Did You Know When Apple 1 Was Invented?

Hey there, did you know when the iconic Apple 1 was first invented?

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When Was the Apple 1 Invented?

What is the Apple 1?

The Apple 1 is an iconic personal computer that was created by Apple in 1976. It was a personal computer kit that was designed and hand-built by Apple co-founder, Steve Wozniak. It is a significant milestone in the history of personal computing, as it was the first computer ever created by Apple.

The Development Period

The development of the Apple 1 started in 1975 when Wozniak began designing the computer. Over the course of the year, Wozniak worked on developing a prototype, which he finally completed in 1976. Wozniak designed the computer to be easy to use and affordable, which was a breakthrough at that time.

The Apple 1 was a technology marvel and was built using the latest hardware components of that time. It featured an 8-bit MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor, which was the central processing unit (CPU) for the Apple 1 computer. The computer had a dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) of 4 KB, which was expandable up to 8 KB. It also had a built-in video display controller (VDC) and could handle resolutions of up to 40x24 characters.

Release Date and Availability

The Apple 1 was officially released on April 11, 1976, and was sold as a kit for $666.66. The computer was only available for sale for ten months, and the production was limited to only 200 units. Despite this, the Apple 1 was received with great enthusiasm, and all the units were sold out within a few weeks of release.

The Apple 1 was designed for hobbyists and computer enthusiasts who had the technical expertise to assemble and program the computer. It was supplied as a kit with a motherboard, a CPU, a power supply, a video interface, and a cassette adapter for loading and saving programs. Users had to connect their keyboard, monitor, and other peripherals to the motherboard to operate the computer.

Despite its technical limitations and modest capabilities, the Apple 1 was a historic milestone that paved the way for modern personal computing.

Legacy of the Apple 1

The Apple 1 was the first product from Apple and had a significant impact on the personal computer industry. It was a breakthrough for personal computing, as it was the first affordable and easy-to-use computer. The Apple 1 set the foundation for the development of modern personal computers, and it paved the way for the development of the Apple II.

The legacy of the Apple 1 is still felt today, with only a few surviving units that are considered to be highly valuable artifacts. In 2014, one of the original Apple 1 computers was sold at an auction for over $900,000, highlighting the significance of this iconic computer.

In conclusion, the Apple 1 was a historic milestone in the development of personal computing. Despite its limited availability and technical capabilities, the Apple 1 paved the way for modern personal computing and set a foundation for future technological advancements. Today, the Apple 1 is considered a highly valuable artifact, and it will always be remembered as the computer that started it all.

Features of the Apple 1

The Apple 1 was the first computer that was designed and created by Steve Wozniak in 1976. It was a single-board computer that was sold as a DIY kit, which required users to add their own keyboard and display to use the computer. The Apple 1 had a few notable features that made it stand apart from the other computers that were available at the time.

Hardware

One of the key features of the Apple 1 was its MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor. It was the first computer to use this microprocessor, which was significantly cheaper than the other processors that were being used at the time. The Apple 1 also had 4 KB of memory and a video display controller. Since users needed to add their own keyboard and display to the computer, the final cost varied depending on the additional hardware that was added.

Software

The Apple 1 came with BASIC, a high-level programming language that allowed users to create their own programs. BASIC was designed to be easy to learn and use, even for those who had no previous programming experience. The Apple 1 also had a machine language monitor, which allowed users to directly interact with the computer's hardware. This made it possible for advanced users to write computer programs that were optimized for the Apple 1's hardware.

Influence on the Computer Industry

The Apple 1 was a significant development in the early personal computer industry. It was one of the first computers to come as a complete DIY kit, which meant that users could assemble and customize the computer to their liking. This gave rise to a new market of hobbyist computer enthusiasts who were eager to experiment and tinker with their computers. The Apple 1 also paved the way for the development of other personal computers, which eventually led to the mass adoption of computers in homes and businesses worldwide.

Legacy of the Apple 1

The Apple 1 was a computer designed and hand-built by Steve Wozniak in 1976. It was the first computer to be sold by Apple Computer (now known as Apple Inc.) and was initially intended for hobbyists. However, its success soon led to the creation of the Apple II, which was released in 1977. The Apple II was a commercially successful personal computer and is considered to have laid the foundation for Apple's success in the computer industry.

Success of Apple

The Apple II's success allowed Apple to become a major player in the personal computer market. In addition to being commercially successful, the Apple II was also popular in schools due to its user-friendly design. The computer came with a keyboard, monitor, and floppy disks, making it one of the first "plug and play" machines. The Apple II became the computer of choice for many businesses, and it helped to establish Apple as a major competitor to IBM and other computer manufacturers.

Collector's Item

The Apple 1 is now considered a rare and valuable collector's item, with only a few known to exist in working condition. When the Apple 1 was first released, it sold for $666.66 (equivalent to about $3,000 today) and only 200 were produced. Today, an original Apple 1 in good condition can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. In 2019, an Apple 1 sold for $471,000 at Christie's Auction House in New York.

Historical Significance

Not only is the Apple 1 significant for its technological achievements, but it is also an important symbol of the early personal computer industry. The Apple 1 represents the beginning of the personal computer revolution that transformed society, technology, and the way we live today. It paved the way for the development of the Apple II and subsequent Apple products that helped to shape the world we know today.

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