- January 1: The Macintosh XL, based on Apple Computer's remaining inventory of the Lisa 2, is released.
- January 20: The controversial "Lemmings" Apple commercial announcing the Macintosh Office is aired during Super Bowl XIX.
- January 23: The first LaserWriter printer is announced.
- February 19: Apple Computer co-founders Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs receive the National Technology Medal from U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
- February 21-24: The first Macworld Exposition is held at Brooks Hall in San Francisco, California.
- March: The "enhanced" Apple IIe and original LaserWriter are released.
- April 29: The Macintosh XL is a hit, but Apple quickly runs out of parts to build any more because the production line for the Lisa 2 had been shut down. Customers with unfulfilled orders are offered a Macintosh Plus.
- June 14-16: The 1985 Apple Expo is held in Paris, France.
- June 15: Apple Computer reports a loss of about $40 million, and lays off around 1,200 employees.
- August 1: The Macintosh XL is officially discontinued. Customers with unfulfilled orders or wanting to trade in their Apple Lisa are later offered a Macintosh Plus in 1986.
- September 16: After being sidelined by the Apple Board of Directors, Steve Jobs resigns from Apple Computer and files incorporation papers for NeXT on the same day.
- September 17: System 2.1 is released for the Macintosh 512K, introducing the Hierarchical File System (HFS) to support the new Hard Disk 20
- October 1: The Macintosh 128K is discontinued.
- November 20: Microsoft releases Microsoft Windows 1.0 for PCs.
- November 21: Apple CEO John Sculley sells Microsoft the rights to Macintosh technology and MacBASIC for $1 in exchange for continued development of Microsoft Word for Mac and permission to continue selling their version of BASIC for Apple II series computers.
- Steve Wozniak leaves Apple to start a new company, but does not officially resign.
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