Apple Computer Inc

Apple Computer Inc. has completed a six-month shake-up of its top-level management with the appointment of longtime Hewlett-Packard executive Robert Puette as head of U.S. sales and marketing. Puette, 48, was named president of Apple USA, a position left vacant by the resignation of Allan Z. Loren in January. He reports to Michael Spindler, who was named chief operating officer when Loren resigned. During a 24-year career at Hewlett-Packard Co.

Apple Computer Inc. will announce today a new line of Macintosh personal computer products, including a PowerBook system that marries the hot-selling portable notebook with Apple's desktop models. The PowerBook system integrates a 4.2-pound notebook, smaller and lighter than earlier models, with a desktop computer by allowing the notebook to be inserted into the larger computer much like a video cassette into a VCR.

In a startling turn of events that indicates the company's escalating problems, Apple Computer Inc.'s respected chief financial officer has resigned after telling the board of directors that Apple's future as an independent company is bleak. In a prepared statement released by the company Wednesday, Apple said that Joseph Graziano would leave his job by year's end "due to differences" with Chief Executive Michael Spindler. Graziano relinquished his board seat at Tuesday's directors meeting.

Apple Computer Inc. unveiled its most powerful computers to date Monday, a line of high-end machines that complete the company's transition to processors made by Intel Corp. Mac Pro desktops will have two of Intel's dual-core Xeon processors, Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president for worldwide marketing, said during a showy presentation kicking off Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference. The Mac Pro has processors up to 3.

Apple Computer Inc., aiming for a greater share of the personal computer market, Monday slashed prices of its mid-range and high-end Macintosh computers by up to 31%. The company also introduced low-priced, laser-quality printers. The Cupertino-based computer maker said prices of its Macintosh IIfx, IIci and SE/30 computers would be reduced immediately.

Apple Computer Inc. and chip-maker VLSI Technology will hold a joint press conference Tuesday at which they are expected to announce an agreement to work together in developing products that use a computer design philosophy known as reduced instruction set computing (RISC).

Apple Computer Inc. probably wishes the Beatles would just let it be. Lawyers for Apple Corps, the Beatles' music and licensing company, have sued the Cupertino, Calif., company for allegedly breaking a 1991 pact limiting the role the computer maker could play in the music business. The lawsuit -- filed in London after the successful debut in April of Apple Computer's iTunes online music store -- asks a judge to enforce the pact and to award damages.

Apple Computer Inc. has settled its first court battle over injuries allegedly suffered by a computer keyboard user for an undisclosed amount. It did so because of a legal technicality and said it will continue to defend itself in other cases. The company blamed its outside law firm, which failed to turn over all court-ordered documents until last week. As a result, Apple faced a possible default judgment or mistrial plus related costs. It said the law firm, Saperston & Day of Buffalo, N.Y.

Microsoft Corp. said Monday it has filed a countersuit against Apple Computer Inc., escalating a dispute between the two longtime rivals over multimedia software. Microsoft's countersuit, filed late Friday in U.S. District Court in San Jose, charges that Apple has conducted a "disinformation campaign" aimed at discrediting the software giant's efforts in the rapidly growing market segment.

Apple Computer Inc.'s relentless decline gathered more force Wednesday when the personal computer maker said it lost $56 million in the three months ended June 27 and expects to lose more money during the current quarter. The latest loss was less than feared by Wall Street, which had forecast that the Cupertino-based concern might lose as much as $100 million for its fiscal third quarter. Nonetheless, the deficit follows $1.