CompuServe Messages

?????? Hmmm….I heard vultures are early birds but you're a bit ahead of your group, judging by the information in my hands… Maybe this sip of freshly squeezed juice might kill your thirst for agony and death: "CUPERTINO, California–January 19, 1995–Apple Computer, Inc., today announced record revenues, and earnings for its first fiscal quarter, which ended December 30, 1994. For the quarter, Apple's revenues were $2.83 billion, a 15% increase over the first quarter of fiscal 1994, and represented the highest quarterly revenue figure in the Company's history. Net income for the quarter was $188 million, compared with $40 million in the same quarter a year ago. Simultaneously, Apple announced that it shipped its one millionth Power Macintosh personal computer or upgrade, reaching an important milestone ahead of schedule–just 10 months after introduction of its systems based on the powerful PowerPC microprocessor. "In 1994 Apple took the lead in bringing RISC technology to mainstream personal computing" said Michael Spindler, Apple's president and chief executive officer. "Today's one million unit milestone is a testament to our customers' acceptance of Power Macintosh as their platform for the future, and to Apple's ability to deliver on its objectives." The Company also attributed its record revenues to demand for its entry-level multimedia Macintosh products, including the Performa 630. Shipments of Apple's Performa products were particularly strong to consumer and home office customers. During the quarter, developer support for the Power Macintosh platform grew. There are now over 400 Macintosh applications on the market which have been optimized to take full advantage of the high performance of the RISC-based Power Macintosh system. In addition, the first licensees of the Mac OS –Macintosh operating system–announced their intentions to market PowerPC systems running the Mac OS. Radius Corporation and Power Computing, Inc. both announced that they expect to bring their systems to market during calendar 1995. In November, Apple, IBM Corporation, and Motorola announced that they intend to define and market a common hardware platform based on the PowerPC microprocessor. This hardware platform is intended to be capable of running multiple operating systems, including the Macintosh OS, Warp/OS2, and Windows NT. "We are committed to openly licensing the Macintosh OS," said Spindler. "We believe that our first licensing agreements, together with the creation of a common hardware reference platform for PowerPC based computers, lays a foundation for broader acceptance of the Macintosh." Compared with the first fiscal quarter a year ago, the Company's improved earnings were the result of strong revenue growth combined with higher gross margins as a percentage of net sales. The improvement in gross margins was due primarily to the introduction and sale of new higher margin products, including Power Macintosh computers. Operating expenses for the first quarter were 19.3% of net sales and represented one of the Company's lowest operating expense ratios in its history. Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized pioneer and innovator in the information industry, creates powerful solutions based on easy-to-use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, online services, and personal digital assistants. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) develops, manufactures, licenses and markets products, technologies and services for the business education, consumer, scientific & engineering and government markets in over 140 countries. -30- Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, and Performa are registered trademarks and the Mac OS and Power Macintosh are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the US and other countries." As for my resume, thank God the majority of my employers are quite different from you!