1981

January: Apple Computer holds its first shareholders meeting as a public company.
January 20: 40th U.S. president Ronald Reagan is inaugurated.
February 7: Steve Wozniak survives crashing a plane that he was piloting, but suffers memory loss. As a result, Wozniak would take a leave of absence from Apple Computer.
February 25: CEO Michael Scott presides over Apple's first ever layoffs, firing over 30 employees from the Apple II team on "Black Wednesday", including Bob Bishop and Rick Aurrichio (who later returned).
March: Michael Scott is removed as CEO of Apple Computer.
August 10: Mark Gitschel joins Apple Computer as employee #2632.
August 12: The first IBM PC is released.
September: Apple introduces the ProFile, a 5 MB hard drive for the Apple III.
October 2: Logitech is founded in Lausanne, Switzerland.
November: Apple Computer grows to over 2,500 employees and enters the French market. Kensington Microware Limited is founded as an early Apple II and IBM PC peripheral manufacturer.
November 9: Apple Computer announces a revised version of the Apple III computer with improved manufacturing and quality control. Silicon Graphics is founded in California.
November 10: Apple Computer hires future Macintosh launch team member Ellen Petry Leanse as employee #3039.
December 1: A revised edition of the Apple III is released with improved manufacturing and quality control.