NeXT Inc.

American company

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July 16, 2026

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NeXT Inc. was an American computer company founded in 1985 by Steve Jobs after he was ousted from Apple. The company initially focused on designing powerful workstation computers for the education market. While NeXT computers were noted for their engineering and innovative software system, NEXTSTEP, they were ultimately outcompeted by less expensive machines from rivals like Sun Microsystems. In the early 1990s, NeXT shifted its focus entirely to software. The company's NEXTSTEP operating system would later become the foundation for Apple's macOS after Apple acquired NeXT in 1997, marking Jobs's return to Apple.12

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Steve Jobs
NeXT and Pixar
Jobs quickly started another firm, NeXT Inc., designing powerful workstation computers for the education market. His funding partners included Texan entrepreneur Ross Perot and Canon Inc., a Japanese electronics company. Although the NeXT computer was notable for its engineering design, it was eclipsed by less costly computers from competitors such…
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Jobs quickly started another firm, NeXT Inc., designing powerful workstation computers for the education market. His funding partners included Texan entrepreneur Ross Perot and Canon Inc., a Japanese electronics company. Although the NeXT computer was notable for its engineering design, it was eclipsed by less costly computers from competitors such…
Read More