Apple I
| Apple I (Apple-1) | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Personal computer |
| Developer | Apple Computer, Inc. |
| Released | July, 1976 |
| Discontinued | March, 1977 |
| Processor | MOS 6502 @ 1 MHz |
| Memory | 4 KB standard expandable to 8 KB or 48 KB using expansion cards |
| Graphics | 40×24 characters, hardware-implemented scrolling |
| Base price | US$666.66 |
The Apple I, also known as the Apple-1, was an early personal computer. They were designed and hand-built by Steve Wozniak.[1][2] Wozniak's friend Steve Jobs had the idea of selling the computer. The Apple I was Apple's first product, demonstrated in April 1976 at the Homebrew Computer Club in Palo Alto, California. It went on sale in July 1976 at a price of $666.66[3], because Wozniak liked repeating digits[4] and because they originally sold it to a local shop for $500 and added a one-third markup. About 200 units were produced. Unlike other hobbyist computers of its day, which were sold as kits, the Apple I was a fully assembled circuit board containing about 30 chips. However, to make a working computer, users still had to add a case, power supply, keyboard, and display. An optional board providing a cassette interface for storage was later released at a cost of $75.
The Apple I is sometimes credited as the first personal computer to be sold in fully assembled form; however, some argue that the honor rightfully belongs to other machines, such as the MOS Technology KIM-1, Datapoint 2200, or more commonly the Altair 8800 (which could be bought in kit or assembled form for extra cost). One major difference sets the Apple I apart — it was the first personal computer to use a keyboard.
The Apple I's built-in computer terminal circuitry was distinctive. All one needed was a keyboard and an inexpensive video monitor. Competing machines such as the Altair 8800 generally were programmed with front-mounted toggle switches and used indicator lights (red LEDs, most commonly) for output, and had to be extended with separate hardware to allow connection to a computer terminal or a teletype machine. This made the Apple I an innovative machine for its day. It was discontinued in March 1977, when it was replaced with the Apple II, which added graphics and sound capabilities.
As of 2008, an estimated 30 to 50 Apple Is are still known to exist, making it a very rare collector's item. An Apple I reportedly sold for $50,000 at auction in 1999; however, a more typical price for an Apple I is in the $14,000–$16,000 range. A software-compatible clone of the Apple I (Replica 1) produced using modern components, was released in 2003 at a price of around $200. [5]
Timeline of Apple II Family models
- See also: Timeline of Apple II Family
- See also: Timeline of Apple Macintosh models
References
- ^ IOL Technology - Co-founder tells his side of Apple story
- ^ NPR : A Chat with Computing Pioneer Steve Wozniak
- ^ Approximately $2,427.58 in 2007 dollars, using CPI inflation
- ^ Wozniak, Steven: "iWoz", page 180. W. W. Norton, 2006. ISBN 13:978-0-393-06143-7
- ^ replica 1 | Applefritter
- Price, Rob, So Far:the First Ten Years of a Vision, Apple Computer, Cupertino, CA, 1987, ISBN 1-55693-974-4
- Owad, Tom (2005). Apple I Replica Creation: Back to the Garage. Rockland, MA: Syngress Publishing. Copyright © 2005. ISBN 1-931836-40-X
External links
- Apple I Owners Club
- Macintosh Prehistory: The Apple I
- The Replica-1 The original Apple 1 clone
- A-ONE a new Apple 1 clone
- My Apple I project on www.sbprojects.com
- Apple I Operational Manual
- MESS, Multi-System Emulator which supports Apple I
|
|||||
Why are we here?
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License
This page is cache of Wikipedia. History