References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 October 25.

1990

January

• Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh II. [75] [597.95] [701.136]

January 29

• Michael Spindler is named Chief Operating Officer of Apple Computer, overseeing worldwide manufacturing and marketing units. [2605.185,233]

March 2

• Steve Sakoman, head of the Newton group, resigns. [2605.185]
• Jean-Louis Gassée announces he would resigns as president of Apple Products by September 30. [593.41] [2605.185]

March

• Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh IIfx. It features a 40 MHz 68030 processor, 68882 math coprocessor, 4 MB RAM, 80 MB hard drive, 1.4 MB SuperDrive, 32 kB cache, 44.1 kHz stereo audio, and choice of 8-bit to 24-bit graphics. Price is US$9800. [18] [46] [75] [591.115] [593.350] [597.95]

March 23

• US District Court Judge Vaughn Walker throws out five of six claims in Xerox' suit against Apple Computer, claiming infringement of the Star's system. [594.47] [2605.80] (May [346.195])

April

• Crate Technologies, a maker of Apple Macintosh hard drives and tape backup systems, files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. [558.17]

May 18

• Universal Pictures releases the film Bird on a Wire to theaters in the USA. An Apple Macintosh with red diskette appears a few times. [2368]

June

• Neon Software releases the NetMinder Ethernet network-analysis program for AppleTalk networks. [676.215]
• Apple Computer announces that Claris shares would not be offered to the public, but that the company would become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Apple Computer. [419.75]

(month unknown)

• Fairfield Software releases the ClearAccess v1.21 data-management software tool for the Macintosh. [675.98]
• Ashton-Tate releases the Full Impact 2.0 spreadsheet program for the Macintosh. [675.98]
• Claris releases the FileMaker Pro 1.0 database program for the Macintosh. [675.98]
• Timeworks releases the Publish It! Easy 2.0 page-design program for the Macintosh. [675.99]
• Apple Computer's AppleLink - Personal Edition is expanded and renamed America Online. [218]
• Claris buys Filemaker from Nashoba Systems, and renames it FileMaker II. [861.21]
  vvv advertisement vvv
  
  ^^^ advertisement ^^^
  

July

• Apple Computer announces it is spinning off Porat's Paradigm and Pocket Crystal projects as General Magic. [2605.187]

(month unknown)

• Marc Porat, Andy Hertzfeld, and Bill Atkinson leave Apple Computer to form General Magic company. [973]
• MacroMind releases the Director 2.0 softwarefor the Macintosh. Price is US$695. [1095.178]

September 8

• Tesler dumps AT&T Hobbit processor for Newton in favor of ARM610 processor. [2605.188]

September 30

• Jean-Louis Gassée resigns as president of Apple Products. [2605.187,274]

October 4

• The Fox Network airs the Beverly Hills 90210 TV show in the USA. The school newspaper room has several Macintosh computers. [2077]

October

• Group Technologies releases Aspects 1.0 for the Macintosh. [677.152]
• Apple Computer reports net sales for fiscal 1990 at over US$5.5 billion. [46]
• Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh Plus. [75] [597.90,95]
• Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh SE. [75] [597.90,95]
• Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh SE/30. [75]
• Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh IIx. [75]

October 15

• Apple Computer unveils and ships the Macintosh Classic. It uses an 8 MHz Motorola 68000 microprocessor, an integrated 9-inch B/W monitor, and a 1.4 MB floppy drive. Base price for a 1 MB system is US$1000. The Macintosh Classic replaces the Macintosh Plus and the Macintosh SE. Apple paid $1 million to Modular Computer Systems for use of the word "Classic" in the personal computer market for 5 years. [17] [18] [46] [75] [414.230] [416.169] [555.176] [597.90,95] [612.13] [2605.127]
• Apple Computer unveils the Macintosh LC. It uses a 16 MHz Motorola 68020 microprocessor, and comes with 2 MB RAM, 40 MB hard drive, and 1.4 MB SuperDrive. Weight is 8.5 pounds. Base price with 2 MB RAM and a floppy drive is US$2400. [17] [18] [46] [75] [414.230] [416.169] [555.182] [1205.36] (US$2400 includes 40 MB hard drive [579.102] [597.95])
• Apple Computer unveils the Macintosh IIsi. It uses a 20 MHz Motorola 68030 microprocessor, and comes with 2 MB RAM, 40 MB hard drive, video port, and 1.4 MB SuperDrive, for US$3769. Or with 5 MB RAM and 80 MB hard drive for US$4569. [17] [18] [46] [75] [414.230] [416.169] [555.188] [597.90,95,99]

October

• A Macintosh Portable computer first travels into space aboard the Space Shuttle. [2356.C7]
• Lotus Development introduces the Lotus MarketPlace: Business database application for the Macintosh. The Business edition is on one CD-ROM for US$695. Information on 7.5 million businesses is included. [414] [500.8] [596.30] [675.98] (August [561.69])
• Lotus Development introduces Lotus MarketPlace: Households, for the Macintosh. The Households version is a nine CD-ROM set, for US$695 for the first CD-ROM. Information on 80 million households and 120 million consumers is included. [596.30]

