Apple puts a number on job cuts

Apple Computer disclosed Monday that it cut 375 positions in the December-ending quarter and plans to cut 50 more as part of a previously announced restructuring.

The Mac maker announced a $24 million restructuring charge in its January earnings report, but did not say how many jobs it cut. Monday's statement came as part of a quarterly filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based company said the eliminated positions came primarily in its operations, information systems and administrative areas.

Apple also cut an undisclosed number of sales jobs in August, as well as a small number of jobs in its iServices consulting unit in May.

Still, Apple's job cuts were far less than those of rivals Dell Computer, Gateway, Compaq Computer and Hewlett-Packard, which pared thousands from their ranks in 2001.