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New: PC Magazine 2008 Reader Survey - "The Best (and Worst) Tech Support in America" - Apple wins in every category it can be rated in - (29/7/08)

There's many things that we've all become accustomed to using with our computers, be they Macs or PC. In fact, we take it for granted that what we experience for the first time on any system, may be the first time that it's ever been used. What you may not realise is that in a lot of case, what you see on the machine in front of you, was something Apple did first, something they had the foresight to realise all would want, and in some cases, was [in hindsight] just blindingly obvious that we'd all want to use it. These are things that should be listed as Apple "Firsts"...

• The Apple II was the first personal computer to offer colour graphics [1977]
• VisiCalc, first spreadsheet program, released for the Apple II [1979]
• First PC maker to reach $1 billion in annual sales [1982]
• First personal computer (Apple Lisa) to use a GUI (Graphical User Interface) [1983]
• First personal computer company to use a mouse [1983]
• First personal computer with dynamic memory allocation [1984]
• First computer with API programming support (the Toolbox) and a graphics API (QuickDraw) [1984]
• Built-in LAN networking [1984]
• Built-in sound [1984]
• First personal computer to use 3.5 inch floppies disks that most PC users now use [1984]
• Self-configuring LAN networking [1984]
• Microsoft Word is released on the Mac only (Windows is yet to appear) [1984]
• Microsoft Excel is released on the Mac only (Windows is yet to appear) [1984]
• PostScript printer [1985]
• Built-in SCSI [1985]
• Disability support [1985]
• Aldus PageMaker is released, ushering the concept of desktop publishing [1985]
• Apple was the first to allow use of multiple monitors [1997]
• Microsoft PowerPoint is released 3 years before it will appear on Windows is yet to appear) [1987]
• Address 8 MB RAM [1988]
• Hypercard - objects [1988]
• Optional Unix OS [1988]
• Multitasking [1988]
• 16 million colours [1988]
• First to introduce a superdrive floppy drive that could read and write Mac, DOS, OS/2, and ProDOS floppies [1998]
• Apple invented True Type fonts (Reference) [1990]
• Built-in sound input [1990]
• 32 bit Operating System [1990]
• Built-in file sharing [1990]
• QuickTime - the first standard architecture for dynamic media [1991]
• QuickTime for Windows - first cross-platform dynamic media standard [1992]
• Auto docking portable computer [1992]
• Portable with full I/O [1992]
• First to ship a personal computer with built-in CD-ROM [1992]
• First worldwide language support for an operating system (Worldscript) [1992]
• Apple released the Newton and used the new term "PDA" (Personal Digital Assistant) to describe it [1993]
• First unified telephony and e-mail architecture for a personal computer operating system (PowerTalk and PowerShare) [1993]
• NTSC video input and output [1993]
• First personal computer with built-in TV and CD stereo system (Macintosh TV) [1993]
• Speech recognition [1993]
• Speech synthesis [1993]
• First to provide colour-matching technology built-in to an operating system (ColorSync) [1993]
• The first computer to introduce built-in microphones on its chassis (Colour Classic) [1993]
• 80486/Windows machine inside a Mac [1994]
• RISC microprocessors [1994]
• Apple was the first company to release a laptop with a trackpad instead of a trackball or nubby [1994]
• First panoramic VR technology for personal computers (QuickTime VR) [1994]
• Invented Firewire technology for connection video cameras to computers for easy video editing (reference) [1995]
• 2nd generation RISC [1995]
• Delivered desktop Java applications [1996]
• First to ship a personal computer *without* a Floppy Drive [1998]
• First computer manufacturer to use solely USB as a means of connecting peripherals, with no serial, ADB or SCSI ports [1998]
• First portable computer with wireless networking capability built in [AirPort] [1999]
• First computer maker to bundle an optical mouse with every computer sold [2000]
• First monitor manufacturer to drop CRT displays and produce only flat panel monitors [2001]
• First company to produce a 64-bit personal computer [2003]

Check out Apple-history.com for lots more Apple historical information

Many thanks to forum members who have continued to discuss this issue and help NZMac.com build up this list. Please let us know of any Apple "First" that you feel should be listed by contacting NZMac.com via this page