Apple II (original)

This article is about the first mass-produced Apple computer. For the series of computers, see Apple II.

Apple II
Apple II in a common 1977 configuration, with a 9" monochrome monitor, game paddles, and a Red Book-recommended Panasonic RQ-309DS cassette deck
DeveloperSteve Wozniak (lead designer)
ManufacturerApple Computer, Inc.
Product familyApple II
Release dateJune 1977; 47 years ago (1977-06)[1]
Introductory priceUS$1,298 (equivalent to $6,530 in 2023)
DiscontinuedMay 1979; 45 years ago (1979-05)
Operating systemInteger BASIC / Apple DOS
CPUMOS Technology 6502
@ 1.023 MHz
Memory4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 32, 36, 48, or 64 KiB
StorageAudio cassette,
Disk II (5.25-inch, 140 KB, Apple)
DisplayNTSC video out (built-in RCA connector)
GraphicsLo-res: 40×48, 16-color
Hi-res: 280×192, 8-color[2]
Sound1-bit speaker (built-in)
1-bit cassette input (built-in microphone jack)
1-bit cassette output (built-in headphone jack)
InputUpper-case keyboard, 52 keys
Controller inputPaddles
ConnectivityParallel port card (Apple and third party); Serial port card (Apple and third party); SCSI
PredecessorApple I
SuccessorApple II Plus
An Apple II computer with an external modem

The Apple II (stylized as apple ][) is a personal computer released by Apple Inc. in June 1977. It was one of the first successful mass-produced microcomputer products and is widely regarded as one of the most important personal computers of all time due to its role in popularizing home computing and influencing later software development.[3][4][5][6][7]

The Apple II was designed primarily by Steve Wozniak. The system is based around the 8-bit MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor. Jerry Manock designed the foam-molded plastic case,[8] Rod Holt developed the switching power supply,[9] while Steve Jobs was not involved in the design of the computer.[10] It was introduced by Jobs and Wozniak at the 1977 West Coast Computer Faire, and marks Apple's first launch of a computer aimed at a consumer market—branded toward American households rather than businessmen or computer hobbyists.[11]

The three computers that Byte magazine referred to as the "1977 Trinity" of home computing: Commodore PET 2001, Apple II, and TRS-80 Model I

Byte magazine referred to the Apple II, Commodore PET 2001, and TRS-80 as the "1977 Trinity".[12] As the Apple II had the defining feature of being able to display color graphics, the Apple logo was redesigned to have a spectrum of colors.[13][14]

The Apple II was the first in a series of computers collectively referred to by the Apple II name. It was followed by the Apple II+, Apple IIe, Apple IIc, Apple IIc Plus, and the 16-bit Apple IIGS—all of which remained compatible. Production of the last available model, the Apple IIe, ceased in November 1993.[15]

  1. ^ Weyhrich, Steven (July 10, 2010). "1969-1977". Apple II History. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  2. ^ "The Laboratorium : Why Did the Apple II Have Six Colors?".
  3. ^ "The 25 Greatest PCs of All Time". PC World. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008.
  4. ^ "10 Most Popular Computers in History". HowStuffWorks. September 25, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  5. ^ "The Most Important PCs in History, Ranked". Digital Trends. August 12, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  6. ^ Stuart, Keith (September 7, 2020). "The 20 greatest home computers – ranked!". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  7. ^ Reimer, Jeremy (December 14, 2005). "Total share: 30 years of personal computer market share figures". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  8. ^ Isaacson, Walter (2011). Steve Jobs. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781451648546. OCLC 859338048.
  9. ^ Wozniak, Steve. "Comment From e-mail: Why didn't the early Apple II's use Fans?". woz.org. Archived from the original on December 26, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  10. ^ "Steve Jobs 'played no role at all' in designing the Apple I or Apple II computers, Woz says". Yahoo Finance. September 2, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  11. ^ Stein, Jesse Adams (2011). "Domesticity, Gender and the 1977 Apple II Personal Computer". Design and Culture. 3 (2): 193–216. doi:10.2752/175470811X13002771867842. hdl:10453/30296. S2CID 143648126.
  12. ^ "Most Important Companies". Byte. September 1995. Archived from the original on June 18, 2008. Retrieved June 10, 2008.
  13. ^ Steven Weyhrich (April 21, 2002). "Apple II History Chapter 4". Archived from the original on September 25, 2006. Retrieved November 16, 2006.
  14. ^ "Interview with Rob Janoff, designer of the Apple logo". July 20, 2020. Archived from the original on October 24, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  15. ^ Weyhrich, Steven (May 16, 2003). "1990-1995". Apple II History. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2010.