The Mac's Waning Relevance to Apple

Apple's most popular desktop computer, the iMac, received a long-awaited update this week. Teased on Apple's website as "Pretty. Freaking powerful." the new iMacs come equipped with upgraded processors and new graphics chips that promise up to 2.4 times faster performance compared to its predecessors. 

While the release of the first iMac in 1998 marked the beginning of Steve Jobs’ second stint at Apple and the company's return to form, the Mac line has done little more than lay the groundwork for what makes Apple the most valuable company in the world two decades later. As the following chart illustrates, Mac computers gradually lost relevance to Apple as the company introduced one blockbuster product after the other (think iPod, iPhone and iPad) in the first decade of the 21st century.