A Rocky Relationship: The Early Years of Apple and Microsoft's Business Computer Systems

The early days of the personal computer industry saw two major players, Apple and Microsoft, forge a complex and often tumultuous relationship. This alliance was marked by periods of harmony and acrimony, ultimately defining the long-standing rivalry between the two technology giants.

According to Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates revealed at an Apple event in 1983 that Microsoft expected to earn half its revenue from Macintosh software sales the following year. This prediction highlighted the significant role Microsoft played in creating important programs for Apple's PC during the early 1980s.

During this period, Microsoft and Apple enjoyed a relatively peaceful coexistence, with Microsoft serving as a critical ally for Apple. However, their relationship would soon become marked by periods of fierce competition. The personalities of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, the founders and longtime leaders of their respective companies, played a significant role in shaping this on-again, off-again partnership.

The late 1970s saw the dawn of the PC era, during which Apple and Microsoft began to establish themselves as major players. Their early years were marked by a mix of collaboration and competition, with both companies vying for dominance in the rapidly evolving market.

Today, Apple and Microsoft are vastly different companies, with new leaders who do not carry the same level of baggage that came with nearly 40 years of intense rivalry. Despite this, their legacy as pioneers in the business computer systems industry remains an integral part of their history and continued success.

Apple business computer systems