With Steve Jobs back at the helm and the product line simplified, Apple needed a hit. It needed to show the world that it could be cool again—innovative, relevant, and customer-focused. That hit came in the form of the iMac.
Released in 1998, the iMac was unlike anything else on the market. It was colorful. It was transparent. It had a handle. It looked like something from the future. But it wasn’t just a pretty face; it was a serious computer for everyday users. Most importantly, it was easy to use. Jobs understood that technology needed to feel friendly, not intimidating.
The iMac was designed by Jony Ive, whom Jobs quickly elevated into a key design leadership role. Ive’s design philosophy would go on to define Apple for decades. The iMac ditched floppy drives, embraced USB, and emphasized internet connectivity at a time when many computers still treated the internet as an afterthought.
The result? Apple sold over 800,000 iMacs in its first five months. The machine revitalized the brand and turned Apple into a company that people wanted to root for again. Apple stores were redesigned. Advertisements focused on lifestyle, not specs. The famous “Think Different” campaign was launched, celebrating rebels, creatives, and outsiders. Apple had a new identity.
This wasn’t just a tech company anymore. It was becoming a cultural icon.
Stay tuned for the final episode tomorrow.
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