Let‘s explore the technological innovation and historic market impact of the Apple II series, the landmark family of personal computers from Apple that revolutionized consumer exposure to computing capabilities starting back in 1977.
Overview
We‘ll cover the origins and gradual 16 year evolution of the Apple II computers designed by Steve Wozniak and marketed successfully by Steve Jobs to bring graphical, expandable personal computing into the consumer mainstream.
Specifically, we‘ll overview:
- Background – Context around origins at Apple in the 70s homebrew computer movement
- Technology – Details on hardware capabilities and architecture as they advanced through models
- Software – The games and applications that drove adoption
- Business Story – Mass market consumer success metrics and market landscape
- Legacy – Concepts pioneered and influence through today
Conception in the Homebrew Era
The Apple II story traces back to California‘s 1970s Homebrew Computer Club – a community of electronics hackers including Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs who shared a passion for designing their own computer devices.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1976 | Jobs and Wozniak complete the Apple I, Apple‘s first computer sold as kit |
| 1976 | Woz begins work on the Apple II concept targeting integrated design |
| 1977 | Working Apple II prototype complete, manufacturing prep begins |
Per Walter Issacson’s biography on innovation at Apple, Wozniak‘s vision for Apple II was to create not just a computing breakthrough recognized by his hacker peers, but to package capabilities into an appliance form factor usable by any curious consumer.
This drove his engineering towards simplifying internal architecture to lower manufacturing costs, while including game-changing features adding color graphics, sound and expandability.
Hardware Architecture – Pushing Limits in the 70s/80s
The Apple II models utilized contemporary microprocessors and supporting ICs, but stood out from contemporaneous kits or business systems via purposeful engineering maximizing capabilities while containing price.
Let‘s examine some models and capabilities over the progression from 1977 through the II series sunset in 1993:
| Model | Year | Microprocessor | Clock Speed | RAM | Graphics | Ports | OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple II | 1977 | MOS 6502 | 1.023 MHz | 4KB (max 48KB) | 280 × 192 pixels, 15 colors, NTSC analog out | 8 Expansion slots, Serial ports for storage/printing | Integer BASIC in ROM |
| Apple II Plus | 1979 | MOS 6502 | 1.023 MHz | 48KB (max 64KB) | 280 × 192 pixels, 15 colors, NTSC analog out | Integrated disk controller card ports, Serial ports for storage/printing | Apple DOS in ROM |
| Apple IIC | 1984 | MOS 65CO2 | 1.023 MHz | 128KB | 560 × 192 pixels | Composite video out, Serial ports for modems/printers | ProDOS |
Some noteworthy hardware advances showcasing Wozniak‘s technical prowess across the models:
- Integrated Architecture – For 1977, cramming video circuitry and 8 expandability slots into one case was an achievement. This foresaw today‘s SoC integration directions.
- Bitmap Color Graphics – Uncommon in early home computers – colorful and programmable displays opened software creativity
- Open Expansion – Preceding PCI Express and Thunderbolt, the Apple II‘s interface slots enabled endless 3rd party add-ons
In many ways, Wozniak had the technical foresight to deliver core integration and upgradeability that characterizes modern personal computing – in 1977‘s primitive component landscape.
According to Byte Magazine’s August 1977 launch review, “The Apple II is one of the most promising first generation personal computers, earning our high recommendation”. Hard to argue in retrospect!
Software Driving Adoption – Games, Graphics and Utilities
Just as vital as outputs were the actual programs letting Apple II owners explore ideas or be productive. Fortunately, early Apple products attracted avid software developers – both entrepreneurs and hobbyists.
Legendary applications aiding adoption included:
Productivity
- VisiCalc – The landmark spreadsheet app that launched the killer app concept
- Apple Writer – One of the first word processors for personal users
Games
- Oregon Trail – Edutainment title teaching US history through play
- Space Invaders – Landmark 1970‘s arcade game reached the home
- Zork – One of first text-based interactive adventure games
With color graphics outpacing industry norms, games and graphical showcase software particularly thrived. The open architecture enabled fans to code their own applications with relative ease compared to today’s walled gardens.
Per the Platform Studies book series, this liberal ecosystem nurtured the grassroots developer community prerequisite for future computing revolutions.
Mainstream Success – Apple II Fuels Young Company
Despite competitive forces entering the early PC market, Apple II became the best selling personal computer model series of the late 1970‘s through early 1980‘s. Let‘s examine metrics pointing to its market breakthrough:
Unit Sales
- 1 million units sold by end of 1982
- Peaking at over 1.3 million units per year in 1983/1984
- Over 6 million total lifetime
Revenue Generation
- $2 to $3 billion total revenue by mid 1980s
- Accounting for over 30% global personal computer market share
- Fueled early Apple‘s growth before Macintosh introduction
Competitive Pressures
- Tandy TRS line offered alternative with specs/pricing
- IBM PC mid-80s release and MS-DOS licensing weakened Apple II‘s lead over time
- Stayed competitive on capability improvements (IIC, IIGS) and robust developer community
Despite challenges appearing from serious players like Big Blue, Apple II remained highly relevant among consumers through evolutionary enhancements staying just ahead of rivals. It stayed vital as Apple’s cash flow engine even beyond the Macintosh 1984 debut – not finally bowing out until 1993.
Pioneering Legacy Persisting Today
It’s difficult to overstate today’s computing world‘s foundational concepts seeded first by Apple II’s widespread success. Let‘s reflect on enduring impacts:
Graphical Computing for the Masses – Applied visuals/sound pushed PCs as creative appliances beyond number crunching
Applications Marketplace – 3rd party software ecosystem later crystallized around smartphone app stores
Usability Focus – Woz’s integrated advancement of capabilities while simplifying established user-centric DNA carried forward by Jobs
When we interact with sleekly designed, visual, extensible Apple devices from iPads to Apple Watches today, we‘re leveraging key innovations prototyped during Apple II’s introduction. Not bad 40+ year momentum for Wozniak’s scrappy side project!
We‘ve come a long way, haven‘t we?
I hope you‘ve enjoyed this dive through the Apple II genesis story – it‘s fascinating to appreciate a 1970s computer forbear that already had so much forward-looking vision baked in!
We covered origins, industrial design learnings, technical architecture advances, software ecosystem nurturing, market victory fundamentals and ideas echoing through to today‘s Apple.
Whether you remember using an Apple II to play Oregon Trail video games or just appreciate seeing how primitive things were less than 50 years back, I trust you‘ve discovered new appreciation! If interested for more background, Walter Issacson‘s book chronicles Apple and Steve Job‘s journeys.
What functionality blown away purchasers first exploring home computers back then surprises you the most today? I‘m curious of your thoughts – until next time!
