“Steve Jobs, shut down Apple!” (PCGH Retro October 6)

… 1997: The once successful computer pioneer Apple is in trouble. The last big seller was many years ago, the current model series is technically hardly ahead of the IBM PCs and does not set any accents in terms of design and user interface. Should the company give up the battle against the PC? Michael Dell thinks so: The founder of the highly successful PC manufacturer told several thousand IT industry executives at a meeting on October 6, 1997 that he would shut down Apple and give shareholders their money back if he were in the position Apple’s new interim chairman would be Steve Jobs, who took up the position just three weeks ago. Literally he says: “I’d shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders.”

With that, Dell says what many are thinking at the time; Hardly anyone sees a chance for the battered computer manufacturer, many also see Steve Jobs’ strong role as problematic. But they are all wrong: Jobs turned the product range inside out and led Apple out of the crisis in just a few years, he opened up new markets with new product lines such as the iPod and made Apple one of the most profitable companies in the industry. The share price reflects this development, rising from less than 4 US dollars at the end of 1997 to over 190 dollars in ten years – Apple’s market value is therefore also higher than that of Dell.

… 2000: On this day, PC Games Hardware celebrates its birthday. In the year 2000, on October 6th, both the website and the print magazine are launched – and continue to develop over the years. Take a look at our big birthday special, including the 100 most bizarre lead stories from the print magazine.

Related Links:
• Apple is coming back (PCGH Retro August 15)