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Image Credit:
Smithsonian Institute
Image Credit:
Apple Inc.
Image Credit:
Unknown Source
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Introduced: April 1976
Terminated: 1977 |
Logic Board
Processor:
6502
Processor Speed:
1 MHz
PMMU:
none
FPU:
none
Bus Speed:
1 MHz
Data Path:
8-bit
(Click) Apple I motherboard
(Image Credit: Apple Inc.)
Memory
Min - Max RAM:
4K - 32K
Onboard RAM:
4K - 32K
Video
Standard Video Memory:
1K
Display Resolution:
60.05 Hz, 40 x 24 char
Storage
External:
Audio Cassette Tape (requires Audito Cassette
Interface)
Internal:
Not Applicable
Audio Cassette Interface
(Image Credit: Apple Inc.)
Operating System
Primary OS:
Integer BASIC
Miscellaneous
Original Price:
Apple I with 4K RAM: $666.66 US
- Apple I with 4K RAM, Audio Cassette Interface,
BASIC Cassette Tape: $741.66 US
- Apple I with 8K RAM, Audio Cassette Interface,
BASIC Cassette Tape: $861.66 US
Comments
The Apple I, sold as a kit computer, was designed by a genius
named Steven (Woz) Wozniak. It was designed over a period of
years from parts Woz had free access to at his job as a Hewlett
Packard engineer. HP encouraged its engineers to use company
stock and lab facilities to experiment with new and interesting
technology. Woz took full advantage of this privilege and when
he got his hands on a MOStek 6502 had all the parts he needed
to build the Apple I. It debuted in April 1976 at the Homebrew
Computer Club in Palo Alto. Woz had the most powerful home
computer in the world and worked at his dream job for a great
company. He was happy and had no other plans for his
incredible device. When Steve Jobs saw his friend’s device, he
immediately went out trying to sell it at computer shows. Jobs
secured a deal with Byte Shop, a small computer store in
Mountain View, California, to sell 50 Apple computer kits for
$500 each. Jobs sold his van, Woz sold his prized HP calculator
and the rest is history.
The Apple I kit included only the motherboard. You had to
supply your own power supply, keyboard, monitor (or TV), and
case. It was a true hobbyist computer, but at the time, it
represented the most innovative and powerful home computer
of its kind. It sold for the odd price of $666.66. Woz and Jobs
had no idea that this price might have religious implications for
some buyers.
Image Credit:
Apple Inc.
Additional Apple I Information:
Apple I Print Ads
DOS 3.3 and ProDOS Guide
Free Programs for the Apple II
Vectronic's Apple II Timeline
Apple Brings Computers to
the Masses
Vectronic's Apple II Section
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