(month unknown)

• Apple Computer, VLSI Technology, and Acorn Computer create the Advanced RISC Machines company, to work on processor designs. [660.1]

November

• Apple Computer discontinues the Apple IIc Plus. [75] (September [218])
• Michael Spindler becomes president of Apple Computer. [75] [414.230]

Year

• Market share of computer hardware in Japan for the year: Apple Computer 5.5%. [1295.9]
• Apple Computer sales for the year: US$5.5 billion. [958.42]
• Market share of US personal computers: IBM 15.2%, Apple Computer 9%, Compaq 4.2%. [958.48]
• Shipments of Apple computers for the year: 1.69 million. [686.47]

1991

January

• Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh Portable. [75] [592.165] [710.138]
• RDI announces the availability of Macintosh emulation software for SPARC systems. [171.80]
• WordPerfect ships WordPerfect 2.0 for the Macintosh. [560.18]
• Neon Software releases the NetMinder LocalTalk network-analysis program for the Macintosh's built-in networking capability, for US$395. [676.215]

(month unknown)

• NuTek Computers announces a chip set and software that could be used to make Macintosh clones. [677.41] [1057.25]

February 11

• Apple Computer announces a revised Portable computer with backlighting. [2605.160]

March 6

• In the lawsuit of Apple Computer versus Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard, Federal District Court Judge Vaughn Walker in San Francisco denies Hewlett-Packard's request to declare Apple's copyrights invalid, and also rejects Microsoft's argument that portions of Windows are covered by the 1985 license from Apple. However, the judge agrees to Microsoft's request to consider the copyright issue feature-by-feature, rather than on the basis of overall look and feel. [346.195]

March

• Apple Computer begins a program to recycle laser-printer toner cartridges in the United States. [1093.148]
• Apple Computer discontinues the Macintosh IIcx. [75] (October 1990 [597.90,95])
• Apple Computer ships first TrueType fonts for the Macintosh. [416.196] [613.181] [680.165] (May [696.129])

April 12

• Apple Computer's John Sculley demonstrates to IBM engineers an IBM PS/2 Model 70 running Apple's "Pink" object-oriented operating system, appearing to be Apple's System 7.0 operating system. [618.308] [1721.29] [1880.20] [2605.69]

April

• Microsoft releases Microsoft Excel 3.0 for the Macintosh. [706.42]
• In the lawsuit of Apple Computer versus Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard, Apple broadens its suit to include Windows 3.0. [346.195]

May

• Apple Computer ships its System 7.0 Macintosh operating system, two years after its announcement, for US$100. New features include drag and drop, networking, file sharing, task switching, document linking, and virtual memory. [27] [46] [75] [346.243] [414.230] [416.196] [548.159] [679.13] [750.52] [1205.34] [1295.9] [1648.54] [1880.20] [1886.68] (1990 [176.65])
• Apple Computer releases the Apple Stylewriter, a modified Canon BubbleJet ink jet printer, using new TrueType font technology. [218] (March [414.230]
• Apple Computer announces QuickTime software, for integration of dynamic media for Macintosh computers. [46] [140] [1886.68] (June [414.231])
• Apple Computer begins distributing test versions of QuickTime to software developers. [704.23]

(month unknown)

• Tenon Intersystems releases MachTen 1.0 for the Macintosh. [712.221]
• Fractal Designer introduces the Painter paint program for the Macintosh. [717.68]
• Light Source releases the Ofoto scanning software for the Macintosh. [748.100]
• Adobe ships Adobe Illustrator 3.0 for the Macintosh. [582.92] [618.226]
• Apple Computer releases the A/UX v2.0 operating system. [712.221]

July 3

• Apple Computer and IBM sign a technology sharing agreement, to integrate the Mac into IBM's enterprise systems, to allow future RISC-based Macs to use IBM's Power PC chip, to work together on common multimedia standards, and to co-operatively produce a new object-oriented operating system. [22] [37] [46] [170.13] [205.13] [414.231] [525.3] [618.310] [733.23] [704.96] [881.81] [1080.198] [1149.405] [2605.69]

July

• Quote by Richard Shaffer, publisher of Computer Letter, on the Apple-IBM alliance: "It's like a surfer girl marrying a banker.". [1149.405]

(month unknown)

• Quote from Sun Microsystems CEO Scott McNealy, on the Apple Computer / IBM alliance: "The only strategic relationship that works is a purchase order.". [663.91]

August 5

• Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP DeskWriter C 300 dpi color printer for the Macintosh. Price is US$1095. [729.63] [914.53] [2356.D3]
• Hewlett-Packard introduces its first color image scanner, the HP Scanjet IIc 400 dpi color flatbed scanner. Price for the Macintosh is US$1995; for other computers, US$2195. [413.157] [2356.D3]

August 20

• Apple Computer and Adobe Systems sign a letter of intent for Apple to include Adobe's font technology in future System 7 operating system. [2358.D4]

August 28

• The first email message is sent from space to Earth, sent by the crew of space shuttle STS-43 Atlantis, using a Macintosh Portable computer and AppleLink software. [2605.147]

(month unknown)

