Apple II
Introduction
The Apple II is a line of personal computers developed and manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. It was introduced in 1977 and became one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products. The Apple II series was notable for its open architecture and the ability to support a variety of software and hardware expansions, which contributed to its widespread adoption in both educational and business environments.
Development and Release
The Apple II was designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, with significant contributions from Steve Jobs. The development of the Apple II began in the mid-1970s, following the success of the Apple I, which was a limited-production, hand-built machine. The Apple II was intended to be a more polished, user-friendly product that could appeal to a broader audience.
The Apple II was officially released on April 16, 1977, at the West Coast Computer Faire. It featured a plastic case, a keyboard, and support for color graphics, which were significant improvements over the Apple I. The initial model was equipped with a MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor running at 1 MHz, 4 KB of RAM, and used cassette tapes for data storage.
Technical Specifications
Processor
The Apple II utilized the MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor, a popular choice for early personal computers due to its low cost and efficient design. The 6502 was an 8-bit CPU capable of addressing up to 64 KB of memory.
Memory
The original Apple II came with 4 KB of RAM, expandable to 48 KB. Later models, such as the Apple II Plus and Apple IIe, offered increased memory capacities, with the IIe supporting up to 128 KB of RAM.
Storage
Initially, the Apple II used cassette tapes for data storage, which was a common method at the time. However, in 1978, Apple introduced the Disk II floppy disk drive, which significantly improved data storage and retrieval speeds. The Disk II used 5.25-inch floppy disks and became a standard peripheral for the Apple II series.
Graphics and Sound
One of the standout features of the Apple II was its support for color graphics. The original model could display six colors at a resolution of 280x192 pixels. Later models improved on this capability, with the Apple IIe and IIc supporting up to 16 colors. The Apple II also included a built-in speaker capable of producing simple sounds and beeps.
Expansion Slots
The Apple II featured an open architecture with eight expansion slots, allowing users to add various peripherals and enhancements. This flexibility was a key factor in the system's popularity, as it enabled users to customize their machines for specific tasks, such as adding additional memory, disk drives, or specialized interface cards.
Software Ecosystem
The Apple II's open architecture and widespread adoption led to a rich software ecosystem. Early software for the Apple II included educational programs, business applications, and games. Notable software titles included VisiCalc, the first spreadsheet program, which was a major factor in the Apple II's success in the business market.
Operating Systems
The primary operating system for the Apple II was Apple DOS, which was first released in 1978. Apple DOS provided basic file management and disk operations. In 1983, Apple introduced ProDOS, a more advanced operating system that offered improved performance and support for larger storage devices.
Programming Languages
The Apple II supported several programming languages, including BASIC, Pascal, and assembly language. AppleSoft BASIC, a version of the BASIC programming language developed by Microsoft, was included with the Apple II and became a popular choice for hobbyist programmers.
Impact and Legacy
The Apple II had a profound impact on the personal computer industry. Its success helped establish Apple as a major player in the market and demonstrated the viability of personal computers for both home and business use. The Apple II series remained in production until 1993, with several models released over its lifespan, including the Apple II Plus, Apple IIe, Apple IIc, and Apple IIGS.
The Apple II also played a significant role in the development of the software industry. The availability of a large user base and an open platform encouraged software developers to create a wide range of applications, contributing to the growth of the personal computer software market.