Systems

Apple II

The computer that launched an industry

Steve Wozniak's Apple II brought personal computing to homes and schools, establishing Apple and proving computers could be consumer products.

home-computersamerican8-bit 1977–1993

Overview

The Apple II wasn’t the first personal computer, but it was the first that ordinary people could use. Steve Wozniak’s elegant engineering, combined with Steve Jobs’s vision for a consumer product, created a machine that launched Apple, defined educational computing, and proved the personal computer could be more than a hobbyist curiosity.

Fast facts

  • Manufacturer: Apple Computer.
  • Released: June 1977.
  • CPU: MOS 6502 at 1.023 MHz.
  • RAM: 4KB expandable to 48KB (later 64KB+).
  • Graphics: 280×192 high-res, 40×48 low-res, text modes.
  • Sound: Built-in speaker, 1-bit toggle.
  • Storage: Cassette, then Disk II floppy drive.
  • Price: $1,298 (4KB), $2,638 (48KB).
  • Discontinued: 1993 (Apple IIe).

The 1977 trinity

Three machines launched in 1977:

  • Apple II: Consumer-friendly, colour graphics.
  • TRS-80: Radio Shack’s affordable entry.
  • Commodore PET: All-in-one business focus.

The Apple II outlasted both, remaining in production for 16 years.

Wozniak’s engineering

The Apple II reflected Wozniak’s genius:

  • Minimal chips: Elegant design using fewer components.
  • Expansion slots: Eight slots for third-party hardware.
  • Colour graphics: NTSC colour from digital signals—a clever hack.
  • Open architecture: Published schematics encouraged tinkering.

The Disk II revolution

Wozniak’s floppy drive (1978) transformed the platform:

  • Faster, more reliable than cassette.
  • Enabled serious software development.
  • VisiCalc (1979) required disk storage.
  • Cost $495—expensive but essential.

VisiCalc and business

The first spreadsheet made Apple II essential:

  • Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston’s creation.
  • Businesses bought Apple IIs specifically for VisiCalc.
  • Proved personal computers had professional applications.
  • “VisiCalc sells Apple IIs” became industry wisdom.

Educational dominance

Apple II became the classroom standard:

  • Apple’s education discounts and donations.
  • Oregon Trail, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
  • A generation learned computing on Apple II.
  • Schools kept machines running into the 1990s.

Gaming library

Despite business focus, games thrived:

  • Ultima series: Richard Garriott’s RPGs.
  • Wizardry: Dungeon-crawling pioneer.
  • Karateka: Jordan Mechner’s cinematic action.
  • Prince of Persia: Later Mechner masterpiece.

Model evolution

The line expanded and improved:

  • Apple II+ (1979): More RAM, Applesoft BASIC.
  • Apple IIe (1983): Enhanced, most popular model.
  • Apple IIc (1984): Compact, portable.
  • Apple IIGS (1986): 16-bit upgrade, sound chip.

Legacy

The Apple II established Apple as a company and personal computing as an industry. Its longevity—16 years in production—speaks to the original design’s quality. VisiCalc proved business applications could drive hardware sales. Educational adoption created a generation of computer-literate users.

See also