Apple's Bold Move: Bringing Back Steve Jobs in a Quest for Revival

As Apple's chief executive officer Gilbert Amelio takes the helm, the company's move to bring back Steve Jobs in a $400 million deal to purchase NeXT Software Inc. has sent shockwaves through the tech industry. The return of the pioneer who co-founded Apple in a garage 20 years ago is seen as a bold attempt to revamp the Macintosh computer line, which has struggled to stay afloat in the face of Microsoft's dominance.

Key Takeaways:

• The deal reunites Apple with Jobs, who will bring his expertise in developing a new operating system for the company's PCs.
• The acquisition of NeXT's existing technology is seen as a potential game-changer for Apple, giving the company a foundation for a new operating system to replace the struggling Macintosh.
• Analysts are skeptical about the move, citing concerns that it may not be enough to revitalize Apple's struggling business or close the gap with Microsoft.
• Long-time Macintosh users are more optimistic, with one user group president stating that "most will wait with baited breath to see how this all turns out."
• The deal is part of Apple's broader plan to revamp its Macintosh computer line, including revamping its entire product line in 1997.

Statistics:

• $400 million: The amount Apple will pay to purchase NeXT and rehire Steve Jobs.
• 20 years: The amount of time since Jobs co-founded Apple in a garage.
• 50,000: The number of computers sold by NeXT in four years as a hardware maker.
• $500 million: The investment reportedly spent by Apple on developing a successor to the Macintosh operating system, dubbed Copland.
• 15 years: The amount of time Microsoft has been the biggest developer of applications for the Macintosh platform.
• 1997: The year Apple plans to revamp its entire product line.

Sources:

• "Apple to Acquire NeXT Software for $400 Million; Steve Jobs to Rejoin Apple" by Reuters
• "Jobs, Apple, and the Future" by John Rossi, Robertson Stephens and Co.
• "Apple's Strategic Mistake" by Peter Andrew, AG Edwards
• "Merging Operating Systems: A Complicated Task" by Richard Zwetchkenbaum, International Data Corp.