The computer market is flooded with PCs from many manufacturers relying primarily on Microsoft's operating system to run them. It works, and most are satisfied with this norm and know nothing else.

People today are accustomed with the general workings of PCs, such as installing software, installing peripheral drivers, running anti virus protection, and reading up on the vast manuals needed to operate them. And of course, trubleshooting and putting up with the frequent crashes that accompany them.

What complicates these machines is that there are many companies that manufacture them, and even more companies that manufacture the components inside them. Not only do these components need a language programmed into them to run with the competing computers, but the computers themselves need an operating system to communicate.

This operating system needs to address the different computers out there and make provisions for the many peripherals manufactured for them. What this means is that hardware and software are controlled by different companies making communication between the two vulnerable and inefficient.

Apple Computer realized back in the early 80s that hardware and software must be integrated and so created a complete system that was intuitive and simple. Many referred to it as a "close-and-play" system. Basically the concept was to plug it in and start using it.

This launched Apple making the Mac the first computer available to the general public.

After 25 years Apple is still in the forefront developing technological breakthroughs in the hardware and software industry