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.