1977: Apple II
The Apple II was the company’s first successful mass-produced microcomputer, and was largely designed by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. The Apple II series remained in production until November 1993, and sold around six million units.
1984: Macintosh
Apple debuted the Macintosh personal computer with the now-iconic Ridley Scott “1984” commercial that aired nationally during the third quarter of Super Bowl XVIII. The Macintosh -- which was later renamed the Macintosh 128K when a more-advanced model was introduced -- offered a nine-inch monitor, a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive, and came with a keyboard and mouse.
1991: PowerBook 100
The PowerBook 100 wasn’t Apple’s first portable computer (that title belongs to the Macintosh Portable), but it was more successful because it cost a fraction of the price and weighed considerably less. The PowerBook family lasted several years, and was eventually replaced by the MacBook Pro series.
1998: iMac G3
The iMac G3 was the first consumer product released following Steve Jobs’s return after leaving the company in 1985. With the help of Jonathan Ive, the iMac marked a new design direction for Apple with its translucent casing and “Bondi Blue” color. Built in part to help connect people to the Internet, the iMac G3 helped Apple turn around its financial problems.
1999: iBook G3
Influenced by the iMac, Apple released its clamshell iBook G3 notebook in an array of colors. The iBook line targeted the education market and consumers looking for more affordable, entry-level machines. The series was replaced by the MacBook in 2006.
2001: iPod
Apple introduced the original iPod, putting “1,000 songs in your pocket.” The company later introduced the iPod mini, iPod shuffle, iPod nano and iPod touch. In May 2013, Apple announced it had sold 100 million iPod touch units since its debut in 2007, but sales of the media player have been declining in recent years, due in part to the iPhone.
2007: iPhone
In 2007, after much speculation, Apple launched the thing that would change everything: The iPhone. The original model featured a 3.5-inch touchscreen, a two-megapixel camera and EDGE speeds, and cost $599 for the eight gigabyte model. Since then, the company has sold more than 700 million iPhones, and has helped Apple become the world’s most valuable company.
2007: Apple TV
In addition to the iPhone, the Cupertino, Calif.-based electronics giant also announced the Apple TV set-top box in 2007. It was designed to let you wirelessly play music, video and photos from your computer to your TV. The product is now in its third generation, and has sold more than 25 million units.
2008: MacBook Air
Steve Jobs introduced the MacBook Air “ billed at the time as the world’s thinnest notebook “ by pulling it out of a manila envelope. It measured 0.16 inches at its thinnest point, but still packed in a full 13-inch display and keyboard. The MacBook Air helped popularize ultraportable laptops, and has helped the Mac gain PC-market share in the U.S.
2010: iPad
While Apple’s attempt at the PDA wasn’t very successful, the tablet proved to be a different story. The original iPad had a 9.7-inch touchscreen, and the company later launched the iPad mini and iPad Air. Though iPad sales (and tablet sales in general) have slowed in recent years, Apple continues to be a market leader in the tablet space. As of January 2015, the company has sold approximately 260 million iPads.
2015: Apple Watch
Billed as the company’s most personal device yet, the Apple Watch made its long-awaited debut in September 2014. Part smartphone companion, part fitness tracker, part mobile wallet, the Watch requires an iPhone.
