<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 4
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED OCTOBER 29, 1996, AS SUPPLEMENTED BY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
NO. 1
DATED DECEMBER 20, 1996, PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 2 DATED JANUARY 17, 1997 AND
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 3 DATED FEBRUARY 21, 1997)
$568,575,000
APPLE COMPUTER, INC.
6% CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE
JUNE 1, 2001
This Prospectus Supplement supplements information contained in that certain
Prospectus dated October 29, 1996, as amended or supplemented (the "Prospectus")
relating to the potential sale from time to time of up to $568,575,000 aggregate
amount of Registrable Notes and the Common Stock issuable upon conversion
thereof by the Selling Holders. This Prospectus Supplement is not complete
without, and may not be delivered or utilized except in connection with, the
Prospectus, including any amendments or supplements thereto. Capitalized terms
used herein but not defined have the meanings assigned to such terms in the
Prospectus.
The following table supplements the information set forth in the Prospectus
under the caption "Selling Holders" with respect to the Selling Holders and the
respective principal amounts of Registrable Notes and Common Stock issuable upon
conversion thereof beneficially owned by such Selling Holder that may be offered
pursuant to the Prospectus:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Shepherd Trading Limited........................................... 21,165,000 724,704 724,704
Goldman, Sachs & Co................................................ 14,800,000 506,762 506,762
Paresco, Inc....................................................... 2,650,000 90,737 90,737
Rob Citrino Partners............................................... 1,500,000 51,361 51,361
Libertyview Plus Fund.............................................. 1,300,000 44,512 44,512
Libertyview Fund LLC............................................... 800,000 27,392 27,392
</TABLE>
The line items "Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith,
Incorporated . . . 8,610,000, 633,291, 294,812", "UBS Securities
LLC . . . 39,000,000, 1,444,981, 1,335,587", "Sage Capital . . . 1,500,000,
51,361, 51,361", Societe Generale Securities Corp. . . . 3,600,000, 123,266,
123,266" and "Bankers Trust International plc . . . 14,960,000, 538,541,
512,241" contained in the table set forth in the Prospectus under the caption
"Selling Holders" shall be deleted in their entirety and replaced with the
following:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith Incorporated.................. 4,000,000 172,262 136,962
UBS Securities..................................................... 2,000,000 97,181 68,481
Sage Capital....................................................... 1,800,000 61,633 61,633
Societe Generale Securities Corporation............................ 1,500,000 51,361 51,361
Bankers Trust International plc.................................... 245,000 8,388 8,388
</TABLE>
Unless otherwise noted, all information provided in this Prospectus
Supplement is as of April 25, 1997.
THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT IS MAY 7, 1997.
