I'm sure in our age everyone knows what Apple Inc is. One of the most respected and admired corporations in the world, with a devoted customer base and a successful yet controversial line of gadgets. But have you ever wondered what the world would be without Apple? Well, I have, and although this article is written only from my perspective (therefore, it may be prone to subjective thoughts), read this fictitious story of how the world would have looked... if Apple had never existed.

Hard to imagine a world without Apple, especially since there are so many of its inventions without which technology would have never advanced or would have advanced at a slower rate and towards different goals. I am sure about a few things that would have never existed if Apple hadn't been around and although for some I am grateful to the manufacturer, there are quite a few that make me wish it hadn't existed.

First of all, there would be no Steve Jobs or Stephen Wozniak for the matter. Those of you that do not know, Jobs and Woz are the co-founders of Apple and thought to be some of the brightest minds of the computerized technology industry.

There would have been no famous 1984 commercial. Apple's most famous commercial for its Macintosh was directed by Ridley Scott and set the Macintosh (and Apple in accordance) as the product of those that are not in agreement with the masses.

The Apple evangelists would have never existed. In case you didn't know this, the Apple evangelists are a group of Mac and Apple promoters. Although this marketing strategy did turn a good number of PC users towards the Mac, it became too excessive and exaggerated. Apple proved to be a great marketing company but like all great ideas, this one was taken a bit to far.

We would have never heard and read great catchphrases such as "Byte into an Apple," “Think Different” or the distasteful “iThink, therefore iMac,” a phrase which, in my case, at least, put Apple somewhere I didn't want to go. Considering yourself to be above everyone else might be Apple's new thing but not mine.

There would be less controversy in the world. It is a well-known fact that Apple's devices work so good because the maker does not give its users lots of options besides what it has already provided. A gadget that serves one purpose will always be very good at doing the thing it was meant to do.

There would be less companies trying to copy Apple or “Byte” into its Apple pie by releasing a lot of Apple-like gadgets or devices that “improve” those released by the Cupertino-based company. God knows I've written enough articles regarding iPod or iPhone docks to last me for ten lifetimes. And even more are being released onto the public right now.

There would be no funny Mac versus PC commercials. You have to admit (although obviously biased and heading towards promoting Apple) that they are extremely funny.

Microsoft would probably rule the world with an iron grip and there would probably be no one to stop them. Also, no “I'm a PC” funny commercials trying to show off Microsoft's products, since the Redmond-based giant would have no competition. Technology would be a lot different than it is now and the US would be using Nokia, Samsung Sony, ASUS, etc. instead of Apple's iPhone, iPod, iMac and others. And, to tell you the truth, this might not have been all that bad.

Another effect of Apple never existing would be that people would never again be called “uncool” because they use a Windows PC instead of a Mac. There would be only cool, Vista-loving people who would have never felt the joy of having a system that works almost perfectly but leaves you with no other alternatives but to use only the tools and hardware that the manufacturer provides you with.

There would have been no minimalism in design, usually white, all too classic (as in incredibly boring) looking gadgets, and the battle between Mac and the PC would have never existed.

In conclusion... would the world be changed for better or for worse if Apple never existed? No. The world would only be different. Not better or worse, just different. There would probably be another Apple, making pink uPods and uPhones. The world will always have an Apple.

Would I want a world without Apple? No, even though I'm a PC and not a Mac, I'm pretty sure that my Windows would have been a lot different and perhaps less user-friendly if Apple had never existed. There's something about competition: it brings the best out of companies. Would I want an Apple that's less aggressive and more user-compliant? Definitely.