Steve Job (1955-2011)

The Apple I - In 1976, Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne launched the Apple I, which was sold for $666.66.

1984 Mac Commercial - Although the Apple Macintosh was Apple's first big hit, this one-time iconic Super Bowl cemented Apple in the public consciousness.

Apple Macintosh - Already bolstered by the iconic "1984" ad, the Macintosh launched. With the Mac, the GUI was introduced to the mainstream market, and sales took off when the PageMaker desktop publishing software began selling.

Steve Jobs Returns - In 1997, Apple had sunk into the dark years, with John Sculley, Michael Spindler, and Gil Amelio serving as chief executive. Flops like the Performa line sunk Apple's reputation. On July 9, 1997, Jobs returned as interim chief executive.

The iMac - On Aug. 15, 1998, Apple launched a new all-in-on computer: the iMac. Led by Jonathan Ive, the hardware team designed a simple, sleek computer with an important element: fun. The candy-coated hues would soon be copied by the entire PC industry.

The iPod - Until Oct. 23, 2001, Apple had always been thought of as a computer company. The iPod changed all that. It single-handedly destroyed competitors like Creative Technology, and made MP3 and AAC part of the lexicon.

iPhone - On Jan. 9, 2007, Apple and Jobs launched the iPhone, which took computing to the next level: mobile. While the phone might have been subpar, the iPhone's success was as an app platform, as it spawned an entire ecosystem.

The MacBook Air - In 2008, Jobs and Apple launched the MacBook Air, a Macbook whose form factor once again became the talk of the industry. Jobs' reveal - pulling it out of a manilla envelope - was magic.

iTunes - In 2003, Apple announced iTunes, the first Web store for music. Suddenly, the CD was dead. Later, iTunes became the platform for apps as well, and electronic storefronts became the place to buy electronics goods. (As a piece of software, however, iTunes has met with less praise.)

Jobs Scolds Reporters-In summer 2010, Apple was buffeted by reports (including in PC Magazine) that the iPhone held in a "death grip" could interfere with its reception. Jobs called a press conference, announced a free "bumper" case to alleviate the problem, and took a few reporters to task in the process. Perhaps not the greatest public-relations move, but vintage Jobs.

The iPad-Tablet PC? Oh, you mean that Microsoft thing? That was what a tablet was until Jan. 27, 2010, when Apple introduced the iPad. Once considered to be a gimmick, the iPad has sold millions of units and, again, launched an entire new computing segment.

info: http://www.pcmag.com