Apple-Microsoft rivalry

The modern rivalry truly ignited in 1984 when Apple introduced the Macintosh, the first commercially successful computer with a graphical user interface. Microsoft soon released Windows 1.0 in 1985, which Apple claimed illegally copied the Mac OS. This culminated in a landmark multi-year copyright lawsuit filed by Apple against Microsoft in 1988.

In 1988, Apple sued Microsoft alleging that Windows 2.0 violated copyright by stealing the 'look and feel' of the Macintosh OS. After four years of legal battles, a federal judge ruled largely in Microsoft's favor in 1992, dismissing most of Apple's claims. This decision effectively allowed Microsoft to dominate the PC operating system market with Windows 3.1 and later Windows 95.

Yes, in 1997, Apple was nearing bankruptcy when Microsoft made a surprising $150 million investment in the company. Steve Jobs announced this partnership at the Macworld Expo alongside a commitment from Microsoft to continue developing Microsoft Office for Mac for five years. This move provided Apple with crucial cash flow and temporarily eased the fierce competition between the two tech giants.

As part of the 1997 partnership, Microsoft agreed to make Internet Explorer the default web browser on Macintosh computers. Microsoft also developed versions of its Office suite for Mac to ensure cross-platform productivity compatibility. This arrangement lasted until Apple eventually launched its own browser, Safari, in 2003.