• BlueMaq International introduces the Heat Seeker II, a souped-up Macintosh SE with 14-inch monochrome monitor, 85 MB hard drive, 800 kB floppy drive, 25 MHz 68030 plus 68882 math coprocessor, for US$7000. [413.167]
• Apple Computer petitions the FCC to allocate a 40 MHz wide band of frequencies for use with its personal digital assistants. [634.211]

September

• Caere introduces the OmniPage Professional 2.0 optical character recognition software for Windows. Price is US$995. [1049.141]

October 2

• Apple Computer, Motorola, and IBM officially sign an accord on technology sharing. Apple and IBM will jointly develop the PowerOpen Specification, based on IBM's AIX operating system. The Taligent company will be established to develop an operating system based on Apple Computer's project Pink. [44] [205.99] [293.35] [321.12] [145] [397.12] [399.32] [417.17] [746.72] [1149.405] [1205.35] [1880.20] [2605.69] (September [75] [205.2])

October 9

• Apple Computer pays Apple Corps US$26.5 million to settle 1989 lawsuit. [2605.19]

October

• At the Microprocessor Forum, Apple Computer outlines its PowerPC migration strategy. (November [735.3])
• Apple Computer and IBM create Kaleida, to create a hardware-independent multimedia scripting language. [399.32] [414.231]
• At Fall COMDEX, Apple Computer unveils the Macintosh PowerBook 100. It features a 16 MHz 68000 CPU, System 7.0.1, 20 MB hard drive, 9-inch passive matrix B/W backlit supertwist LCD 640x400 screen, 2 MB RAM, two expansion slots, weighs 5.1 pounds, and costs US$2299. [46] [75] [417.130] [683.113] [1038.253] [1559] [1571.173] (cost US$1600 [578.204] (October 1990 [750.52])
• At Fall COMDEX, Apple Computer unveils the Macintosh PowerBook 140. It features a 16 MHz 68030 CPU, System 7.0.1, 20 MB hard drive, 10-inch supertwist B/W LCD backlit 640x400 screen, 2 MB RAM, two expansion slots, SuperDrive floppy drive, weighs 6.8 pounds, and costs US$2899. [46] [75] [417.130] [683.113] [1038.253]
• At Fall COMDEX, Apple Computer unveils the Macintosh PowerBook 170. It features a 25 MHz 68030 CPU, System 7.0.1, 40 MB hard drive, 10-inch active matrix B/W LCD backlit 640x400 screen, 4 MB RAM, SuperDrive floppy drive, 2400bps fax/modem, two expansion slots, 68882 math coprocessor, weighs 6.8 pounds, and costs US$4599. [46] [75] [414.258] [417.130] [1038.253]
• Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh Classic II (replacing the Macintosh Classic). It features a 16 MHz 68030, System 7.0.1, 2 MB RAM, 40 MB hard drive, B/W monitor, floppy drive, for US$1899. [46] [75] [417.148] [579.96] [683.122]
• Apple Computer unveils the Macintosh Quadra 700. It features a 25 MHz 68040, 8-bit (512 kB RAM) or 32-bit (2 MB RAM) color video, System 7.0.1, HyperCard, 4 MB RAM, support for AppleTalk and Ethernet, SuperDrive floppy drive, and various hard drive options, for US$5700-7700. [46] [75] [417.140] [683.122]
• Apple Computer unveils the Macintosh Quadra 900. It features a 25 MHz 68040, 8-bit or 32-bit color video, System 7.0.1, HyperCard, 4 MB RAM, SuperDrive floppy drive, support for AppleTalk or Ethernet, and various hard drive options, for US$7200-9200. [46] [75] [417.140] [683.122]
• Apple Computer introduces the OneScanner gray-scale page scanner, for US$1400. [417.109]
• Apple Computer announces a battery recovery program for its PowerBook notebooks. The company will accept used batteries and pay for recycling or disposal. [1093.152]

(month unknown)

• Radius acquires exclusive rights to Apple Computer's Touchstone digital video technology. [683.49]
• Claris introduces Claris Resolve 1.0 spreadsheet program for the Macintosh. Price is US$399. [1080.273]
• Attain releases the In Control to-do-list manager software for the Macintosh. [717.45]

December

• Apple Computer ships QuickTime 1.0, supporting video tracks and soundtracks. [75] [884.64]
• Lotus Development ships Lotus 1-2-3 for Macintosh v1.0. [548.159] [1038.224]

December 31

• Shipments of Apple Macintosh computers to date: 7 million. [914.18]

Year

• Shipments of Apple computers for the year: 2.48 million. 2.3 million are Macintosh computers. [686.47] [914.18] (1.3 million single-user Macs shipped [151])
• Apple Computer sales for the year: US$6.3 billion. [958.42]
• Market share of personal computers worldwide: Apple Computer 9.6%. [1895.S3.16]
• Market share of personal computers in the US: IBM 14%, Apple Computer 12%, Compaq 4%. [958.48]

1976-1981	1982-1983	1984-1985	1986-1989	1990-1991	1992	1993	1994-1995	1996-1997	1998-1999
2000-2001	2002-2003	2004-end