1 updates HD SC setup and LaserWriter drivers.
    • More in Macintosh History: 1987
  • IBM and Microsoft release OS/2.
  • August 11. Microsoft ships Windows 1.01.
  • First fax boards for PCs.
  • Sun introduces first RISC CPU.
1988
  • 30,000,000 MS-DOS users.
  • January. Microsoft ships Windows 2.03.
    • • Morris Internet Worm infects 6,000 computers on Internet.
  • October. First NeXT released, the NeXT Cube.
NeXT Cube
1989
  • 01.19: Mac SE/30 introduced at $4,369, first 68030-based all-in-one Mac.
  • 03.07: Mac IIcx introduced at $5,369.
  • March: Two-page and portrait b&w monitors and video cards introduced in March.
  • April: 32-bit QuickDraw introduced.
  • 09.20: Mac IIci, first 32-bit clean Mac, introduced.
  • 09.20: Mac Portable (9/89-10/91), first portable Mac, introduced.
    • More in Macintosh History: 1989
  • Fifty-four million personal computers in US
  • Intel ships 80486 CPU.
  • September 18. NeXT introduces NeXTstep OS.
1990
  • May. Microsoft ships Windows 3.0.
  • First PCs with 80486 CPU ship.
Macintosh LC
<1981-1985> <1991-1995>

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