Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs In 1981 Said Homes Weren't Ready For Personal Computers — Three Years Later, Cupertino Launched The Macintosh And Made History

In 1981, Steve Jobs expressed skepticism about the home market for personal computers. Just three years later, Apple Inc. AAPL unveiled the Macintosh, a device that not only changed computing but also set the stage for the tech giant's dominance in consumer tech.

What Happened: In a 1981 interview, Jobs shared his view on why Apple deliberately avoided branding their early devices as “home computers.”

Instead, he underscored the broader utility of personal computers in fields like education, science, and business, asserting that the “home” was not yet a viable market.

See Also: Legendary Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs Once Said, ‘Being The Richest Man In The Cemetery Doesn’t Matter To Me:’ Maybe That’s Why His Impact Transcends Financial Success For iPhone-Maker And Beyond

He said, "We view the home not really as a market yet… There’s not enough specific applications to cost-justify spending a thousand to three thousand dollars for a personal computer to be used in the home."

At the time, he believed the home was merely a location for computing, not a dedicated market.

Subscribe to the Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.

The Launch Of The Macintosh

On Jan. 24, 1984, Apple introduced the first-ever Macintosh for $2,495. The brainchild of Jef Raskin, who began the project in the late 1970s, the Macintosh was designed to bring powerful computing to the masses.

The original Macintosh featured 64KB of ROM, 128KB of RAM, and integrated Lisa Technology, all packaged into a sleek, compact device weighing 16.5 pounds.

Its design philosophy emphasized simplicity and user-friendliness, making it a stark contrast to the more complex systems of the time.

Apple's marketing campaign for the Macintosh centered around two application programs: word processing and graphics. These were offered free to users for the first 100 days after purchase. The company also highlighted the Macintosh's innovative "mouse" technology, describing it as "a small pointing device — to select among functions listed in menus and represented by pictorial symbols on the screen."

Although the $2,495 price tag was steep for many customers, the Macintosh succeeded. By May 1984, Apple had reportedly sold 70,000 units.

While the original Macintosh was discontinued in less than a year, it marked the beginning of Apple's journey toward building an enduring ecosystem of personal computing devices. The current lineup — including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, Mac Mini, and Mac Pro — originates from this revolutionary device.

In 2024, Apple reported fiscal fourth-quarter revenue of $94.9 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of $94.56 billion. The company’s Mac revenue was $7.74 billion, slightly increasing from $7.61 billion in the same quarter the previous year.

Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by following this link.

Read Next:

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

AAPL Logo
AAPLApple Inc
$208.570.10%

Stock Score Locked: Want to See it?

Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock – anytime.

Reveal Full Score
Edge Rankings
Momentum
75.93
Growth
44.88
Quality
84.91
Value
7.81
Price Trend
Short
Medium
Long
Got Questions? Ask
Which tech companies could benefit from rising PC demand?
How will Apple's strategy influence competitors?
What are the prospects for home computing startups now?
Which software firms might thrive with new PC users?
Are retailers ready for a surge in PC sales?
What investments should be considered in the education sector?
How could consumer electronics stocks react to the PC trend?
Will graphic design companies see growth with new Macs?
Which chipmakers will benefit from increased PC production?
Are there ETFs that focus on the personal computing sector?
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Posted In:
Comments
Loading...