QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): August 1, 2002

Apple Computer, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

California
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) 		  0-10030
(Commission File
Number) 		  94-2404110
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, California 95014
(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (408) 996-1010

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)


Information Included in this Report

Items 1 through 4, 6, 8 and 9 Not Applicable.

Item 5.   Other Events.

        Reference is made to the SEC Form 4 Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Mr. Arthur Levinson on August 2, 2002. A copy of Mr. Levinson's SEC Form 4 is attached hereto as an exhibit.

Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

 
 
(c)
 
Exhibits

 
 
99.1.
 
Mr. Arthur Levinson's SEC Form 4 filed August 2, 2002.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

    APPLE COMPUTER, INC.

 
 
By:
 
/s/   FRED ANDERSON       
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Date: August 1, 2002


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
  Document
99.1   Mr. Arthur Levinson's SEC Form 4 filed August 2, 2002.


QuickLinks

Information Included in this Report
SIGNATURE
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document


Exhibit 99.1

        FORM 4
o Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

(Print or Type Responses) 		  UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF
CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or
Section 30(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 		 
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number:        3235-0287
Expires: January 31, 2005
Estimated average burden hours per response .... 0.5
1.   Name and Address of Reporting Person*   2.   Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol   6.   Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)
    Levinson   Arthur   D.   Apple Computer, Inc. (AAPL)         X   Director            10% Owner
 
           
    (Last)   (First)   (Middle)   3.   I.R.S. Identification Number of Reporting Person, if an entity (voluntary)   4.   Statement for Month/Year                      Officer
              (give title
              below) 		                 Other
              (specify
              below)
    1 Infinite Loop               August 2002            
 
 
     
(Street)           5.   If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Year)   7.   Individual or Joint/Group Filing
(Check Applicable Line)
               Form filed by One Reporting
              Person
               Form filed by More than
    Cupertino,   CA   95014                                     One Reporting Person
    (City)   (State)   (Zip)                            
                Table I — Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.   Title of Security
(Instr. 3) 		  2.   Transaction Date   3.   Transaction Code
(Instr. 8) 		  4.   Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 		  5.   Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Month   6.   Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4) 		  7.   Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
            (Month/ Day/ Year)  
      (Instr. 3 and 4)                
                    Code   V       Amount   (A) or (D)   Price                        
    Common Stock       8/1/02       P           5,000   A   $14.87       5,000       D        
    Common Stock       8/1/02       P           30,000   A   $14.90       30,000       D        
    Common Stock       8/1/02       P           15,000   A   $14.89       15,000       D        
                                                                                                                                          
               
                                                                                                                                           50,000                
                                                                                                                                                                     
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.   (Over)
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).   SEC 1474 (3-00)

POTENTIAL PERSONS WHO RESPOND TO THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION
CONTAINED IN THIS FORM ARE NOT REQUIRED TO RESPOND UNLESS THE FORM
DISPLAYS A CURRENTLY VALID OMB CONTROL NUMBER.

Page 1 of 2

FORM 4 (continued)   Table II—Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1.   Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3) 		  2.   Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security   3.   Transaction Date
(Month/Day/Year) 		  4.   Transaction Code
(Instr. 8) 		  5.   Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 		  6.   Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)
                       
 
                            Code   V       (A)   (D)       Date
Exercisable 		  Expiration Date
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
                                                         
7.   Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4) 		  8.   Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5) 		  9.   Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Month
(Instr. 4) 		  10.   Ownership Form
of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4) 		  11.   Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
   
                               
    Title   Amount or Number of Shares                                
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         
                                         

Explanation of Responses:

      /s/ Arthur D. Levinson   August 1, 2002
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Crime Violations.
See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure. 		 
**Signature of Reporting Person 		 
Date
           

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information
contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form
displays a currently valid OMB Number.

Page 2 of 2



QuickLinks