Founded in November 1993 by Stephen "Steve" Kahng, Power Computing was the first company selected by Apple to create Macintosh-compatible computers. In May 1995 it shipped its first clones.
Unlike Apple at the time, Power Computing pressed for direct sales. After a customer placed an order for a semi-customized configuration, the system was delivered the next day. Following the delivery of the system, Power Computing called the customer to surmise their needs and offer technical support and customer service. In addition, Power Computing set a goal of a 3-minute response time for all inquiries.
In July 1997, Apple's CEO Gil Amelio was ousted by Apple's Board of Directors, and Steve Jobs soon returned as interim CEO. Jobs believed that Apple had started to license clones too late to repeat the business model pioneered by Microsoft in the early 1980s.
On September 2 1997, Apple Computer bought Power Computing's "core assets" for $100 million in Apple stock and roughly $10 million in cash. Apple got "the right to retain key employees with expertise in direct marketing, distribution, and engineering, Power Computing's customer database, and the license to distribute the Mac OS.
- (Wikipedia)