October 2, 1991: Apple and IBM formalize Alliance

IBM was once the boogeyman that Apple imagined hiding under the bed. However, reality was different—Apple was in no danger of getting trampled by IBM if only because IBM was busy being trampled by the Microsoft Windows+PC clones combo.

Microsoft was too big for its britches and Apple and IBM hatched an alliance to stop the onslaught. Thus, two smaller companies sprouted into being: Kalieda and Taligent and all parties agreed to use PowerPC chips manufactured by Motorola.

The agreement had actually been reached during the summer but the deal wasn't done until executives signed the papers, at a San Francisco hotel, on this day in 1991.