A lot of people are worried about a post-Steve Jobs Apple. Looking back of history, these fears are not completely unfounded. After Jobs was kicked to the curb in 1985, Apple entered a 10-year period of falling sales, poor products, and a slipping market share, while Microsoft and others grew in strength and numbers.
When Apple’s engineers failed to build a successor for the aging classic Mac OS, Apple bought NeXT Computers, bringing NeXT’s OS and CEO – Jobs – into Apple. With Jobs once more at the helm, the company has rocketed to new heights in the last 10 years.
In the time without Steve, Apple shipped a lot of computers. This one really sums up why Apple almost failed: a horrible product line:
The 630 was available in a confusing number of configurations, especially in the Performa variants (which had slightly different model numbers). The Quadra 630 featured an 68040 processor, 4 MiB of RAM, a 250 MB hard disk and a CD-ROM drive; the LC 630 was essentially identical, but had the FPU-less68LC040 processor. The LC 630 DOS compatible added an additional 486DX2 processor at 66 MHz and dedicated RAM on a Processor Direct Slot card to the LC 630. The Performa versions were:
- 630 – The LC 630, but without the CD-ROM drive
- 630CD – Identical to the LC 630
- 630CD DOS compatible – Identical to the LC 630 DOS compatible
- 631CD – Like the 630CD, but with an additional RAM slot (for a total of two) on the motherboard, 8 MiB RAM, 500 MB hard disk and sold bundled with a monitor and modem
- 635CD – The 630CD, but with 5 MiB RAM, bundled with a monitor and a modem
- 636 – The 635CD without the monitor and CD-ROM, but with 8 MiB of RAM and the (optional) 500 MB hard disk
- 636CD – The 636 with a CD-ROM. Sold exclusively through higher-education outlets. Was available with a 250MB hard disk.
- 637CD – The 636CD with the monitor, but only a 350 MB hard disk
- 638CD – The 637CD without the monitor, but a TV/video in card instead
- 640CD DOS compatible – The 631CD with a modem and the 630CD DOS compatible’s 486 processor card
Holy cow. Today, with just a handful of products, Apple is far stronger – and simpler – than last time Steve left. And as long as Apple executives realize this, they’ll be fine. Apple came up with some amazing products without Jobs, and will do so after he is long gone, but they have to keep the product line clean and clear. Update: Here’s a video of Jobs completing Apple’s new, simpler product structure with the iBook: